[Graybeard58]

I recently had out patient surgery (Hernia repair) In and out in less than 4 hours and most of that time was spent waiting. The bill just from the hospital was $11,289. That did not include the docs fees or radiology and other tests.

I am fully insured but realize that one way or another I pay in the long run.

I have a B/P prescription filled every month, my wife has B/P, hormone and allergy prescription. Insurance pays more than $300 per month for those.

I don't have any answers but something has to give.

[socialismisinsidious]

A big part of that won't be paid...the hospitals/doctors and insurance companies all play a game....they charge X amount of dollars (what you saw on the bill) BUT the insurance company will only pay Y amount of dollars--the doctors know that they have to charge way more than they expect to get paid to cover cost. So if something cost a doc 100 bucks they charge 175 hoping to get paid 90.....one big problem: under Clinton it became insurance fraud on the part of the doc to charge anyone who doesn't have insurance what the insurance company actually pays...so the doctor can't say--"I'll charge you 90 b/c that is what I get reimbursed by insurance" instead he has to charge you the inflated amount that he charges the insurance company or risk jail and 100K fine. again the average Joe gets...well, you know.

I agree something has to change...a three pronged approach that includes medical facilities, insurance AND Tort reform! Socialized medicine (the writers real agenda here) is not the answer!

[TaxRelief]

Almost without fail, eating right and daily aerobic exercise will bring B/P down without medication.