Let the Health Care Rationing Begin!!

bk: I can't tell you EXACTLY how all that fits into the formula. However I can at least address many of what you brought up.

Malpractice attorneys fit in to a degree because of 'defensive medicine'. This is why OB/GYNs stopped taking patients in Cape Cod in the 1980s. Now doctors order up ever test known to man so that they avoid being sued.. Now, it's not *totally* their fault for this part because we, as Americans, seem to have a "Doctor is God" complex. Heaven forbid a baby comes out wrong - and now there are a hundred lawyers on 200 cable channels all night long telling you that you can get paid for it.

Pharma / research labs - Here we have one of my pet peeves. We are the research lab for the entire country. I'm not sure where I've read it, but I've repeatedly read that "Big Pharma" amortizes their R&D costs here in the US. In other countries, they basically get medication for "manufacturing cost + some profit".

Home Health care providers - As far as I know it cuts costs. Nurses unions don't seem to impact much becauyse nurses aren't exactly making lots of money - that's why there are still nurse shortages.

Now, all the others you've mentioned have their place. BUT - when inflation is negligible, you just can't raise premiums by 30% (and this is BEFORE 'Obamacare') and not have people ask questions.

I didn't say the insurance companies were "evil" - they are CORPORATIONS and as such, it HAS to be understood that their loyalty is to the STOCKHOLDER, not the subscriber. (This is the same argument I go through with advertising - the consumer is not the 'customer' of the radio/tv/cable station - the consumer is the PRODUCT to be delivered to the PAYING CUSTOMER known as the advertiser)

It's not "evil" per se - it's BUSINESS.