(Whoops, accidentally did that a private reply. Man, I’m tired. Sorry, RichardW. Here’s the public reply—same thing.)
Any means testing would require more bureaucracy. Presumably, the Health Care Financing Administration would have to work jointly with the Internal Revenue Service. I of course find the implications disturbing, but it’s the least worst idea I can think of that might actually get implemented. To solve a 19 trillion dollar problem, one must look at “least worst” options.
But if anyone has a better plan, I’m willing to hear it.
I think the core solution is to involve the patients and/or their families. We need to know up front what something costs. As it is now, we don’t know and it is a slugfest between the medical providers and he chiseling insurance companies. And we get caught in the middle. Now it is a national problem in that we can’t pay for it. We need to bring the market back. I would start off by publishing the cost of all procedures and medical costs. We have to know what something costs.
I was charged over $10,000 just for one hour in an operating room plus another $1,500 for the recovery room. Total bill came to $30,000 and I’ve only seen a small portion paid by the insurance carrier. Can you believe $47 for a Zocor pill even though I had plenty with me. The stated excuse for now allowing me to take my own pills was that the hospital might get sued if I overdosed? (on a statin drug - give me a break.) The aspirin was downright cheap at only $3.25 for an 81 mg tablet.