More than a half million Americans gain coverage under Biden

[sshafran]

You just ran off the rails.

The "middleman" actually SAVES claim dollars. As much as I rail against mangled care, there is more good than bad. Carriers have buying power to negotiate lower reimbursement than you or I can do.

You said the middleman saves claim dollars. Ok...

Anecdotally it does seem like the middleman eats a lot of $$$$. Overall cost - not just claims. No? No more salary, no more agent comp... no more big beautiful (VERY EXPENSIVE) buildings downtown in every major city - nada, zilch. Heating and AC bills - gone. Billions and billions and billions go to non-claims - aka "overhead" by these carriers. The postage and mailing costs alone for these carriers is in the millions. All of that is gone.

If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

 

[sshafran]

If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

 

[somarco]

You said the middleman saves claim dollars. Ok...

Yup, not a typo.

Carrier retention including commissions, IBNR/claim stabilization reserves, taxes and profit run around 20% of gross premiums. Profit is around 3 - 4% of premium. That number is INCLUDED in the 20% figure, not in addition.

Hospitals and other provider groups have tried to run their own model without carriers. Almost everyone has crashed and burned.

Locally, Piedmont hospital in Atlanta tried it a few years ago. They set up their own MAPD HMO. It went tits up in the 3rd or 4th year.

Negotiating power from the carriers ability to drive patients to the provider results in heavy discounts on the claim side. That's why the $40,000 hospital charge is often repriced to $6,000 or so.

A patient trying to negotiate savings after the fact won't come anywhere near that level of savings. Seen it happen too many times.

No more salary, no more agent comp... no more big beautiful (VERY EXPENSIVE) buildings downtown in every major city - nada, zilch. Heating and AC bills - gone. Billions and billions and billions go to non-claims - aka "overhead" by these carriers.

When agents bailed the U65 health insurance market carriers and the gummint had to ramp up to fill the void. That was probably a zero sum game. No loss, no gain.

Of course the consumer loses when relying on HO and govt flunkies to answer questions.

Carriers have little use for health insurance underwriters and actuaries but they still have to pay claims. When almost every health insurance carrier exited the market the survivors absorbed much of the manpower to cover the influx of business.

Look at it this way.

When folks who feared the CCP flu stopped eating in restaurants many closed shop but a number converted to carry out and delivery. Uber eats replaced wait staff.

Did menu prices drop?

Not that I am aware of, and many RAISED prices to cover the cost of disposable boxes, plastic, etc.

My favorite Chinese restaurant now charges about 20% more than before when they were full service.

My dentist has fewer staff but higher prices due to new air filtration and sterilization equipment. A year ago I paid $1450 for a crown, this year it was $1600. Routine cleaning is now $200 vs $160.

All this is to show that eliminating what some see as extra costs accomplishes nothing.

Now China Joe wants to raise corporate taxes. Fool doesn't realize that is counter-productive. Corporations will hire attorneys and accountants to figure out how to legally avoid the higher taxes. Those costs will be passed on in the form of higher prices paid by their customers.

Some companies will outsource jobs to other countries which will also reduce their tax bill.

Squeeze one end of the balloon and the other end get's bigger.

 

[MedicareAgent]

I don't think its a "right", I think it should be affordable for all and 1k a month for one person is not affordable

 

[somarco]

I don't think its a "right", I think it should be affordable for all and 1k a month for one person is not affordable

That's why God made Medicaid . . .

 

[DayTimer]

You've lost your mind if you think it could be done for $148.50.

You poor fella ... they got you good, didn't they?

 

[DayTimer]

Just look at other nations with that system...

Don't believe the lies. They all good.

 

[Life Hawk]

Don't believe the lies. They all good.

Had several conversations with folks who have come here from other places. Friend from Venezuela told me his mom would be dead now if she still lived there, currently under treatment for health issues. I've listened to some pretty sad stories over the years.

 

[toolbelt]

Had several conversations with folks who have come here from other places. Friend from Venezuela told me his mom would be dead now if she still lived there, currently under treatment for health issues. I've listened to some pretty sad stories over the years.

Both healthcare and university tuitions are free of charge to Argentinians.

 

[me112233]

The health insurance is politicized unfortunately. It is a human right (right to live, right for accessible and affordable care when needed) and should be treated as such. The providers industry adapted to this, but still greedy and really needs regulations.

Sadly, the democrats have done nothing whatsoever to lower the actual cost of care. Care has always been accessible, at least during my 50+ years on this planet. Yet, the COST of care is skyrocketing. I got to spend two days in the hospital last month (thought I was having a heart attack, turned out to be much simpler case of arrhythmia). The price tag for 44 hours in the hospital? $47,000, for just the hospital (doesn't include the physician fees). That's not "affordable." Who in hell can "afford" $47,000? Just imagine if it were more serious, like open heart surgery and another week in the place? I went to see three doctors outside of that hospital stay. The cheapest one was $320. For a simple consultation -- no surgery or other procedures, just maybe 10 to 15 minutes of his time. The fees being charged are immoral. Nothing about the "Affordable Care Act" did anything to make the care affordable; in fact, cost of care has gone way up in the 11 years since the law was passed.