SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Technology Stocks : Intel Corporation (INTC)
INTC 36.08-3.2%Dec 17 3:59 PM EST
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Road Walker who wrote (136257)5/29/2001 4:08:18 PM
From: ptanner  Read Replies (1) of 186894
 
OT // John, Re: "Most of the doctors I've talked with see things getting worse, and can't think of a solution to the mess."

I didn't really mean to start a long OT discussion but fortunately Intel news is quiet today and others seem interested. My brother-in-law is a family doctor and he and I talked about the idea of medical co-ops which would basically take the insurance company out of the mix; he said there were some of these but the majority of business is the traditional form which includes the insurance company. I think that something like 40% of health insurance premiums go to something other than providing health care which is what the whole program should be about in the first place. This type of inefficiency reminds of the $150B and millions of hours invested annually in order to try and comply with and/or minimize costs with respect to our current tax system nightmare. (Oh, no, another loaded OT subject - can we just let this idea go with: things should be simpler?)

I am one of the few folks with a high deductible health insurance plan and a medical savings account. The great MSA experiment is suffering from a lack of competition, however. It is amazing to me that if I go to the doctor and offer to pay cash so there will be no insurance paperwork overhead I will have to pay from 30 to 40% more than if the doctor had to deal with the insurance company overhead. The real losers in this system are the folks that unfortunately do not have coverage of any kind so cannot realize the benefit of the bulk prices afforded by the insurance company contracted rates.

-PT

EDIT: I also agree with your idea that there is a lack of an effective market in which the consumers have clear price signals to the consequences of their choices (ie. diet, exercise, and preventative care).
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News