Why Healthcare Costs are Rising

[MaggieMae]

And once we get universal healthcare, the innovations will slow considerably because the profit motive will be gone. We'll enter a 'dark ages' period of medical science.

That's certainly a talking point that seems to work on some.

It only works on people who understand what is going on. If you've bought into the idea that Government-run healthcare is the answer, you'll never understand the truth.

For everyone else, here's a great commentary that discusses this very important issue:

...

Just as there is potential danger from the way in which Americans take the power of the antibiotic for granted, so, too, one of the greatest threats to our health and continued welfare is that Americans in the present day, and particularly their leaders, are taking for granted the power, potency, and progress flowing from life-saving medical innovations. And in so doing, they may unknowingly prevent the kind of advance that could contribute as vitally to the welfare of the 21st century as the discovery of the antibiotic altered the course of human history for the better in the century just concluded.

The End of Medical Miracles? - WSJ.com

And isn't it interesting that doctors (who care) are prescribing fewer and fewer man-made antibiotics because the human body has learned how to adapt to those more than its own autoimmune antibodies, leaving people (especially children) even more vulnerable to illness and disease.

I guess the WSJ believes that people should be medically able to live forever. Oh my, what a drain on the younger taxpayer THAT will become. For such an anti-socialist, you should be very concerned about unintended consequences.

 

[xsited1]

...
Why are all healthcare expenditures rising? Because new innovations cost more.
...

And once we get universal healthcare, the innovations will slow considerably because the profit motive will be gone. We'll enter a 'dark ages' period of medical science.

So? We can't even cure what we've already got. Take the profit motive out of keeping diseases incurable like cancer, even the common cold, and I'll bet scientists would walk us out of those existing "dark ages" in no time.

 

[Oddball]

Newer technology is always more expensive...What else is new??

What's "new" is that doctors will prescribe an MRI scan when an X-Ray could do the job just as well in many situations. The difference in cost is enormous.

So, malpractice laws are going to get repealed?!?!?

I don't think so.

 

[MaggieMae]

Spending on pet healthcare have actually grown faster than on humans.

Why are all healthcare expenditures rising? Because new innovations cost more.



Greg Mankiw's Blog: Keeping Animial Spirits Alive

There is no argument that a good portion of the increases in healthcare spending are due to new innovations and technologies that have helped extend the lives of most people. The problem is that the rate of increase is unsustainable financially. Based on the rate of growth over the last twenty years, if we continue at that same rate, we will eventually spend more than 100% of GDP on healthcare.

There is a limit as to how much a society can spend on healthcare, and we are reaching the breaking point. As costs continue to rise, we will see more and more Americans without insurance or some type of healthcare coverage. So fewer and fewer people will actually use or be able to pay for all these advances. This in turn will increase costs even more for those who can afford to pay until they can no longer afford it either. In the process, many will actually see the healtcare available to them become even more limited, and eventually we will begin regressing instead of progressing when it comes to our overall health and longevity.

Exceeding 100% of GDP is an impossibility, by definition, 100% is the maximum possible.
To actually hit 100% on health care expenditure would mean that spending on even food would have to cease to exist.

GDP is a simple accounting equation. Of course it can arrive at a minus. In fact, its lowest point, -16, was during the great depression.

Gross domestic product (GDP) is equal to total consumer, investment and government spending, plus the value of exports, minus the value of imports.

GDP = C + I + G + (X-M)

 

[MaggieMae]

And once we get universal healthcare, the innovations will slow considerably because the profit motive will be gone. We'll enter a 'dark ages' period of medical science.

That's certainly a talking point that seems to work on some.

well junkie show us a comparision between profit motivated research compared to non-profit motivated research.....who has come up with more Technology and new medical science?....im sure you can can show us a huge list on this....

NASA. Turn on your television today and learn something. We didn't just walk on the moon, thanks to a huge government program, but all kinds of medical and other scientific breakthroughs happened by private enterprise as a result of the science and expertise (and dedication) that went into the space program.

 

[MaggieMae]

That's certainly a talking point that seems to work on some.

well junkie show us a comparision between profit motivated research compared to non-profit motivated research.....who has come up with more Technology and new medical science?....im sure you can can show us a huge list on this....

HELLO Junky!!.....tap tap tap....is this thing on?

Gee, Harry, some people actually log off from USMB for long periods of time. Didn't you miss ME all day yesterday? Tap tap tap, are you here today? Guess I could just click on your name to find out. Easy, huh?

 

[MaggieMae]

They're called "orphan drugs", and nobody has done anything about them since Reagan.

Damnable travesty.

Well Reagan apparently didn't follow through on his own bill then. Interesting that you of all people should consider it a travesty when government intervention here would seem to be a GOOD thing.


From Wikipedia - "Orphan Drugs"

Since the market for any drug with such a limited application scope would, by definition, be small and thus largely unprofitable, government intervention is often required to motivate a manufacturer to address the need for an orphan drug. Critics of free market enterprise often cite this as a failure of free market economic systems. Free market advocates often respond that without government-mandated minimum safety and efficacy requirements, drug development costs would be considerably lower.

The intervention by government on behalf of orphan drug development can take a variety of forms:

Tax incentives.
Enhanced patent protection and marketing rights.
Clinical research financial subsidization.
Creating a government-run enterprise to engage in research and development (see Crown corporation).

 

[MaggieMae]

True as that may be, I'd bet the aging demographic has at least as much, if not more, to do with it.

Well other than killing people off there isn't much we can do about an aging demographic. Although, there are policies that we can enact that will help with obesity rates.

Killing off fat people probably won't get a pass in Congress.

Those liberal assed weenies are too softhearted to kill our beached whale population.

Perhaps your health care rates should be determined by your bodyfat content?

Oh stop blubbering you fat people, the idea makes perfect sense.

A bag of Fritos ought to cost about $50 and you know it.

Yup. A way to pay for any government sponsored health care! Cigarettes are now taxed out the wazooo, yet obesity has surpassed smoking as the number one killer. Go figure.

 

[MaggieMae]

Well other than killing people off there isn't much we can do about an aging demographic. Although, there are policies that we can enact that will help with obesity rates.

Killing off fat people probably won't get a pass in Congress.

Those liberal assed weenies are too softhearted to kill our beached whale population.

Perhaps your health care rates should be determined by your bodyfat content?

Oh stop blubbering you fat people, the idea makes perfect sense.

A bag of Fritos ought to cost about $50 and you know it.

replace "fat people" with smokers Ed or would that hit too close to home?

Should smokers and fat people pay more for health insurance....YES

but why does a "family plan" cost the same for me and my wife as it does for a couple with 4 kids?

Haven't shopped for insurance in a while? Even if you're coverered by an employer's policy, there are many plans that calculate the cost to you by adding or subtracting family members.

 

[MaggieMae]

Newer technology is always more expensive...What else is new??

What's "new" is that doctors will prescribe an MRI scan when an X-Ray could do the job just as well in many situations. The difference in cost is enormous.

So, malpractice laws are going to get repealed?!?!?

I don't think so.

What does malpractice have to do with MRI vs. Xray if all that's involved is broken bones? Why does a doctor order a bone density scan when the X-ray already shows osteoporosis? When a physican can't determine what the problem is by tried and true (and cheaper) technology, I'm guessing it's overkill (no pun intended) at the patient's expense. Which is fine, if an MRI is covered by insurance.

Malpractice insurance for the medical industry also varies dramatically depending on geographic location. It's probably three times as high in Miami as it is in Milwaukee. That's another excuse I'm sick of hearing about. All that needs to be done, as it already is in some states, is to cap the amount and/or use arbitration as the alternative.

 

[xsited1]

That's certainly a talking point that seems to work on some.

well junkie show us a comparision between profit motivated research compared to non-profit motivated research.....who has come up with more Technology and new medical science?....im sure you can can show us a huge list on this....

NASA. Turn on your television today and learn something. We didn't just walk on the moon, thanks to a huge government program, but all kinds of medical and other scientific breakthroughs happened by private enterprise as a result of the science and expertise (and dedication) that went into the space program.

NASA is just another wasteful government program that should be privatized. The spinoff technology was created by private corporations at an exorbitant cost using taxpayer money.

 

[Oddball]

Where can I even find Tang anymore??

 

[editec]

Well other than killing people off there isn't much we can do about an aging demographic. Although, there are policies that we can enact that will help with obesity rates.

Killing off fat people probably won't get a pass in Congress.

Those liberal assed weenies are too softhearted to kill our beached whale population.

Perhaps your health care rates should be determined by your bodyfat content?

Oh stop blubbering you fat people, the idea makes perfect sense.

A bag of Fritos ought to cost about $50 and you know it.

Yup. A way to pay for any government sponsored health care! Cigarettes are now taxed out the wazooo, yet obesity has surpassed smoking as the number one killer. Go figure.

Fat health fascists outnumber smoking libertines, would be my guess.

Don't worry after they have milked smokers for every cent they can afford, they'll go after the lardasses, too.

They'll start out by taxing junk food in much the slow but steady way they've demonized, then taxed, tobacco.

Eventually a can of soda and bag of chip will be more expensive than a gram of coke.

Just as it is now cheaper to be an average stoner than it is to be an average tobacco smoker thanks to imposing outrageous taxes on tobacco. so too will it go for people addicted to overeating.

That's one of the reasons I do NOT want our government to legalize (and tax) hemp, BTW.

 

[amiam*]

How about voluntary euthanasia. AKA as suicide. Is it is a crime to commit suicide? If so perhaps relaxing the law might stimulate a population reduction. Dr. Kervorkian where are you when America needs you?

 

[Harry Dresden]

Killing off fat people probably won't get a pass in Congress.

Those liberal assed weenies are too softhearted to kill our beached whale population.

Perhaps your health care rates should be determined by your bodyfat content?

Oh stop blubbering you fat people, the idea makes perfect sense.

A bag of Fritos ought to cost about $50 and you know it.

and if someone has a glandular problem?....what is the requirements to be considered fat?....according to the govt. charts Karl Malone was considered overweight....and if he was considered fat....i think we are all going to be in the kill line....

 

[Harry Dresden]

What's "new" is that doctors will prescribe an MRI scan when an X-Ray could do the job just as well in many situations. The difference in cost is enormous.

now Maggie this is one of the arguments i hear with the ins. thing....who will make that call?...the doc or someone behind a desk?....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Bingo...

In addition, look how obesity rates have risen in the US recently. Obesity leads to diseases which is very expensive to treat. In the long run it drives up the costs for everyone.

True as that may be, I'd bet the aging demographic has at least as much, if not more, to do with it.

Childhood obesity is also on the rise.

maybe the elimination of gym classes has a big part in that....

 

[Harry Dresden]

That's certainly a talking point that seems to work on some.

well junkie show us a comparision between profit motivated research compared to non-profit motivated research.....who has come up with more Technology and new medical science?....im sure you can can show us a huge list on this....

NASA. Turn on your television today and learn something. We didn't just walk on the moon, thanks to a huge government program, but all kinds of medical and other scientific breakthroughs happened by private enterprise as a result of the science and expertise (and dedication) that went into the space program.

are you Junkie in disguise.....i have been waiting a couple days for a response....and Maggie many of those scientists reap rewards for discovering things....maybe not from NASA....but the private sector....books deals,lecture circuit...job offers in the private sector....the motivation is still there....

 

[Harry Dresden]

well junkie show us a comparision between profit motivated research compared to non-profit motivated research.....who has come up with more Technology and new medical science?....im sure you can can show us a huge list on this....

HELLO Junky!!.....tap tap tap....is this thing on?

Gee, Harry, some people actually log off from USMB for long periods of time. Didn't you miss ME all day yesterday? Tap tap tap, are you here today? Guess I could just click on your name to find out. Easy, huh?

Maggie i have asked Junky at least 4-5 times in various posts to answer questions posed.....never heard from him again UNTIL he posted elsewhere....and the same thing happened there...Midcant is another one, post something, says something outrageous,never answers ANYONE who has a disagreement with his post...NEVER....unless you agree then he will say a sentance or two....now you know why i did the TAP,TAP....i never have to do that with you though...

 

[jreeves]

Killing off fat people probably won't get a pass in Congress.

Those liberal assed weenies are too softhearted to kill our beached whale population.

Perhaps your health care rates should be determined by your bodyfat content?

Oh stop blubbering you fat people, the idea makes perfect sense.

A bag of Fritos ought to cost about $50 and you know it.

replace "fat people" with smokers Ed or would that hit too close to home?

Should smokers and fat people pay more for health insurance....YES

but why does a "family plan" cost the same for me and my wife as it does for a couple with 4 kids?

Haven't shopped for insurance in a while? Even if you're coverered by an employer's policy, there are many plans that calculate the cost to you by adding or subtracting family members.

I would dare to say very few family plans factor in # of family members.