Posted by Victor (24.240.212.38) on December 20, 2001 at 11:39:34:
In Reply to: Insurance ! posted by Elaine on December 20, 2001 at 11:07:55:
have to fill out a ton of paper work to get paid, have to wait for ever, have to go back and explain why the procedure was necessary, the insurance companies use their buying power to get the best price and will beat down the medical people in constant wheeling and dealing.
From their side, they simply add up what they paid out, tack on about a 30% profit and divide that by the number of people in the group to set the premiums.
I had a good policy in the 70's was only $78.00 a month for full family coverage, with a couple of conditions in the family that skyrocketed to over $1,500 a month in the early 90's. A hospital room in the 70's cost 40 bucks a night, that same exact room now costs $1,500.00 plus they manage to tack on that amount for all these unwanted visitors, hell, even the minister tacked on a couple of hundred bucks and watch out for those endless counselors that stop in with a big smile and just want to visit.
Many can't afford health insurance, our new huge Wal-Mart only has seven full time employees, the other couple of hundred or so are part time with zero benefits. Then of course, anything you get done in the medical profession carries no warrantees, you pay the same amount whether they do good or kill you. AMA is very powerful. Nothing I hate more than an arrogant doctor, he is my employee.