Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

There's lots of tests where they just dunk an indicator stick into urine/blood and see if it changes colour. Instant read out, no special skills needed, seconds of effort. The way Morpeth described it, I doubt it was any more complicated than that.

For a nurse on $60k, that's about $30 per hour. Let's give him/her a full minute to get your sample and dunk it, so 50 cents, and double it to include all her benefits. $1. And they are the most expensive person in the small chain.

Come up with your own figures rather than just casting doubts.

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

There will always be members who want to break up costs for the charges that are billed to either the insurance company or the individual in regards to US healthcare.

It makes me wonder, since the UK has national healthcare, do any of the citizens there receive a paper accounting of what charges the doctors and hospitals sent to the NHS for payment? I'm guessing not. And if not, then how are you comparing the two when there is nothing to compare the US costs against.

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

Can't say I am very experienced with NHS since I have only used it a few times but (1) whatever the overall cost is ( and I think a lower percentage of GDP than it is in America - 10% vs 17% I recall), at least every human being has a right to get care (2) I suspect it is less on average- less paperwork to fill out, less going after people on collection, and less medical tests required.

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

Currently it's 10% versus 18% of GDP. Plus, even with the record lows of uninsured that the ACA has achieved, the US still has around 10% uninsured. So, very roughly, US medical costs are eating up twice as much of GDP as UK costs are.

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

Except for Sanders , it is amazing no major politician isn't quoting those figures of where America should be. And the 10% uninsured doesn't count those with so high deductibles they restrain themselves at time getting medical care, or the deductible costs puts them in extreme financial hardship.

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

Americans have been sold a lie that they have "the best healthcare system". I certainly agree that some of the best healthcare is in the US; unfortunately the healthcare system is so expensive and so exclusionary that it's a moot point for many.

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

Quite agree !!

Americans have and do live in a bubble believing every thing is better because it is American, whether health care or education or whatever, which I think is part of the problem.

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

Not only the highest % of GDP but some of the worst outcomes.

Spending, Use of Services, Prices, and Health in 13 Countries - The Commonwealth Fund

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

i am prepared to be corrected, but there is virtually no accounting in the NHS of the type you get in the US, apart from when private patients are treated in NHS facilities. Doctors don’t “send [invoices] to the NHS” for payment. GP surgeries have an annual budget assigned to them based on the number of registered patients. Hospitals also have annual budgets set by the local health authority. The doctors and managers and try and make their budgets stretch as far as possible, based on medical needs. But in mine and my family experience - if you need care, operations, procedures, drugs, or equipment you will get them. The drugs will be generic if at all possible, and costs are always kept as low as they can be, but it is still need based and not what an accountant or loss adjuster decides you should get.

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

nope.
this is exactly what NICE does - decides what is available through the NHS on a cost/benefits analysis. Not always in the patient's best interests and there have been several very high profile court battles to get medicines/treatment in the NHS which were readily available pretty much everywhere else.

Also, ever heard of "postcode lottery" when it comes to medical care in the NHS.


https://www.nice.org.uk/

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

To go along with this, you may have heard of NHS waiting lists. People sometimes wait months for a specific procedure.

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

Waiting for non urgent/life threatening appointments/treatment is not particular to the UK.

Even with our private, expensive system I know several people who have waited months for an appointment with a specialist and others who have waited months for knee, hip and eye surgery.

My husband could not get into a 'popular' hernia specialist in my part of the world for 5 months ! We went to a less popular guy but that took 2 months.

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

One thing that perhaps shows the comparison is when using the NHS how many less steps and forms have to be filled out. These alone add to costs. When I call for an appointment before setting the appointment the GP calls back and chats, sometimes ends up appointment not necessary. Then I go in no forms to fill out every time, and certainly not necessary every time to do my blood pressure etc etc. But I guess ultimately for me (a) what percentage of GDP is spent in health care (b) does everyone have access (c) quality of health care. (a) and (b) NHS much better, I am not a doctor but except for delays sometimes, I would guess UK doctors every bit as qualified as USA doctors.

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

The US has the highest adminstrative costs of any major western country. Additionally, there appears to be an interesting correlation between higher administrative costs and people having duplicate tests performed:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CgRicZgUMAExHD8.jpg

Re: An example of unexpected medical bills
 

NICE are not accountants or loss adjusters. As you noted, they evaluate treatments in a cost/benefit analysis, but every country with government funded healthcare also does some form of the same analysis to try and get the best value out of a limited budget and stretch it as far as possible.

I never said it was perfect, my main point was the lack of internal billing, and others have also noted similar points on the difference in admin between US and U.K. systems.