Wednesday August 12, 2009, 3:46 am
Oh boy, another good article about how expensive, over-inflated, and varied-in-cost surgeries are in this country. Glad the NYtimes is writing about it!

From article:
The charges came out of a survey sponsored by America’s Health Insurance Plans in which insurers were asked for some of the highest bills submitted to them in 2008.

The group, which represents 1,300 health insurance companies, said it had no data on the frequency of such high fees, saying that to its knowledge no one had studied that. But it said it did the survey in part to defend against efforts by the Obama administration to portray certain industry practices as a major part of the nation’s health care problems.

The health insurers, saying they felt unfairly vilified, gave the report to The New York Times before posting it online on Tuesday, explaining that they wanted to show that doctors’ fees are part of the health care problem.

The group said it had used Medicare payments for comparison because Medicare was so familiar and payments are, on average, about 80 percent of what private insurers pay.

Wednesday August 12, 2009, 4:25 am
Medicare rules are sickening in many ways. For instance, seniors can only have the eyeglasses replaced if they have cataract surgery. There is no dental care included. Charges vary from state to state and doctor to doctor.. Duplication of tests are ordered by different doctors. The system is overloaded with spending while not of essential services.

Wednesday August 12, 2009, 5:09 am
I am so glad to have coverage here. Of course not all is covered completely (for example you have to pay part for your glasses, especially the frames) but cataract surgery would be. But again there is too much unnecessary spending as well; people do take advantage...

Wednesday August 12, 2009, 5:20 am
This whole health care mess needs to have a complete overhaul. I read where a woman was charged $73,000 in Colorado I believe the State was for the anti venom and one night in the hospital from a rattle snake bite. Her health insurance paid $3,000 so she is stuck with a $70,000 bill. Although I'm sure she is grateful for the medical attention but should she now have to struggle on how to pay this or be put into bankrupcy from a snake bite? We are all walking on egg shells in this Country.

Wednesday August 12, 2009, 7:05 am
Noted. Thanks. I just think it's wrong period how the whole health care system is & ran period.

Wednesday August 12, 2009, 9:25 am
Interesting piece Peace...Privately insured patients in Australia are always faced with a 'gap' between actual and insured fees...'Public patients pay 100% nothing...It really is about time America woke up?

Wednesday August 12, 2009, 11:55 am
Thanks Peace

Wednesday August 12, 2009, 3:26 pm
Tks Peace, no surprise that things are out of whack!

Thursday September 3, 2009, 10:44 am
resident at work: * Largest Medicare fraud fine ever: "Top aides in the Obama administration announced a $2.3 billion settlement on Wednesday with the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. over the company's illegal promotion of its now-withdrawn painkiller, Bextra."