Why are healthcare costs so high?

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Lifer
Jun 3, 2002
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This isn't really hard to get; the most expensive medical care occurs in the last year of life, specifically the last few days/weeks of life when ultra-expensive and previously unavailable medical technology is used to keep you alive temporarily. This technology was not available in the 1950's and 1960's, therefore you couldn't spend money (out of pocket or not) on medical care that didn't exist in your final days of life. And therefore, any correlation to the introduction of Medicare is, at best, weak and, at worst, unrelated.
 

realibrad

Lifer
Oct 18, 2013
12,337
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This isn't really hard to get; the most expensive medical care occurs in the last year of life, specifically the last few days/weeks of life when ultra-expensive and previously unavailable medical technology is used to keep you alive temporarily. This technology was not available in the 1950's and 1960's, therefore you couldn't spend money (out of pocket or not) on medical care that didn't exist in your final days of life. And therefore, any correlation to the introduction of Medicare is, at best, weak and, at worst, unrelated.

That is a huge part. Like I said before, when people don't have to pay all the costs, you get a lot of waste. People who are old don't want to die, and are willing to do anything to stay alive. I don't blame them at all. But, someone has to pay for all the expensive medical care, and it wont be the person who will likely die in 2 years, but just spent 2 million in medical expenses.
 

IGBT

Lifer
Jul 16, 2001
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somebody has to pay for all of the obamas illegal aliens. that's why.
 

realibrad

Lifer
Oct 18, 2013
12,337
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somebody has to pay for all of the obamas illegal aliens. that's why.

You should keep that to yourself. Mainly because it has almost zero to do with this topic. Unless you are making a joke... then

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Atreus21

Lifer
Aug 21, 2007
12,001
571
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This isn't really hard to get; the most expensive medical care occurs in the last year of life, specifically the last few days/weeks of life when ultra-expensive and previously unavailable medical technology is used to keep you alive temporarily. This technology was not available in the 1950's and 1960's, therefore you couldn't spend money (out of pocket or not) on medical care that didn't exist in your final days of life. And therefore, any correlation to the introduction of Medicare is, at best, weak and, at worst, unrelated.

In the graphs I put in my original post, I noted that lifetimes getting longer has compounded the problem. But I don't agree that it's the root cause.
 

marincounty

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2005
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Everyone in medical care is overpaid. The nurses here make over 100k per year.
The clerks are overpaid. The janitors are overpaid. The drug company is overpaid.
The x-ray tech is overpaid. The pharmacist is overpaid.
This is similar to police and fire, they are all overpaid and over pensioned.
Check the wages of European doctors and nurses.
 

First

Lifer
Jun 3, 2002
10,518
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In the graphs I put in my original post, I noted that lifetimes getting longer has compounded the problem. But I don't agree that it's the root cause.

My point was totally separate from longer lifespans, as living longer by itself is separate from the direct costs associated with technological advances that keep you alive in an end-of-life hospital setting. Though, to be fair, they are definitely related, with the advancement in heart surgery being a big reason why people live well into their 80's quite healthily these days.
 

Zorkorist

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2007
6,861
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Government makes laws, that all must be insured.
Insurance Companies, drive behavior, as an agent of Government.
Lawyers, sue Insurance Companies.

This is why healthcare is expensive.

Note: none of that was about how hard it is to do an open heart surgery, or care for the elderly, sick, or infirmed.

-John
 
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Zorkorist

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2007
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Note: also, that Obamacare/ACA only institutionalizes (communizes) the problem.

-John
 

Zorkorist

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2007
6,861
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Stealers of humanity. Stealers of freedom. Stealers of compassion. etc.

-John
 

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
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217px-Supply-demand-equilibrium.svg.png



If you really need a scapegoat, look to the government backed monopoly the A.M.A. has.

Don't forget shortages and surpluses if they add price caps or minimum prices respectively.

Anytime a socialized medicine system is instituted there are always shortages until the hypochondriacs stop sucking up all the MRI's.