Why is there such a huge problem on lowering health costs?

Question

Every American in the nation is trying to improve or solve the country's ongoing problem to health cost. But to no avail, why?

Answer 1

Because of several factors. Lets start with the fact that the average hospital has 150-200 beds and a staff of 1,000. That's at least five people on payroll for every patient. Now add in the emergency room costs. Currently the law is that the emergency room cannot refuse service to anyone. That means every uninsured person is certain to show up there for treatment of minor infectious diseases like the flu which would best be treated by a regular clinic or physician.
Then add in the costs for drugs, supplies, maintenance, equipment, and you will see that unless they charge fifty dollars for a band aid and twenty for an aspirin, they will soon be out of business.
There are plenty of solutions out there, but no one is willing to take the radical steps to get the costs back in line.

Answer 2

Due to the dramatic affect that health care services have on all of the inhabitants of the United States, the costs for each service needs to be regulated by our government. Every other industrialized country regulates their health care costs and so should we. If we continue down our present path, healthcare costs will soar without limitation.

In the United States, we pay, at the very least, 2x as much as any other industrialized country (http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/pr... and the only way for this to change is for the government to step in and regulate this vital service.
(ex. An MRI should not cost upwards of 4000 for a single use http://www.acor.org/ped-onc/treatment/mr... But in actuality, they can charge as much as they want because it is not regulated.)

Answer 3

I believe there has to be a way to lower health care costs. I have met many people who do not qualify for medicaid because their income is too high. Most people can't afford a private plan in some states, it's very expensive and even then they have regulations. I believe if we all come together and advocate harder for equal health insurance policys it may help. Our health is more important than anything.

Answer 4

The plan is not to lower cost but to put the cost on different people. They are trying to put the cost on working people who have insurance to cover their family in order to pay for none working families or people who chose not to pay for insurance.
If they were really interested in lower cost health care for the majority they would get rid of the laws that make doctors treat people who have no means to pay and hold parents responsible for insuring their children are covered. I was court ordered to carry insurance for my son after my divorce so what is criminal about the courts making all parents carry insurance.

Answer 5

Because we need to train more health care professionals but that would inflame the AMA and current health care workers. It's politics, it is the correct answer, but know-one in Washington will touch it, it's political suicide! It's far less dangerous to simply force citizens with health care and the middle class to pay for it through additional open and hidden taxes. Besides, it also allows the Liberals to feel good about themselves by making you pay for it.

Answer 6

Because the answer to the problem would require the government to get out of the health care business, and it requires the AMA to get down off their godly pedastal and give a real hoot about personal health.

The government, in my opinion has contributed to the rise in health care costs. Our tax dollars not only pay for the medical costs, they have to pay for the beaurocracy that manages the programs. This beaurocracy has created long lead times for doctors to be paid for services. This requires doctors to inflate prices to accomodate the lag in payment. This was the explanation I was given when, a few years ago, we asked about the difference in paying cash or paying thru insurance for a minor operation for our daughter. The procedure itself was cut from $1,300 to $750. The room charge for the operating room was cut from $500 to $100. Other charges were reduced as well, but an example of "artificial inflation" as I call it where government and insurance beaurocracies are involved.

President Bush announced a plan for families to have a large tax deduction for health insurance. This plan was later described by commentators as "dead on arrival" when it hits congress, due to the now democratic majority. The only problem I can see with the plan is that it will reduce taxes, thus reducing the political power the government has on us.

I feel the democrats have their own agenda of pushing for socialized medicine. This will guarantee ever increasing involvement of the government into our lives and more political power for politicians, but all you hear about the plan is that "everyone will have health care". Go to germany and ask them what socialized medicine is costing them and the problems they are having with it!... enough about the government...

The AMA is guilty of allowing people to have the mistaken idea that no matter how badly we abuse our bodies, doctors will have a pill for you that will make everything better. Granted, American medicine has made great strides in research and in the ability to put people back together after accidents and injuries. The failure is in promoting and maintaining good health to prevent disease and other medical conditions. The one personal example of this comes from my wife who suffered for 20+ years from recurrent bladder infections. Doctor always gave her antibiotics and said nothing more, I'm talking about 7 or 8 infections per year... maybe more. If you consider 2 weeks of antibiotics per infection, that doesn't leave much time to be "drug free". Finally one day she went to an alternative medicine doctor who told her about an over the counter herb she could take as a prevention... no more bladder infections, and the herb cost a minor fraction of the antibiotics. Yet, this doctor was shunned by the other doctors in the community and the local hospital revoked his priviledges. It is my understanding that in Germany, in an effort to reduce costs, it is required to try alternative medical procedures before traditional drugs are used.

Another huge problem with health care is the apathy of too many people about health issues. I heard a report on the radio that 70% of people who are diagnosed with deiabetes, do not follow doctor's treatments, resulting in worsening conditions and increased costs. This is just one example. Mortorcycle riders here are marching on the capital to complain about increased insurance premiums just because they don't want to wear a helmet when riding. They choose to put themselves at greater risks by not wearing a helmet, but don't want the responsibility to pay for that choice, they want others to pay for their reckless behavior. The list of examples can go on forever, the bottom line on this issue is that personal responsibility has been taken out of health care. It has evolved into a "devil may care" attitude. Politicians have jumped on the bandwagon promising a governmental cure for this problem. The only thing they are interested in is increasing their political power. People are the answer, not politicians!

Answer 7

Why because the USA became the country for the Rich.if you have money you can live where you want like on the water have your home rebuilt storm after storm while the rest of us get forced out of your home because of outrageous homeowner insurance in florida .samething with healthcare you can never win

Answer 8

BIG PHARMA, BIG OIL!

THESE CONGLOMERATES HAVE BEEN EMPOWERED BY THE UNITED STATES REPUBLIC TO CONTROL THEIR MARKETS WITHOUT ANY COMPETITION. THIS IS DONE TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE REPUBLIC'S CITIZENS.