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To: Little Joe who wrote (9639)	2/17/2012 11:50:27 PM
From: Bread Upon The Water	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 85487

"Same thing in medicine. Most of us older folks have routine colonoscopies, but I bet very few if any have any idea of what they cost. From what I can tell the range is wide and the cost ridiculous. Why is that. Because we don't pay for it. It is that simple. The problem is how do you create an incentive for the consumer to reduce costs. How is this for a crazy idea. Insurance company refunds 1/2 of any savings, if you find someone to do it cheaper. Could that work?" Possibly it could, but the way things are priced on medical bills the average person can't understand them because they are all coded up so that would have to be addressed also. We want to some routine things, like colonscopys, to be free in the plan as it prevents further higher costs down the road (same thing contraception), but other things, like surgery we want the consumer to shop. We may even fund him an airplane ticket to India or Singapore for scheduled surgery as costs as generally less than half here. But whatever we are thinking along the same lines although you probably object to the compulsory part.

To: Little Joe who wrote (9639)	2/18/2012 11:15:22 AM
From: sm1th	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 85487

How is this for a crazy idea. Insurance company refunds 1/2 of any savings, if you find someone to do it cheaper. The insurance companies have the data on both costs and outcomes, but are prohibited from disclosing it. I know of one insurance company that offered a plan where copays varied depending on the provider. If you wanted to go the the expensive teaching hospital, you could, but you would pay more than if you went to the less expensive community hospital. That is similar to what you are proposing.