I recently moderated a forum on health care costs. One of the factors that came up as a significant cost driver was personal behavior. We want the best care but with the insurance industry (or government) between consumer and the actual costs, the market system doesn't work very well.
e.g. Hospitals are swamped in Nov. Dec. because of elective surgeries, why? Deductable have been met. If we had to pay for them ourselves, many wouldn't occur. My wife's illness (lupus) was uninsured so we picked up her prescriptions out of our own pocket ($400/month). If we just went to the most convenient pharmacy it would be anywhere from $600-1200. Would I shop around if there was a $20 co-pay?
Finally, if my wife was dying, there is no difference to me between a $1,000 or a $50,000 procedure. My psychology is not market driven, but that is the way we all think as individuals, and we can't manage "the commons" based on that type of psychology and not go bankrupt. It sounds cold hearted, but at some point isn't rationing services resonable? No country can afford health care that spare's no expense.
e.g. Hospitals are swamped in Nov. Dec. because of elective surgeries, why? Deductable have been met. If we had to pay for them ourselves, many wouldn't occur. My wife's illness (lupus) was uninsured so we picked up her prescriptions out of our own pocket ($400/month). If we just went to the most convenient pharmacy it would be anywhere from $600-1200. Would I shop around if there was a $20 co-pay?
Finally, if my wife was dying, there is no difference to me between a $1,000 or a $50,000 procedure. My psychology is not market driven, but that is the way we all think as individuals, and we can't manage "the commons" based on that type of psychology and not go bankrupt. It sounds cold hearted, but at some point isn't rationing services resonable? No country can afford health care that spare's no expense.
