Why don't we ever see a discussion of medical inflation?

[n2doc]

This is the cause of most of the problems with Medicare and the whole HC system, yet all I ever see is that costs will increase and only reductions in service are the cure. Why isn't there enough competition and innovation to keep prices down? Is it due to Insurance company profits, big pharma, doctors wages or insurance costs? It would be very interesting to see this broken out by expected increase per decade.

[kickysnana]

1. I see one once a day, where have you been? n/t

[n2doc]

3. link? n/t

[Recursion]

10. GIYF

http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=health+care+costs

[n2doc]

12. Worthless and misses the point of my question

But thanks for playing.

[Recursion]

15. 2000+ articles on health care costs

Exactly pertinent to your question. Don't be a sore loser.

[uppityperson]

19. You want us to do the research and post what we find? Ah.

[xchrom]

2. recommend

[w8liftinglady]

4. The total for my medical bills for 2010 was over $450 K.

My insurance paid 210 K.
My docs made fair wages as employees of the State of Texas.
Aetna didn't lose their shirt.The Drugs companies certainly didn't lose theirs.I'm sure the hospital "got by" as well.

Universal health care would eliminate so much of that.

[uppityperson]

5. Insurance company profits are driving prices up and up and up

Part of that is insurance costs for providers (liability) and patients. Doctor's wages have gone down overall, at least amongst the ones I know (though I am sure there are some whose haven't). Big Pharma impacts medicine costs and how much of what is prescribed, but the thing that is driving the inflation is Ins Co profits.

The only thing and Ins Co is for is to make money. And they do.

I see discussions here on this daily but agree it'd be interesting to see a chart of increased per decade.

[n2doc]

7. I see discussions on some aspects, but mostly anecdotal

I'd really like to see costs broken down by major area. It would also be really useful to see comparisons of those costs in other countries with single payer or other government run HC. Seems to me that is what is needed to start figuring out how to rein in the inflation. Rather than just barreling on, and expecting people to go without care because "we can't afford it"

[uppityperson]

11. For Profit Insurers, Profits for first 9 months of 2010 (chart)

http://www.healthinsurance.org/blog/2010/11/15/insurance-company-profits-up-41-percent/




http://images.quickblogcast.com/80618-70584/United_Profit.bmp

[n2doc]

14. So that is one part, and one time point.

Doesn't describe how much of total costs, especially medicare (which I assume isn't directly affected by private insurers) costs.

[uppityperson]

16. You are welcome. That took me only a moment to find. What do you find?

[TheKentuckian]

6. That would mean addressing costs in a serious way and that means curbing profits

and shrinking 1/6 of the economy.

It would also entail cutting off the endless finger pointing from the various hands that collect our health car dollars.

You do something like that and it will cut into the entire industry's profits!

[MichiganVote]

8. THAT is at the heart of much of what Americans are complaining about.

[Recursion]

9. Umm... I see them all the time

Rising health care costs are pretty heavily covered by the media.

[n2doc]

13. Again, bulk numbers are worthless

The media gives a number like "Costs rising by 12 percent a year" but DOESN'T BREAK IT DOWN BY CATEGORY

[KT2000]

17. It is multi-layers

of profit driven businesses.
I would imagine that most doctor visits result in a prescription. This coutry has given pharmaceutical companies free reign to these companies to charge what they can. Just that alone counts for inflation.

[reformist2]

18. Big Pharma is the biggest racket going.