The appointment of czars

[monoloco]

Originally Posted by kinghawg98

There is a rate difference in states, because there is no free market health care. Certain states have to cover such BS as massage therapy, accupuncture or chiropractors, even if you dont want to. Other states do not mandate such bullcrap and the rates are cheaper. My guess is Oregon, being the liberal state it is, mandates that all these non-medial treatments be covered by your health insurance.


Here's a plan that a nationwide company uses (I forget who at the moment.) The first 1000 in medical expenses is straight out of your pocket. The next 1000 the company pays for. After that its 80/20 split, where you pay the 20% The health insurance rates of ALL involved are way less because the receiver of benefits does not want to spend their money, so they shop around for the best bang for the buck. One example was an MRI cost- It was 700 bucks at one provider and $7000! at a provider just ~two miles away. Now, thats just baloney to have a 10 fold difference.

Making YOU the receiver of benefits shop around to find a good doctor as opposed to being stuck withing these provider plans is key to freeing the market and making health care 'affordable' for everyone.

That almost sounds like the plan I have except I have to fork over the first 3000. The one thing I found out that really pisses me off is that the hospitals charge a lot more if you don't have insurance and you are paying out of your own pocket. The insurance companies will only pay so much for any given procedure but the hospitals can charge the general public what ever they want. I have a buddy who had a heart operation and the hospital sent him a bill for 120k, he did some research and found out that the insurance companies only have to pay around 70k, so he offered to settle with the hospital for 70k cash and they flat turned him down and demanded the full amount. So now he is in court. I have found that you can negotiate with doctors though.

[kinghawg98]

Originally Posted by monoloco

That almost sounds like the plan I have except I have to fork over the first 3000. The one thing I found out that really pisses me off is that the hospitals charge a lot more if you don't have insurance and you are paying out of your own pocket. The insurance companies will only pay so much for any given procedure but the hospitals can charge the general public what ever they want. I have a buddy who had a heart operation and the hospital sent him a bill for 120k, he did some research and found out that the insurance companies only have to pay around 70k, so he offered to settle with the hospital for 70k cash and they flat turned him down and demanded the full amount. So now he is in court. I have found that you can negotiate with doctors though.

Hospitals probably don't charge cash customers more. Nobody does, it makes no sense. Perhaps your friend has something else going on or you were mistaken.. Or you live in weirdo land. Any business will charge more when a 3rd party is involved b/c of the hassle. such as......insurance, credit card co (discount at gas stations for cash for example)

Regardless, he can apply for hardship and have it paid for or at least reduced unless he's super wealthy. Or he can just not pay it.

Forking over the first 3k is not a bad plan anyways, a comprehensive plan for you and a spouse will run many people in the mid 2k/yr anyways....if not more. Depends on the state.

[monoloco]

Originally Posted by kinghawg98

Hospitals probably don't charge cash customers more. Nobody does, it makes no sense. Perhaps your friend has something else going on or you were mistaken.. Or you live in weirdo land. Any business will charge more when a 3rd party is involved b/c of the hassle. such as......insurance, credit card co (discount at gas stations for cash for example)

Regardless, he can apply for hardship and have it paid for or at least reduced unless he's super wealthy. Or he can just not pay it.

Forking over the first 3k is not a bad plan anyways, a comprehensive plan for you and a spouse will run many people in the mid 2k/yr anyways....if not more. Depends on the state.

It is absolutely true that individuals will pay more for hospitals than insurance companies. My buddy can afford to pay but he felt like he was getting ripped off. It was his surgeon who tipped him off to this.