When one reads all the articles about how bad health care is in America and how much longer people in other lands live, we feel let down and somewhat startled. For every negative article, though, there are truthful glimmers that shine out and are much more honest in assessment of the US Health Care System...particularly when it comes to Cancer Care.
"Patients have to pay more for their premiums, more for their copayments, more for their deductibles. It's become harder to afford what we have, and what we have is becoming not only more costly but also complex," said Dr. Michael Hassett, a cancer specialist and policy researcher at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
Insurers also are being squeezed by laws that require coverage and restrict raising premiums. And the burden is growing on Medicare, which in some cases is paying for treatments and tests that have not been shown to benefit patients.
Why have costs escalated so much?
To some extent, it's the price of success.
So while our ability to pay for health care has eroded, the care and services and products have not. Sure, only those who have very good health insurance can afford to pay for the more modern treatment options. Average working Joes won't be as lucky.
I"m getting to the age that I'm not as concerned about the modern medical treatments -- especially for diseases that are terminal.
ReplyDeleteCan't afford gold-plated health insurance anyway.
Few people can afford the non work issued health insurance products. Even the work issued plans are getting expensive and have less coverage. A lot less coverage. I see a huge tsunami of people rejecting more of these modern medical miracles simply because they cannot afford them. The free market will have to adapt to this and will. It still keeps a lot of medical care out of the reach of many who need it the most.
ReplyDeleteMy work offers insurance with a 7000.00 deductable. That is a little less than the private plan I purchased which covers a lot more for me, at this time in my life. As I get older though this will change. My costs will go up as I age naturally. It's not gold plated- it's a simple plan where I pre pay for doctor services and a certain set of lab type needs. My plan does not include ER, meds or other services (PT, mental health, etc) So I'm on my own if I get seriously hurt; I do have catastrophic coverage for cancer, accidents, heart attack...
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