Opinions on whats really to blame, not insurance but MEDICAL INFLATION.

[Ralph_Kirk]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

That's largely because of cost shifting where they put the higher prices out there knowing that they'll never collect on some service users or have the amount capped by medicare or insurance etc.

What do you think happens when some gang member shows up shot at the ER and takes 150,000 to put them back together or a young uninsured guy without a penny to his name drives drunk into another car and they don't have insurance either?

Hospital can't let them bleed to death at the ER doors and so then they have to pass the costs on.

It would be like going to Home Depot and watching customers just load up carts with merchandise and wheeling it out to their car for free. When you get up to the checkout the old lady in front of you gets her chain saw reduced to $100....they ring your same model up at $1000.

The proper way to do that would be to price each line item according to its actual cost and then add a bottom surcharge labeled as "charity surcharge" or such.


But that is no explanation for the variation of charges for the same service, especially when the hospitals suffering the most of those losses are the ones that still charge the least.

[Hoonose]

Originally Posted by Ralph_Kirk

Health maintenance is needed for everyone. The "young and healthy" can often get away without it...until they don't.


But over the last few years, "healthy" seems to be increasingly less connected with "young." That has become a significant problem for the military, where so many young would-be recruits actually aren't healthy enough to be admitted.

Assuming no hereditary issues, well baby check, vaccinations and that's about it until around 20. Then check BP and cholesterol and OK. Maybe redo every 5 years unless high risk. Female routine checks per gyne usually start in teens.

Mammo per recommendations which are always changing, typically 1-2 years 40 and up.

At 50. Prostate checks yearly for men. Colonoscopy and every 10 years if neg. Probably makes sense to do annual blood panel, BP check. Complete physical every year to 5 years depending on general status.

At 65 and up we do lab and physical yearly or more often.