Steve1 Political Rants

[rbhudelson]

Has anybody read any good research on exactly why premiums have gone up so much?

I think yet another problem we're facing with the disconnect in DC is them not fixing the real problem. The big message is that everyone needs to have medical insurance (another underfunded entitlement). But the real problem in healthcare is rising costs. There's nothing that's been proposed that would really reduce the costs.

So what will truly bring down the cost of healthcare to the point where people who have chosen not to buy insurance will feel there is some value there?

there are about a million cost drivers/contributors for the increases in healthcare costs. The simple answer to your question is one that no one wants to hear. Get healthy. Stop smoking. Stop Drinking in excess. Start exercising. Start eating healthy. Reduce your stress. HOW MANY ARE GOING TO SIGN UP FOR THIS? :-)

healthy people will never value insurance. Only sick people. That is another of those drivers. It's technical term is adverse selection.

Doctors routinely give MRI to someone with a headache for fear they have a clot or aneurism. They do this because of risk of getting sued for malpractice. Which in turn raises malpractice insurance.

Technology is another driver because after a life of abusing alcohol, drugs, women, food, jumping big wakes going over 150 mph in cats our bodies wear out but they can keep us going longer than ever.

Cost shifting from medicare is equal to about 1800 per year of a family's premium.

There are not enough doctors and the insurance companies have squeezed them all they are going to be squeezed. And just like your job and mine, if you are in short supply you have better leverage over pay.

The laws around privacy (HIPAA) are becoming increasingly impossible and very expensive to comply with.

Government mandates on required care another large driver.

Indirectly, FMLA is another large driver of costs to the country. Its the law that allows covered employees to be off for extended periods of time and still have a job to come back to.

at the end of the day it is a very complex system and insurance is just one very small component.

[Ratickle]

Good post

Get healthy. Stop smoking. Stop Drinking in excess. Start exercising. Start eating healthy. Reduce your stress. HOW MANY ARE GOING TO SIGN UP FOR THIS? :-)

Insurance should be weighted just like car insurance and life insurance. If you are obese, smoke, drink excessively, use illegal drugs, etc. You should pay much higher premiums. Even if it is a government run health insurance system.

Doctors routinely give MRI to someone with a headache for fear they have a clot or aneurism. They do this because of risk of getting sued for malpractice. Which in turn raises malpractice insurance.

Change tort laws. If the doctor is found to be less than 50% at fault, lawsuit is dismissed and the attorney who filed it is responsible for the defendants expenses.

Technology is another driver because after a life of abusing alcohol, drugs, women, food, jumping big wakes going over 150 mph in cats our bodies wear out but they can keep us going longer than ever.

Once again. If you want to pay more for the more expensive insurance which cover heart transplants, hip replacements at 85 years old, etc. Feel free to do so. Just don't expect me to cover your costs.

Cost shifting from medicare is equal to about 1800 per year of a family's premium.

And that is the oone thing they do not tell you. It is currently estimated that private insurance subsidizes 35% of medicaid/medicare expenses because of the underpayment of expenses to the hospitals and doctors through mandated payment schedules. And the proposal will insure another 45 million people at less than 1/2 the current cost of medicare/medicaid? Impossible. Plus, many medicare people have their own insurance to cover the things medicare doesn't.

The laws around privacy (HIPAA) are becoming increasingly impossible and very expensive to comply with.

I have no answer there, but the proposed system would give the governmennt access to all your records.

Government mandates on required care another large driver.

And those will continue to apply to illegal aliens, uninsured visitors, etc.

Indirectly, FMLA is another large driver of costs to the country. Its the law that allows covered employees to be off for extended periods of time and still have a job to come back to.

Should be repealed. I hope someone does it one of these days. Or at least add something for a maximum of once every ten years or more.