Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Wisconsin Teachers Fringe Benefits
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Old 03-06-2011, 07:38 AM
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Originally Posted by djplong View Post
In a story about health insurance premiums in New Hampshire, a statistic was pointed out about some small businesses having their premiums hiked up to over $700/month per employee.

That's $8400/year per person.

In 5 years, that's over $40,000.

How many people, in their earning years, spend $40,000 on health care in 5 years?

When I worked at Beth Israel Hospital, a few studies came out that were eye-opening to me.

1) Well over 50% of a person's lifetime health care spending happens in the last 2 years. Most of THAT in the last 6 months.

2) Over 50% of insurance premiums that are actually spent on health care services (as opposed to paying for overhead) are spent on less than 2% of the subscribers.

Think about what that means. I'm sure the numbers have only gotten worse in the last 20 years.

I remember when drug companies used to advertise in medical journals. Now they advertise on TV (non stop at times) and people I kow who work in doctor's offices say they have to deal with a flood of phone calls every time a new pill comes out.

How much does all that advertising cost? How much is that alone inflating our health care tab? I mean, Pepsi, with all their advertising, costs VASTLY more than the generic sodas that taste almost the same in the supermarket. Why does the $10 birth control that I used to buy for my ex-wife in 1981 now cost my daughter $30 when the manufacturing process has gotten even MORE efficient?

Why does the hospital have to PROVIDE more for less (in negotiations with the insurance companies) while the insurance companies CHARGE more for less? (Again, speaking from experience when working at a hospital - they got squeezed like crazy just to be kept on the insurance comapnies 'authorized hospitals' lists)
AND if the taxpayers are paying 100% of it, that is a good deal, huh ?