• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Health insurers offer to stop charging sick people more

I think we ought to be focusing a lot less on who and how we pay and start focusing on why health care costs so much in the first place and when and why we treat people.

One of the networks ran a story the other evening on families hit hard by medical emergencies. One of the families had a son who was diagnosed with a form of brain cancer. Their insurance capped out when his bill totaled $2M. They were left with a balance not covered of around $100K, and his cancer is now in part remission.

So I've got a couple questions. First, why does it cost $2M to treat (not cure) a cancer patient? Assuming he was treated daily for a full year that amounts to $5,500 per day. Second, why are we spending $2M to treat, but not cure, somebody with inoperable brain cancer? I'm sure he's a nice guy and all. But seriously, sometimes it might be better just to say 'Sorry, tough break... here's some pain killers.'

:doh
 
So I've got a couple questions. First, why does it cost $2M to treat (not cure) a cancer patient?

Mostly the cost of drugs, and post-op care. Hospital administrations have to divvy up costs and expenditures versus profits just like any other business, so the end fee for the patient must reflect the cost/benefit analysis of the hospital. The staff want to get paid, and so do the board of trustees and investors.

Aside from that, the actual cost of drugs is expensive. Chemo is expensive, the equipment used to sustain life is expensive and must be replaced after so many hours of use. I think the cost of drugs could be offset by better patenting laws in the United States. Chemo therapy is cheaper outside of the U.S. because corporate power over drugs is more limited, and government provides financial incentive for research to offset the profit loss.

Assuming he was treated daily for a full year that amounts to $5,500 per day. Second, why are we spending $2M to treat, but not cure, somebody with inoperable brain cancer? I'm sure he's a nice guy and all. But seriously, sometimes it might be better just to say 'Sorry, tough break... here's some pain killers.'

Who is "we"? Didn't his private insurance cover it?

History shows that a lot of people who had a rough start in life but were given a chance end up being people who can change the world. I don't believe in doing a cost/benefit analysis for lives. There are already practical considerations for the elderly, like having an organ donation cut off point, but the hypocratic oath in medicine requires that all patients be given a chance at medical care. I think the system is built around that premise, and rightfully so.

Fiscal conservativism has no place in medicine. I wouldn't advocate cutting out lives from the public just to save the public money. One day if it was you or your family, you would sing a different tune, I guarantee you.
 
Anyone can see that our health care system is doing an excellent job incentivizing a healthy lifestyle, compared to other developed countries who are too stupid to follow our brilliant health care model. That explains why the United States is by far the healthiest country in the world. :doh

1. Nobody has claimed the US's healthcare model is "brilliant"; in fact, I'd say it's precisely the opposite. We simply disagree on how to fix it.

2. Unless you can prove that the lower life expectancy and higher infant mortality rates of the US are a direct result of our healthcare system, you should stop making statements to that effect. Conversely, unless you can prove that the higher life expectancies and lower infant mortality rates of other modern countries are a result of their healthcare systems, you should stop making statements to that effect.
 
Last edited:
Fiscal conservativism has no place in medicine. I wouldn't advocate cutting out lives from the public just to save the public money. One day if it was you or your family, you would sing a different tune, I guarantee you.

This is a hilariously ironic statement; particularly the emboldend section.

British Cancer Patients Denied Costly Drugs
 
If they cannot respond to the question, "how are you paying for this", then the default would be, "I cannot", and they would not be treated.

So, now that my proposal is further clarified, are you OK with this?

Am I okay with a hospital doing that personally? No. In the sense that I would not give that hospital any business and I seriously doubt anyone else would. As such, it would fail as a business. And I'd be perfectly okay with that.

Am I okay with the government allowing a private company such as a hospital to deny customers on their own criteria? Of course I am. I am perfectly fine with the government keeping their nose completely out of health care management and out of forcing businesses to accept customers. The privately run hospitals should be under no obligation to provide care to anyone they don't want to.
 
Who is "we"? Didn't his private insurance cover it?

Obviously the 'we' in this case refers to the other members of his private health plan. And that is, after all, the topic of this thread. Who's covered, who is not, and why. And how much do we charge for coverage, and why.

Fiscal conservativism has no place in medicine. I wouldn't advocate cutting out lives from the public just to save the public money. One day if it was you or your family, you would sing a different tune, I guarantee you.

You're making assumptions about my health status and the health status of my family. And you're further assuming that my argument would change if my own circumstances were different than you assume. You couldn't be more wrong on both counts.

;)
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom