General Discussion

Adrahil

(13,340 posts)

85. Yes, the market is broken in this case.

Thu Feb 6, 2014, 08:53 AM

Feb 2014

Health is not and cannot be a free market. People will do whatever their doctor tells them to do because they don't want to die, and they don't have the expertise to assess whether or not the doc or hospital is bullshitting them.

The market is broken.

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Why Are American Hospitals Charging Up to $800 for a $1 Bag of Salt Water? [View all] solarhydrocan Feb 2014 OP

.Because.They.Can. Fumesucker Feb 2014 #1

+1 n/t Alkene Feb 2014 #3

And because the people allow it nt solarhydrocan Feb 2014 #5

The next time someone calls me a "truther", I'm using that. RC Feb 2014 #55

Future historians will wonder how those that sought truth solarhydrocan Feb 2014 #76

Especially when some things as so obviously, not the way we are told to believe. RC Feb 2014 #88

beat me too it... yuiyoshida Feb 2014 #8

Not if you grow your own nikto Feb 2014 #19

So they can "Pay Out Dividens" to the Wealthy Elite Stock Holders FreakinDJ Feb 2014 #25

+1. nt bemildred Feb 2014 #34

Is there something ambiguous about the term "for-profit health care"? Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #2

Well, Thug, there is profit and then there is *PROFIT* solarhydrocan Feb 2014 #4

There are several areas in which profit seeking is completely inappropriate, Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #7

i think health care, education, and energy should not be based on profit... dionysus Feb 2014 #60

And add justice. The lawyers might squeal, but this is one of those fundamental pillars Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #68

It's all "in the bag." TomClash Feb 2014 #6

Fortunately, that's "list" price, and very few people (or their insurer) pay anywhere near that. Hoyt Feb 2014 #9

Fortunately, if you don't have insurance, very few hospitals will treat a "stomachache" ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #33

Actually, they can't turn you away for an acute condition like that. Hoyt Feb 2014 #36

I will tell my neighbor that they didn't turn her away. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #37

Glad she managed to get hospital care. Hoyt Feb 2014 #43

I am saddened that, while she managed-finally-to get care, if it wasn't for her husband forcing ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #46

I agree it shouldn't happen, and she might well have recourse against the first hospital. Hoyt Feb 2014 #49

She would if she had the time and the cash. We shouldn't have to be threatening recourse. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #71

She doesn't need any cash. She can report an EMTALA violation to the regional office Hoyt Feb 2014 #72

But she only had the "flu" siligut Feb 2014 #87

An "mistaken" diagnosis ruse like that would be easy to prove. Hoyt Feb 2014 #91

How? By what was charted? siligut Feb 2014 #92

I'd look at the chart at the second hospital, and I think investigators would too. Hoyt Feb 2014 #94

"Her condition worsened during the 40 mile drive" siligut Feb 2014 #95

I am saddened by your cynicism. They might well claim that, but who is going to believe it? Hoyt Feb 2014 #96

If the doctor thought it was the flu Sgent Feb 2014 #73

Capitalism SamKnause Feb 2014 #10

Exactly Rider3 Feb 2014 #11

Yes, the market is broken in this case. Adrahil Feb 2014 #85

The system is rigged. SamKnause Feb 2014 #86

Because we've allowed the crooks to take over. Faryn Balyncd Feb 2014 #12

insurance companies place inflationary pressure upon prices and produce a spiral spike91nz Feb 2014 #13

Absolutely exactly! Ratty Feb 2014 #32

Bingo. jsr Feb 2014 #41

Hence the mandate for private insurance with no public option n/t Fumesucker Feb 2014 #44

The more money flowing through the system... hunter Feb 2014 #70

Because our government lets them overcharge seveneyes Feb 2014 #14

The same reason restaurants charge more for meals than the price of the food: The employee costs; WinkyDink Feb 2014 #15

How long will it take republicans to blame this on Obama Care? B Calm Feb 2014 #16

and now, we all have to buy into the scam. KG Feb 2014 #17

"Cost shifting" Freddie Feb 2014 #18

That is why they call it Saline Solution liberal N proud Feb 2014 #20

Because Murka! nxylas Feb 2014 #21

May or may not be related, but there's a saline shortage right now. PeaceNikki Feb 2014 #22

I might be able to help solarhydrocan Feb 2014 #26

It's not a joke. PeaceNikki Feb 2014 #28

I don't think there is anything funny about the US medical industry solarhydrocan Feb 2014 #75

k&r for exposure. n/t Laelth Feb 2014 #23

solarhydrocan Diclotican Feb 2014 #24

"Uniquely American" is what the present clusterF is called solarhydrocan Feb 2014 #27

Hey, paying for overpriced medical crap happened to me at the VA just this week fasttense Feb 2014 #29

I finally got my friend to let me see his list of scripts and the cost of them at the VA blueamy66 Feb 2014 #38

That's a travesty, fasttense Aerows Feb 2014 #64

I remember 20 years ago when I had my son. The nurse gave me hell notadmblnd Feb 2014 #30

Because people are willing to pay anything when it comes malaise Feb 2014 #31

It's one thing Obamacare should be dealing with but it's not. mucifer Feb 2014 #35

why deal with a problem when the people who would otherwise be complaining are starstruck enough MisterP Feb 2014 #69

It does (kinda) Sgent Feb 2014 #74

It's the Apple profit model. tridim Feb 2014 #39

Because it's an American hospital jsr Feb 2014 #40

not made with west virginia tap water dembotoz Feb 2014 #42

Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2014 #45

They are tackling it. jeff47 Feb 2014 #47

Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2014 #50

Depends on the insurance and the hospital. jeff47 Feb 2014 #52

Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2014 #54

It's insurance. Of course it's about future accidents. jeff47 Feb 2014 #58

Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2014 #59

Nope. jeff47 Feb 2014 #61

Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2014 #66

Nope. jeff47 Feb 2014 #67

"because of people that don't pay" steve2470 Feb 2014 #48

no one pays retail price unblock Feb 2014 #51

Because most reimbursements don't cover costs. upaloopa Feb 2014 #53

the FREE MARKET! No gov't controls. Bennyboy Feb 2014 #56

Here is an actual figure from an actual hospital bill. Fortinbras Armstrong Feb 2014 #57

$6.49 from my Vet supply. 'Someone' makes huge profits. Sunlei Feb 2014 #62

just to correct price, the plain saline is $4.99 Sunlei Feb 2014 #65

during my fun with the raccoon bite Aerows Feb 2014 #63

Because banks have locks (nt) Recursion Feb 2014 #77

I know why jmowreader Feb 2014 #78

I had to go to the hospital when I was in the US davidpdx Feb 2014 #79

In the UK the cost would've been exactly nil. dipsydoodle Feb 2014 #80

Yeah, but I can't complain about the Korea system though davidpdx Feb 2014 #81

Sounds a good deal. dipsydoodle Feb 2014 #82

Is that per year? davidpdx Feb 2014 #83

I figure it to be $7800 pa average dipsydoodle Feb 2014 #84

At least you get something for your taxes UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #89

Because payment is now mandatory, and the US gov't is the collection agent. nt Romulox Feb 2014 #90

Going over medical bills of any kind is nerve wracking. Lunacee_2013 Feb 2014 #93

Profit. Greed. Profit. Greed. Repeat. Initech Feb 2014 #97