Well well well, an interesting fact about the 'public option'...

[Le Jacquelope]

I've been saying that corporate overhead makes private insurance more expensive to dish out than Government insurance, but woah. 18 percent more? I'm surprised by that magnitude.

http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2009/101309Parry.shtml

The public option, which could cut costs by piggybacking on the existing Medicare bureaucracy, was always the one possible route to substantial savings. Based on Medicare’s experience, a public option could operate with an overhead of around two percent compared to the 20 percent or more that private insurers take for administrative costs, executive salaries and profits.

No wonder health care companies are fighting this.

 

[SixtyMinuteMan]

I've been saying that corporate overhead makes private insurance more expensive to dish out than Government insurance, but woah. 18 percent more? I'm surprised by that magnitude.

http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2009/101309Parry.shtml


No wonder health care companies are fighting this.

Yeah, it's always been clear where the impetus for the status quo has originated. The only entities the current system serves are the insurance companies.

Oh, wait, sorry. I mean "OMG i can't buleev u want deth panuls!!11!!1!"

 

[Edward Teach]

I've been saying that corporate overhead makes private insurance more expensive to dish out than Government insurance, but woah. 18 percent more? I'm surprised by that magnitude.

http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2009/101309Parry.shtml


No wonder health care companies are fighting this.

The figure often used for Insurance overhead is 30% and it would not surprise me. In NC, the insurance companies get 35% for administering assigned risk pools.

Contrary to popular belief, the Feds generally run things efficiently.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

The figure often used for Insurance overhead is 30% and it would not surprise me. In NC, the insurance companies get 35% for administering assigned risk pools.

Contrary to popular belief, the Feds generally run things efficiently.

They would have had a more solid argument claiming that the public option would cost health insurance jobs. Although I wonder how many of those jobs are offshored since a majority of the phone reps you get aren't even health insurance licensed... if any of them are.

 

[Huckleman2000]

The figure often used for Insurance overhead is 30% and it would not surprise me. In NC, the insurance companies get 35% for administering assigned risk pools.

Contrary to popular belief, the Feds generally run things efficiently.

Yes, there's a misperception that "waiting in line at the DMV" represents inefficiency, but in reality the lines make sure that each worker is fully utilized. If there were no lines, there'd be workers sitting and waiting, and people would complain about that as well.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Yes, there's a misperception that "waiting in line at the DMV" represents inefficiency, but in reality the lines make sure that each worker is fully utilized. If there were no lines, there'd be workers sitting and waiting, and people would complain about that as well.

I'd love to see them go to a privatized DMV office.

I mean, in some place like Texas, not California.

 

[SixtyMinuteMan]

I'd love to see them go to a privatized DMV office.

I mean, in some place like Texas, not California.

I can see it now...

"Yes, sir, thank you for waiting. I know six hours in line seems excessive, but trust me, any more service representatives would cut into our massive profit margin. Er, I mean it would drive us out of business. Your yearly registration fees come to four thousand, three hundred, and twenty seven dollars."

"What??? For God's sake, it's a twelve year old Explorer!"

"Our responsibility is to our shareholders, sir. We have to protect their dividends."

 

[Le Jacquelope]

I can see it now...

"Yes, sir, thank you for waiting. I know six hours in line seems excessive, but trust me, any more service representatives would cut into our massive profit margin. Er, I mean it would drive us out of business. Your yearly registration fees come to four thousand, three hundred, and twenty seven dollars."

"What??? For God's sake, it's a twelve year old Explorer!"

"Our responsibility is to our shareholders, sir. We have to protect their dividends."

That, and everything's BIG in Texas.

 

[lisa123414]

been to your local ER lately?

i cannot help but wonder, how many charges are racked up here at the ER, at a serious inflation in price, to examine those who are very sick, but who do not have insurance. My experience is from a good friend, who unfortunately did not have health insurance. When her boys became sick, she agonized, until she could not wait, and then took them to the er.

pitiful

her husband's health insurance (he had a steady job) only covered him. They were lucky at that, seeing as he had a pacemaker installed at the age of 35.

what the fuck does it take to insure the kids?

 

[Le Jacquelope]

been to your local ER lately?

i cannot help but wonder, how many charges are racked up here at the ER, at a serious inflation in price, to examine those who are very sick, but who do not have insurance. My experience is from a good friend, who unfortunately did not have health insurance. When her boys became sick, she agonized, until she could not wait, and then took them to the er.

pitiful

her husband's health insurance (he had a steady job) only covered him. They were lucky at that, seeing as he had a pacemaker installed at the age of 35.

what the fuck does it take to insure the kids?

Make sure they're not obese. As babies, even.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/12/alex-lange-denied-health_n_317337.html

Alex Lange Denied Health Care Coverage: "Your Baby Is Too Fat"

Because of his size, Baby Alex was turned down for health insurance, his height and weight put him in the 99th percentile according to CDC guidelines.


Kelli [his mother] says it's ridiculous, "It's frustrating, it's very frustrating."

Dr. Speedie at Rocky Mountain Health Plans says all babies are evaluated for insurance the same way. "In children it's based on a combination of height and weight."