Shel said:The keyword here is
afford
period.
That was my whole point. The so-called "equitable" and "fair" socialized health system in that country not only provides inferior health care, it is still inequitable. No amount of effort by any government in the history of the world has ever changed the fact that those with more money get better services.
Shel said:For someone who can pay whatever medical cost out of their own pocket, why do they need insurance to begin with? I think what many people fail to see is how health costs became so out of control. Have you ever received an Explanation of Benefits from your insurer for a lab test that was billed at $300-400 but "adjusted" by the insurance company to around $30 or less? The reason for this is that insurance companies' "allowable charges" are often based on a percentage of the provider's cash rate. As the reimbursement rate declines steadily, providers jack up their cash rates to ensure they make a profit. That's why if you are uninsured you can go in for the simplest and most routine of medical procedures and receive a ridiculous bill for $2000. Most likely the reimbursement rate is somewhere around 5-20% of the cash rate. What ends up happening is it becomes outlandishly expensive to self-insure or even indemnity-insure (catastrophe only). I am a young adult male, with no real health concerns, and as such I am a prime example of someone who should have high-deductible insurance and pay for everything else out of pocket. I simply can't afford to do that, however, as even the most insignificant illnesses or injuries could cost $1-10k or more. The net result is two classes are created: those that are insured under very generous employer plans (in which the insurance companies pay greatly deflated rates) and those that are not insured and can't afford any health care whatsoever. Doctors are not the ones at fault here, as they are often given a "choice" by the hospitals in which they can either (1) accept the insurance companies' "proposed" allowable charges no questions asked, or (2) show themselves the door. The hospitals, too, are not the ones at fault, as they in turn are given a "choice" by the insurance companies to either force their doctors to accept the rates or give up all of the insurer's customers. How can a hospital stay in business if they don't accept Anthem? Or United Healthcare? Or Kaiser? As you can see, it is really no choice at all. This is why I believe the solution to this health care crisis does require some government involvement, but in terms of regulation, not sponsorship. Edit: typo | 
