A jagged pill: It isn't just medicine; American health care costs are obscene across the board

[applegrove]

A jagged pill: It isn’t just medicine; American health care costs are obscene across the board

By DAILY NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

DEC 28, 2019 | 4:00 AM

https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-edit-a-jagged-pill-20191228-ge5zm4s6krecnokuewrq27fpp4-story.html

"SNIP......

President Trump and Democrats in Congress agree: Prescription drugs are outrageously expensive, and government has a duty to try to drive them down.

But the pills Americans swallow are responsible for a mere fraction of the health care they get. The hard but necessary fact to face is that all other pieces of the medical-industrial complex, from insurance companies to hospitals to individual doctors, are together driving prices through the roof.

The latest report of the International Federation of Health Plans reveals just how much we sucker Americans pay for the same services provided throughout the industrialized world.

An MRI costs about $450 in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it’s almost three times that. An angioplasty costs about $6,400 in the Netherlands. In the United States, it’s more than $32,000.


......SNIP"

[Hoyt]

1. Very true. But, is 20% of America's economy ready for a cut, including doctors, nurses, hospital

employees, suppliers, etc.?

It's going to have to happen, sooner or later. Just wonder if enough people will vote for it in 2020.

[pbmus]

2. You got that right...

HEALTHCARE SPENDING AT 20% OF GDP? THAT'S AN ECONOMY-WIDE PROBLEM

https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/finance/healthcare-spending-20-gdp-thats-economy-wide-problem

[Hermit-The-Prog]

3. somebody has to pay for jets, skyscrapers, and multiple mansions

[RKP5637]

4. USA, Inc. Ripoff, Inc. Best place in the world! Yeah, Right!!! n/t

[BigmanPigman]

5. Health Insur increased 20% this year. Did you get a 20% COLA?

When I renewed my ACA I was told that most companies increased the costs by 20% with no explanation except maybe greed, and perhaps feat that Medicare for All may lessen the flow of enormous amounts of $$$ flowing into their pockets as usual.

[IcyPeas]

6. and the difference is..... f'ing insurance companies