>Let me remind you that the average american pays 2 or 3 times as much for their Healthcare Insurance than for example in Canada while he buys only below average coverage and quality. Only the rich can afford themselves good Healthcare.

>Really? And exactly how do you know this?

Its well known for many years, by all stats that have been published. For examle look at:
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_spe_per_per-health-spending-per-person
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_tot_exp_on_hea_as_of_gdp-health-total-expenditure-gdp
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_hea_car_fun_pri_per_cap-care-funding-private-per-capita
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_hea_car_fun_tot_per_cap-care-funding-total-per-capita

You can dive up stats form other sources indicating the very same thing.


When we were living in England we were paying roughly 12% of our salary for national health insurance. We were also paying 300 pounds a month for private insurance because Andy learned the hard way that, unless you have something that is life threatening, you will be put on a waiting list that may be up to 2 years even if you are in excruciating pain. I do believe that when we were living in England, we were paying 2 or 3 times as much for our health care as we did after we moved back to the states and received below average quality of health care in England.

Anecdotical stories do not tell me anything. There are so many different parameters that determine the costs of yur healthcare insurance that it is almost impossible to compare apples with apples. Overal, though the picture is quite clear. In the US you pay a lot more for less healthcare coverage.

The NHS might have its flaws, but it does not leave thousands left bankrupt because of medical bills like in the US.


>Andy and I have good private health insurance here in the states and we are, by no stretch of the imagination, rich.

>Also you have to ask the question whether physicians are the best ones to ask what they find about obamacare. They are the ones that now can invoice insane rates and are getting the financial benefit of the current status.

>In this country physicians do not set the rates that they get reimbursed. The agreed upon "allowed" amount is agreed upon between the insurance companies (or the government in the cases of Medicare and Medicaid) and the physicians. These reimbursement rates are definitely not insane. I have examined my EOBs (Explanation of Benefits) every time my insurance company pays for something.

Thats is naive. I am familiar with the US healthcare system well as we do have to write US billing software solutions, including what you refer to the fixed pricing of CPT codes, modifiers, ICD9 codes, co-pay etc. Its not not only about the prices a physician charges for a single procedure, but also which procedures they charge. Then there is an awful lot that will be charged and is not applicable to fixed prices, like medication, used equipement and procedures that are not listed but will be charged.

Then there is a difference between what a physician will charge and what your insurance plan will cover. The whole system is so utterly complicated that people have to go to college to be trained on medical billing.

Best hope is that if you ever need healthcare, your treatment is covered. At least in countries with universal healthcare you are sure that all mainstream procedures are covered.





>Every attempt to get away with the current status should be welcomed, even though you will know it needs regular refinement and correction in the next few decades.
>
>ROF,L and LOL!!! Any attempt to change the current system should be welcomed? Even if it makes insurance more expensive and medical care less available? You have got to be kidding me. This is the politician's syllogism:
>
>We must do something
>This is something.
>We must do this.

Each universal healthcare system on earth is way cheaper (and most of them are better as well), than yours. So what is your fear? Change?

Walter,