Connecticut governor questions GOP's patriotism

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

First off, if you have health insurance, it's one of the biggest misconceptions that you pay for people who do not pay. You don't.

Hospitals usually write off a majority of the money that is not collected from the 'deadbeats.' OR they pass on the expense to Cash customers.

The only time an insurance company pays more is when a hospital is out of network, and they don't have pre-negotiated rates. Which in those cases you pay a higher deductible or most of the costs yourself. You basically screw yourself going out of network.

Otherwise, a hospital can bill $50 for a cup of Jello all day long, the insurance company is only going to give them $2 for it. Same with an X-ray that "costs" $350 and the hospital bills $1350, the most the hospital is going to get in return is around $400.

Now you want to talk about problems with costs of health care, let's talk about the "government" options of medicaid and medicare. Where that same X-ray above might cost $350, medicare might only pay $275. This becomes a huge problem, especially for private practices who continue to drop medicaid and medicare because of the lack of proper payments.

We can play the blame game all day long, and while those who do not pay affect some pocket books, if you already have insurance it's more than likely not yours that they are hurting.

Its been my experience that cash prices are generally lower than insurance prices, at least in Dental.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Its been my experience that cash prices are generally lower than insurance prices, at least in Dental.

Depends on the dentist. But almost all the dentists in California belong to the Delta Dental Network, and although they list their insurance prices on the claims, they are almost always reduced to the contract rate, which is about a fraction of the rate they charge those without insurance. Even an inexpensive insurance plan will save you from 15% to 50% on dental services, just on adjustments down to the contract rate.

Edited July 16, 2012 by ☼

[Obama 2012 1,714]

It's sad that people can go through life without having any care or empathy for anything that doesn't directly impact them. I can't imagine caring so little about my fellow human beings. We're all in this together.

But it's funny that the same people in this thread who are all "I don't care, doesn't impact me" are the same people who are all outraged at the idea of gay marriage as if it impacts them.

Good for you on caring about your fellow man. I'm sure you mourned the death of Osama Bin Ladin too.

We're all in this together though? Hardly. We're in it as far as we choose to be in it.

Its been my experience that cash prices are generally lower than insurance prices, at least in Dental.

Dental and Vision you're more likely to get a fair rate at a cash price because people can't just use the service at will like they can an ER. Doctor's hate dealing with insurance companies for small things like that and they will usually favor the cash patients, especially in the very small practices.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Good for you on caring about your fellow man. I'm sure you mourned the death of Osama Bin Ladin too.

We're all in this together though? Hardly. We're in it as far as we choose to be in it.

Of course I did. Whatever makes you feel better about yourself.

[Póg mo 1,749]

Does it bother you that I don't blink at eye at all the heart felt news stories of this person and that person who doesn't have health care?

It doesn't directly effect me, so why should I Care?

It proves that you are not a sociopath! I pity you and your complete disregard for the suffering of others.

This idea that I should all of a sudden care about your family because mine might be in a situation one day is absurd. If mine is in a situation, then that's my responsibility to deal with it, isn't it? I wouldn't expect you to care or give a damn. It doesn't effect you and your family either way.

You sir are damaged goods. I pity you!

[Obama 2012 1,714]

It proves that you are not a sociopath! I pity you and your complete disregard for the suffering of others.

You sir are damaged goods. I pity you!

Pity all you want. Your pity is pointless and useless to society, just as it's useless for me to care about the random guy on the news who is just like some other poor sap out there.

[james&olya 1,121]

It proves that you are not a sociopath! I pity you and your complete disregard for the suffering of others.

You sir are damaged goods. I pity you!

I think you nailed it there!