“The Price We Pay” Healthcare

Haha, there was another thread recently where @ValdostaGatorFan correctly called out a brand new member that resurrected an old thread. I wonder if a second newbie will come post in this thread like that one?


And now the electric car thread resurrected with:

 

Absolutely, if that didn't scare the shit outta you...but seems we're in the minority bigtime in here.

 

Obviously not all the information is given in the report but insurance is legally required to cover ER visits and $164,000 is far, far above what would be a copay or coinsurance so I'd wager they have no insurance.

Also, in my book deciding to have 5 kids without the ability to cover a $164,000 expense (even if you're pulling from retirement) is irresponsible yes.

I have insurance and my family had to go to a local ER that is out of network, as I'm a remote employee, and the insurance covered most of it and negotiated the remainder down. I wouldn't dream of having 5 kids without completely airtight finances, that's wildly irresponsible. We're about to have our second and even 2 is scary financially.

 

I’m saying that mechanics killing cars pales in comparison to healthcare killing Americans.

 

No, diet is not the reason why the US is less healthy than its peers. Now, chronic dieting may be a factor ...

 

If I'm not mistaken, don't you have a son who is a physician? What does he think of American healthcare?

 

Indeed, we love each other dearly and are at painful loggerheads on health perspectives.

Aside: it was my son who poo-poohed the notion that hospitals were overloaded. His facility likes to operate at 95% capacity.

 

I'm guessing then you have differences of opinions on Covid, viruses, and the Covid vaccine?
I'm glad for you it hasn't negatively affected your father / son relationship, but holiday dinners must be strained at your house.

 

LOL, maybe we’re case studies in compartmentalizations. Yes, we disagree on a subject that his pretty much foundational to his discipline. FWIW, If I had a compound fracture I definitely wouldn’t try to set it myself. There is a role for healthcare.

 

I know this was meant as a joke, but after reading this I hope the lawsuit was thrown out. Sounds to me like the teenage tech simply didn't know how to drive a manual and had it in gear when he removed his foot from the clutch. It's sure not the owner's fault if that's the case.

EDIT: Confirmed the above, but this is a case of ridiculously stupid MI legislation.

Why A Jeep Customer Was Sued After Dealer's Teen Mechanic Accidentally Killed Coworker During Oil Change | Carscoops

 

I don't think that is limited to Michigan. I think most states do not allow a worker to sue their employer for on-the-job injury. That's why we have Workers Compensation Insurance.

I do think it was ridiculous to sue the car owner. I don't see that he gave permission to the kid to drive it. He turned the car over to the dealership in a professional transaction. If he had to pay out, then he should turn around and see the dealership for letting the kid drive.

 

Yup. All the family of deceased is getting is what workers comp would pay for a totally disabled worker. The family is trying to get at the vehicle's insurance policy. And I presume the owners insruance company easily defend that.

And this is exactly why you pay for life insurance. Because there is a strong chance your family isn't getting much in the event of an accident.

 

The price we’ve paid for healthcare is incalculable multitudes of deaths.

Oh yeah, there are the ponderous costs in money as well.

 

The liability should come from the dealership as the vehicle was in their care custody and control. Here in Florida the liability of a vehicle goes to the owner. If I loan my vehicle to someone and they hurt someone I am liable. Of course the driver will be secondary as far as liability. I would guess Michigan is similar and that is why they are going after the owner first, I think in this situation the liability should shift to the dealer liability as it was left with them on their lot but maybe they are protected under the work comp laws. If it had been a customer that was killed then the dealers liability would be in play for sure.

 

Singapore uses Milton Friedman's idea of medical savings accounts.
Excellent healthcare with less hospital acquired infections because their IQ level is high, they're consientious and they wash their hands a lot.

Everybody is covered. The richest fund their own accounts. The poorest have their account funded by government.

Cost is roughly 1/4 to 1/3 the cost of Healthcare in the US.

As I said on Twitter a few years ago it will take Elon Musk to transition the US to a better system.

The savings come from people spending their money more carefully than they spend someone else's money.

Licensure should be eliminated in the Healthcare field. I don't feel like explaining why to super close-minded people.
Superb Healthcare At Ultra-Low Prices? How Singapore Does It

Milton Friedman: Medical licensing (short version of a Mayo Clinic speech)


Milton Friedman entire Mayo Clinic speech is online

 

Singapore mandates that its citizens participate in healthcare savings accounts not dissimilar to Switzerland which mandates that its citizens purchase health insurance. Trump and the Republicans eliminated the insurance mandate from the ACA. Ironically, the Swiss system which is very similar to the ACA was the basis for the 1993 Republican healthcare reform bill.
Health Equity and Access Reform Today Act of 1993

 

What's interesting 8s that a fully socialist or fully free market Healthcare system are both cheaper than a mixed system that has socialist and free market aspects. I like the more free market system because I think it leads to higher quality healthcare.

Switzerland is one of the more free market economies in the world. Conservatives probably like the Singapore system the most and Switzerland would be next:
From an article:


The Swiss healthcare system is not tax-based or funded by employers, in contrast to other European nations like socialized medicine in France (although, similar in some ways to Germany’s).

Instead, it is covered by contributions made by the individual to Swiss health insurance programs.

Many people purchase additional private health insurance to supplement their baseline coverage. With plenty of options and competition, Switzerland boasts one of the largest private healthcare sectors in the world.
Is Switzerland Socialist or Capitalist? (With Examples)

 

Other side of the coin: with healthcare being the third-leading cause of death in the US (likely the first in 2020-21) it may not always be a bad thing that Americans can’t afford treatment.