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How would YOU fix health care?
01-28-17 | Auntie Mame

Posted on 01/28/2017 9:15:41 AM PST by Auntie Mame

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In my opinion, a large part of this problem stems from the huge amounts of money involved so we follow the money.

So another question is, how to get the free market system in health care back?

1 posted on 01/28/2017 9:15:41 AM PST by Auntie Mame
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To: Auntie Mame

Pricing transparency. It would be nice to be able to shop around and see ratings on hospitals and doctors like pretty much any other good or service.


2 posted on 01/28/2017 9:17:57 AM PST by glorgau
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To: Auntie Mame

Free market capitalism. Interstate health insurance. Gut regulations (which cost billions). Waiting period for preexisting conditions.

Lather, rinse, repeat.


3 posted on 01/28/2017 9:18:26 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: Auntie Mame

Your second question about “getting free markets back” is a good one.

Bottom line is that everything that’s broken about health care was broken by the 0 administration. At least the parts where it is supplied for “free” as a “right” and as post diagnosis.


4 posted on 01/28/2017 9:18:52 AM PST by albie
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To: Auntie Mame

Tort Reform.

Cut the cost of doing business for doctors and you cut the cost of health care.


5 posted on 01/28/2017 9:20:58 AM PST by P-Marlowe (Freep mail me if you want to be on my Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar Ping list.)
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To: Auntie Mame

Bring back competition. All prices must be made visible.

Anyone who colludes or fixes prices goes to jail.

Those who can’t pay go to the charity hospitals.

Competition, competitive plans and free trade.


6 posted on 01/28/2017 9:22:18 AM PST by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: glorgau

I need a buffet style choice plan that is able to cross state lines without the state getting their paws into the process. I would also like to be able to talk to the prospective insurance company instead of going through a middle man. That way I can ask the questions that I need answered instead of a “muddle” person being in the middle of it.

My wife can’t have kids so I don’t need maternity or birth control pills nor should I have to pay for that in a policy. Drug prices are also out of reasonable cost range for two of the prescriptions we take. If they are taking EPIPEN to task then why not others.


7 posted on 01/28/2017 9:25:36 AM PST by Oilfield (My job is to manage and negotiate chaos)
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To: Auntie Mame

Health insurance should be insurance and not coverage. If you want to, or as a benefit your company provides a Health Savings account...Great. Otherwise, health insurance should be a simple catastrophic plan. Otherwise, pay for basic care. Credit can be made available through the doctor if he so chooses. Other health credit agencies will go into business, perhaps by authorizing voluntary paycheck withdrawals etc.

Costs should be readily available. If a $350 test is $250 down the road, people will switch. The market sets the prices, not the whim of the medical establishment. Basic charges should be posted online and have a menu of services.

Doctors can partner with a local pawn shop for patients who would rather barter than pay cash. Lots of options, none of which include the government.


8 posted on 01/28/2017 9:26:16 AM PST by cyclotic (Republicans Are without excuse. Flood the Resolute Desk with sane legislation.)
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To: Auntie Mame

Another thing is doctors with a bias to DO things, simply in order to bill for them. Often the things they do are worse for peoples’ health than the condition they are ostensibly fixing. The word for this is called Iatrogenic disease, and it’s a leading killer in the US.


9 posted on 01/28/2017 9:26:48 AM PST by babble-on
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To: Auntie Mame

Maybe we should just enforce Existing Consumer Protection Laws in the Medical Profession, like EVERY OTHER BUSINESS??

And NO they are NO Exemptions for them under Current Law.


10 posted on 01/28/2017 9:27:17 AM PST by eyeamok (destruction of government records.)
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To: Auntie Mame

Since it’s too late to return to the way it was before this disaster was passed and, now many are addicted to sucking the free stuff udder, lest make everyone who sucks at that udder (all welfare and food stamps) pay taxes.
Get some skin in the game.
What a novelty idea!


11 posted on 01/28/2017 9:27:28 AM PST by Tac Double Tap (I'd rather die standing than on my knees begging.)
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To: Auntie Mame

Allow all people to write off their premium on their taxes when they do their taxes. Or if they prefer before in the form of tax free spending accounts. We do this with a home mortgage, why not our health insurance.

Secondly: we need to figure out a way to fix the “other people pay for it so I don’t care how much it costs” problem. People will make smarter, free market, decisions if they are invested in the costs of their medical care.


12 posted on 01/28/2017 9:29:05 AM PST by dhs12345
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To: 2banana

The big problem with price competition is that the product is not always the same, and civilians cannot tell the difference.

It’s like saying what the price of a 4 Door Sedan should be. Is it a 2002 Camry? or a Rolls Royce? A lot of doctors shouldn’t be allowed to practice at all they kill so many patients. Some are miracle workers. They should not be compensated at the same rates.


13 posted on 01/28/2017 9:29:37 AM PST by babble-on
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To: Auntie Mame
Let clinics charge a flat monthly fee for a set of listed services, and have a clear listing fee schedule of other services. It's not "insurance" anymore than my monthly cable service is. Let insurance cover catastrophic medical needs.

My doctor doesn't know what my cost will be when I leave his office, but I have to pay it before I leave the building. That's not what insurance should be for, but that is how it's used....

14 posted on 01/28/2017 9:29:43 AM PST by jeffc (The U.S. media are our enemy)
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To: Auntie Mame
be able to buy insurance across state lines opening up competition and lowering prices

letting people but only catastrophic health plans

15 posted on 01/28/2017 9:31:10 AM PST by Chode (may the RATS all die of dehydration from crying)
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To: Auntie Mame
Regarding Pre-existing conditions. You can buy a policy with a pre-existing condition, subject to these conditions:

1. If continuous coverage has been maintained (see pre-Obamacare practices), then you're good. No penalty.
2. If you were under a COBRA plan - all good.
3. If neither of the above: $20K deductible for first 6 months; $10K for next 6 months. Then you're good.

16 posted on 01/28/2017 9:33:34 AM PST by alancarp (George Orwell was an optimist.)
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To: babble-on

Oh please.

Competition has worked great in medical procedures that patients actually pay for the treatment. That insurance doesn’t cover. Even as technology gets better.

Lazik, cosmetic surgery, etc.


17 posted on 01/28/2017 9:34:18 AM PST by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: Auntie Mame

The only way to fix it is to Break up all Medical Monopolies using Sherman Anti-Trust and Wright-Patman.

Once that happens cost may come down as much as 80% and we can save this country. Otherwise we are on a course for Financial Destruction.


18 posted on 01/28/2017 9:34:40 AM PST by Captain Peter Blood
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To: 2banana

When I was growing up in the 60s-70s, health-care insurance was then known as hospitalization. Like other forms of insurance, it covered high-cost, low-incidence events like babies, operations, and broken bones. It did not cover lower-cost higher-incidence events like doctor visits and prescription drugs. It was inexpensive. Policies not provided by employers could be purchased through fraternal organizations. I think we should consider a return to this system. If the uninsured are to be covered by the state, it should be a bare-bones hospitalization-type plan covering low-incidence events only.


19 posted on 01/28/2017 9:34:57 AM PST by huckfillary
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To: Auntie Mame

Easy.........view it the same as Car Repair.

Most people that go to auto repair shops pay the shop directly. Take the insurance companies out of health care.

You go to a doctor, pay the doctor the standard rate. No insurance company’s approval needed, no middleman, just the Doctor and you.

The Doctor’s would be far richer, and happier, and the market would dictate rates and charges. Hardship cases can submit a request for assistance to the city of residence, for information to contact people or organizations willing to lend money to help them. Clearly, as we have seen over the past few weeks...........If Cities, Universities, etc., all have the money to operate as sanctuary cities then the down-trodden should be well taken care of.

Those that agree to drug testing similar to a FFD program which is not asking too much will be given priority over people that refuse. Personally, I’m all for completely defunding Tax dollars that support abortion, NPR, PBS, etc.,
and let’s strongly vet the Welfare roles for fraud, and corruption.


20 posted on 01/28/2017 9:35:04 AM PST by EnglishOnly (Fight all out to win OR get out now.)
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