Posted by confuzyq on June 15, 2007, at 4:25:47
In reply to Re: Holy SH*T this stuff is $$!! » corn, posted by Quintal on June 14, 2007, at 6:33:14
> Reading this it's hard not to conclude American medicine is excessively motivated by profit.
>AFAIK, the explanation for higher US prices for the same drugs is usually that the research etc. on them is/was often funded by US companies. So they 'deserve' to recoup it here. Yeah yeah whatever, I extend them no empathy or belief on such things whatsoever.
Health insurance: Private US policies can turn anyone down from what I know (or -- this part denied but often witnessed to be true -- find ways to eliminate the 'declining' from their membership rosters. Including through astronomical premium increases). Only if your insurance is provided through an employer can you be somewhat sure you can maintain it, come what may.
> It's almost the opposite way around here, too many people are better off when they're sick or unemployed, pregnant or whatever and the hard workers often feel penalized by the high taxes put on their wages to pay for all this. People are complaining that large parts of the country aspire to the 'benefit culture' of idleness, teenage pregnancy (to get a free council flat and child benefit money) and crime - simply because it pays. Many working class people are better off financially when they're unemployed, so some do all they can to stay that way and milk the system. It's a popular theme in sitcoms like "The Royle Family" and "Shameless".
> I do prefer the generous state handouts and free health care (I don't know where I'd be without it), but unfortunately it's wide open to abuse which is causing a different type of apathy and neglect.
The US/some states are also starting to increase taxes in order to provide health insurance for the uninsured. Working uninsureds too, AFAIK. I don't even think they need to prove they can't afford insurance. (Admittedly I don't follow these things too closely.)
> Is health insurance very expensive?
Independent policies (ones not provided by an employer) can be exorbitant. I'm a 40-ish female, no history of health problems; virtually never actually file claims with/use my insurance; have no meds that need to be covered; have no kids or maternity coverage; and no dental or vision coverage. Even with a $2,500 deductible, and an 80% pay-me-back rate once I reach that amount out of pocket yearly (which I *never* have, or even close), I pay almost $300/month for my policy. (Admittedly, that's for a PPO, where one can choose their own doctor as long as he/she is within the insurer's large provider network.) I do my homework too, this is not some offbeat unpopular company.
The premium rises every year with these independent policies, sooner or later it would go through the roof and you have to apply with a different company to start lower again. But eventually one will be too old and accordingly declining to get accepted by any company. The whole system really is outrageous.
poster:confuzyq
thread:762971
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070613/msgs/763316.html