are your health insurance costs going up?

[fishing is life]

the rates for our heatlh insurance went up $908 this year for medical and dental. and my company is helping us bear some of the increases. who here on ifish think it is about time George W start looking at health care reform versus taking saddam out? if things keep going the way they are we are not going to be able to afford all the fishing things we want! in all seriousness we in the U.S. have the highest costs for medical care in the world. granted it is the best but it seems like we are getting jerked around. heck you can buy prescriptions cheaper in Mexico or Canada.

[RichH]

Oh, a subject near and dear to my heart. I happen to be an administrative person in health care so I have a little bit of a different view from most. Let me start by saying that yes, the rates for my health insurance went up also.

Now, on th reform. I think we have by far the best, most accessible health care system in the world. Definitley not the cheapest though. If you're going to start with reform you need to start at the ground level. Health is huge business. Not just from the provider standpoint.

Lets start with drug companies. Everybody likes to pick on them. They're the ones that develop all these wonderful medications to make us feel better. Imagine the research and development costs involved in bringing a new drug to market. FDA approval can take years. Not a very inexpensive proposition to get a medication to the market place. I can't speak as to why they are cheaper in other countries, maybe its what the market will bear. Also, no FDA issues?

How about manufacturers of medical equipment. GE manufacutered the equipment we have in our facility. We have 2 MRI machines that cost around $2m each. Last year we upgraded 1 for $900k. We had a part break that GE offered to replace for $237. Our maintenence guys found the same part at radio shack for $.06. Just a little mark up.

Medicare, who insures the lions share of our patients, typically pays $.40 on the dollar. Don't you wish you could run your check book like that? I sure do.

Typical operating margin for a major hospital is around 4-5%. Most are understaffed due to shortages of qualified people and now we have a new way of staffing (at least in healthcare). Temps. Very expensive short term fix. Unfortunately there are not very many people interested in joining the ranks of healthcare workers since the pay really isn't all that great. Doctors do well but its my belief that they should be well compensated. Often people complain about what doctors are paid but after going to school for 10-15 years beyond highschool, why shouldn't they be. They also on a daily basis make decisions that have a profound impact on peoples lives. Also, malpractice insurance costs are driving a lot of doctors out of the profession. Can you imagine all that school and then quitting the profession because you can't afford the $200k for insurance to practice? Check out whats going on with OB/Gyn doctors.

There is no doubt that healthcare costs too much. The big question is how to fix it.
Universal coverage is a great idea, the big issues are funding and availability. Right now if you hurt your back and need an MRI, you can get it as soon as there is an available slot. If you head to Canada under the same scenario the typical wait, at least according to my sources in Toronto, is 14 months. Thats if you are using the government program. If you want to pony up some cash you could get in much sooner. A lot of Canadians head to the US to get tests like that done because they can get it when they want it.

As far as funding, you think you pay a lot in taxes now. :shocked:

Hopefully my longwinded rant gives you a smidgen of an idea why healthcare is expensive. I don't have an easy fix. We Americans like our instant gratification and pay for the ability to get things when we want them.

[Smily]

Unlike a subject that is not so dear and near to me. I agree with what Richh has said about the rising costs and all, Also the abuse in Manufacturing costs, but to also add that the people who have family's and don't make that much money insurance is a very bad game. My premiums keep going up but my wages haven't in almost 5 years. Granted, I make more than the minimum wage The help hasn't improved either but the contrary. Last time I went to go see a doctor it took me 4 phone calls and speak with a systems administrator do do so. When I eventually got there they said my cholesterol (is why I went in)is so high and my blood pressure. I had my blood oressure checked at another time and it was very good. Just having to go in for my visit makes my blood boil I guess, Of course YMMV :grin:

:smile: Smily :smile:

[ 12-18-2002, 06:59 AM: Message edited by: Smily ]

[WaterDog]

Costs going up? Oh yeah. I started working at my current employer 2 and half years ago. My share of the premium was $48 per month(family plan). Now my share is $208 per month. :shocked: We are told to expect another 20% increase this year. I will pick up half of that. Then add a wage freeze, come July I’ll go backwards. That is if I’m lucky enough to still be working by then.

Yes, healthcare is expensive. Yes, there is a problem. How to fix it? Don’t know. Going to a state sponsored system paid for by my taxes is not the answer. RichH makes some very good points and what he says is true at our local hospital based on a tour I took a few months ago.

Don't complain, try having cancer and no insurance. Right now the hospital doesn’t bill me and most of my doctors only expect a token payment. When I told the billing person that I hadn't come in for the pains that I have been having for the last few weeks she chewed my ass and got me to the hospital for some tests yesterday and I see the doctor this afternoon. I am one reason for high medical cost.
They care more for my health than my money.

As long as you're healthy insurance cost is a concern. Just wait until you get sick.

[ 12-18-2002, 11:50 AM: Message edited by: Keta ]

[Smily]

Sorry to hear of that Keta.

Water Dog, You think paying $208 is bad, I'm paying $300. a month for the family plan. OUCH!!!!! :blush: It is costly but I think it's a nessicity at this time of life.

:smile: Smily :smile:

[WaterDog]

Smily, I'm not complaining at all since the other $400 a month is paid by my employer. :grin: It's something you got to have. Just wish the rates would not go up faster than my income. :smile:

[Gobbaworms]

Keta,
Quite a shocker. Our prayers are with you.

As for the high cost of insurance, isn't it interesting that insurance companies are pointing toward health care costs as the cause while Aetna, one of the nations largest health insurers, just posted profits double that of analysts expectations?!?

Next year, I will be paying 20% more than this year for LESS coverage.

[ 12-18-2002, 10:18 PM: Message edited by: Gobbaworms ]

[1pump]

I don't have to pay my premiums since my employer is gracious enough to do so. At a meeting about a month ago my boss said an employee with 3 dependents costs him over $800 a month in insurance premiums. :shocked: He has over 70 employees. Some have no dependents, some have more. His insurance costs have gone up 30% in the last year. He blames the stock market, or more specifically the losses sustained by the insurance companies' investments. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]
He's not going to be able to be so generous for much longer. Nobody's gotten a raise in 3 years because of spiraling premiums.

[ 12-18-2002, 11:38 PM: Message edited by: 1pump ]

[fishing is life]

wow, Keta, i did not know what you were going thru. i think that is so cool what the hospital is doing for you. i hope the pain does not become unbearable. you are in my prayers. thanks for putting things in perspective. take care.

Over two years of fairly good life after they cut the tumor out (10/10/00) before this problem. It might not even be cancer related. I'll know this afternoon.

[Silver Hilton]

I think the entire insurance industry is a scam and a blight on society. I quit working a year and a half ago. At the time, I was offered COBRA coverage on insurance, at my employer's cost. The cost for my wife, two kids and I was about 800 bucks a month. That is the real, full cost that health insurance costs. I'm sure that it is similar for other folks.

Now, that adds up to what, about $9600 a year, right? Seems like more than we use, but what if we got sick and needed more care?

Well, over the last ten years, we've had two kids, one a C-section, and my wife has had cancer (cured now, thankfully). I am, at least on the surface of things, a high user of health services, one of those folks that brings health insurance rates up.

However, as I do the math, over those ten years, I and my employer have paid about $85,000 in premiums. I have used about $45,000 in services. Over those ten years, the insurance industry has added almost 100% cost to the health care that I have used.

The problem in America isn't that people don't have health insurance - the problem is that people don't have access to health care. The high cost and productivity drag that the insurance industry provides is a major part of the problem.

And I'll add to the others, good luck, Keta.

[TheRogue]

First of all....Keta, good luck, even the bleeding liberals are pulling for you :grin:

Second, has anyone noticed the recent study that's been skirted around in the media concerning high blood pressure medication medications?? Seems the most effective medication for many situations isn't the ultra-high cost meds they drug companies have been pushing for the last few years. It's the good old water pill, costs about a $100 per year, instead of $100 per day or week. In some ethinic groups, apparently the water pill is MUCH more effective!!a

Blood Pressure Link

Do you suppose that the drug companies honestly and truly didn't know that the ultra-cheap water pill was better for most of the symptoms, with less side effects, than their high-priced drugs??

TR

Watch, this will be ignored and the high $ drugs still prescribed.