And it begins.

**Ranger10** · 10-26-12, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Fovezer

Sorry to break it to you, but this already happens. A lot. Look at HMO's and other plans that force you to go to a doctor in their network or they won't cover it or charge you a lot more. They already dictate what they will cover, what percentage, and at which facilities you can have tests and other things done at. Everything you just said here already happens, and it costs us twice as much as other countries.

I know. I worked in a pharmacy for 5 years. But I can tell you, the medications denied by insurance companies was because another medication was already out there which worked the same. Remember, drug companies are trying to create new meds so they can charge more for them. After a certain period of time, any company can make any med. The only reason Viagra is so expensive is because the company is trying to make as much money as it can in the time it has an exclusive right to its formula. So they charge 10 bucks a pill. Insurance companies don't have to pay for that, because its not directly related keeping you alive.

There are a whole host of drugs not covered, and its because there is either another treatment out there which does the same thing, or its not directly related to keeping you alive.

Same thing with hospital care. However, in the case of hospitals, my GF says that the doctors have usually been able to prescribe the correct procedure, unless it was Medicare. So while that may happen to and extent, I would bet anything the extenuating circumstances around it are the same as those I mentioned above regarding medications.

I can tell you the same, exact stories from private insurers. I'd absolutely support giving doctors more leeway when it comes to covering treatments they feel are necessary.

Do you think insurance companies should cover the medical treatment of people who smoke? Continue to smoke?

Then it's pointless and has no use. Because the point of business is to provide a product at the lowest cost possible while making the most money off it. That means making it more difficult to get coverage while jacking up rates. Profit margins also take away from money that could be spent providing more coverage. If insurance companies provided anything of actual value instead of being just money pools that skim a healthy chunk off the top I might agree with you, but they don't. They fight paying everything as it is.

True. They don't want to let their money go. But I hate to break it to you, any government back healthcare is the same. Let me ask you this, if every other European country in the world has better healthcare, then why does everyone come here for major medical procedures? Its one thing to cover a flu shot, or cough syrup. But if they were so good, why does everyone come here?

We already have it in Medicare and it would be far cheaper to cut out profit margins for something that doesn't need a competitive market to be successful. To extremely simplify it, all they do is pool money and pay out claims. There just has never been one good, persuasive argument I have ever heard to maintain the for-profit health insurance scam we have now.

Of course they pool it. They pay it out, but they do it based on things like life expectancy, accrual rates, habitual behavior, just like every private insurer. The only different from a government forced healthcare plan, and a bunch of privatized insurers looking to earn your business, is that you can't switch from the government plan.

Ever.

**deathgodusmc** · 10-26-12, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by Ranger10

True. They don't want to let their money go. But I hate to break it to you, any government back healthcare is the same.

Ask anyone on medicare or in the va system. Im sure they'll tell you its actually worse.

**Ranger10** · 10-26-12, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by deathgodusmc

Ask anyone on medicare or in the va system. Im sure they'll tell you its actually worse.

Excellent point. The VA system is what you get when the government provides healthcare.

Have fun with that.

**SmokenScion** · 10-26-12, 06:20 PM

Who comes here for Major Surgeries?

**Ranger10** · 10-26-12, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by SmokenScion

Who comes here for Major Surgeries?

People who need major surgery, and don't live here.

**dex71** · 10-26-12, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by SmokenScion

Who comes here for Major Surgeries?

Everyone who has the money.

Put it this way, in Rochester Minnesota, some of the street signs are in Arabic because of their proximity to the Mayo Clinic.