For Profit Health Care?...

[teambuilder]

My least favorite aspect of this career is when you get the call, that the doctor won't accept the insurance for something, or the carrier won't cover something. Sometimes you can assist to work things out, and other times you can't. Emotions run strong, either way.

How do you health insurance agents feel, deep in your heart about the idea of "for-profit health care?"

Now before you blaze me to a crisp with your flames of conservatism, calling me a commie, socialist, liberal, etc.....

Ask yourself, doesn't for-profit health care, benefit the care provider who sells the most product/services per customer?

Meaning that if health care made people well, it would put itself out of business. Any takers?

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Chaoulli v. Quebec (Attorney General) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In Quebec waiting times got so bad finally someone got sick of it and sued - claiming that when their "free" coverage doesn't work they have a right to buy private insurance.

They won...and now in Quebec....in a very little publicized decision, patients can buy private coverage and doctors can work fee-based for a certain number of procedures per year.

 

[somarco]

Some would have you believe profit is a 4 letter word.

The fact is, the federal government is the only entity that does not have to operate in the black.

Doctors, hospitals, labs . . . most are for profit operations. A few hospitals are run by charitable organizations or city/county governments, but most are for profit.

Most, but not all carriers are for profit. A few of the Blue plans still exist as not for profit. KP and some HMO's are not for profit.

Even when profit exists it's not like the margin is excessive.

Remove the profit from a medical practice or hospital and you can lower prices by 3 - 5%. Same for most insurance carriers.

Then what do you do?

Inflation will eat up any profit margin within 6 months.

Those who complain about for profit health care and health insurance don't have a clue.

 

[Mr. Bill]

If there were no "profit" in it, there wouldn't be any medical devices or pharmaceuticals to help in diagnosis and treatment. We'd be back to the leech days and simple limb amputation.

Hmmmm... sounds like a good plan, eh?

 

[ABC]

I have in laws that are Canadian.
One of them recently died of cancer. Once diagnosed she was put on a waiting list for treatment. It took something like 3 months to see a specialist. By the time she received treatment it has spread to her lymph nodes.

If she was receiving treatment in a for profit medical system they could of started treatment much much sooner and at least given her a chance to live.

Another case I know about was when a very successful man up in Canada went in for a routine colonoscopy. They nicked one of his intestines and dam near killed him. They thought he just had the flew not realizing it was ecolie. In a for profit they would of put the recent procedure and symptoms together a hell of a lot quicker than the socialized system. He ended up in the ICU unit for a couple of months.


I understand your frustrations but I think its important to know what you are selling and explaining it to your clients.
I have very few claims denied a year. If they do declined it usually has to do with someone having a Pre X condition.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Did you hear about the new French medical breakthrough? Neither did I.

 

[joshril]

Bottom line... you get what you pay for...

Another good one... the advice you get is worth what you paid for it... I don't want "free" medical advice!

This is going to piss people off, but healthcare is not a right... and it's not the government's place to provide it!

 

[teambuilder]

That's why I tell my clients that the best health insurance is healthy living and an HSA.

But I must tell you it really bothers me to no end, to see so many of our Republic's Citizenry, particularly the Seniors, on so many meds, mainly because they don't seem to be getting any better, just taking meds, and being "not well."

Maybe it's our diet and lifestyle system that is more broken than the health care system. Beat up on the French all you want, but they do have a reputation for good health.

 

[somarco]

Beat up on the French all you want, but they do have a reputation for good health.

I don't have a problem drinking wine but you can't convince me the smoking is healthy.

 

[J.R.]

That's why I tell my clients that the best health insurance is healthy living and an HSA.

You're damn right. Just don't tell them that sometimes genetics has a part in it as well.

But I must tell you it really bothers me to no end, to see so many of our Republic's Citizenry, particularly the Seniors, on so many meds, mainly because they don't seem to be getting any better, just taking meds, and being "not well."

Would you rather see them taking medications or being 6 feet under? I studied senior mental health while in undergraduate school, and most of the issues outside of "me" feelings are associated with senior feelings isolated from family and friends. Isn't' that right Rick?

Maybe it's our diet and lifestyle system that is more broken than the health care system. Beat up on the French all you want, but they do have a reputation for good health.

This might illuminate what has happened to this county

Obesity and Overweight: Trends: U.S. Obesity Trends | DNPAO | CDC