National Health Insurance Now, Not Later

[Heracles 417]

One more piece of the puzzle is the "Third Party Provider" - the INSURANCE COMPANY.

When you have a third party involved it complicates the consumer-provider relationship. The rules of economics get screwed up and don't work properly.

In my particular case, I do my own medical research constantly on the web. Then I go to the lab, for example, and tell them what blood tests I need. Also, after research, I go to the pharmacy and tell them what drugs I need for my particular ailment. I also have several excellent doctors that I consult as well. It's called PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. I can do this because I'm in the Philippines. I don't even bother to submit claims to my U.S. insurance company because the costs are so low (only for prescription medications). The blood testing I get costs about $40 - the VERY SAME TESTS cost a couple of hundred dollars in the U.S.

Personally, I don't want a BIG BROTHER type GOVERNMENT telling me what I can and can't do, what medical tests I can and can't get and what doctor I can and can't go to.

In the US all of the parties involved are abusing the system, for their financial gain. These 'additional costs' are then passed on to the consumer, which is us..

I'll give you an example. I went to a doctor here and he prescribed me a nasal spray. He was nice enough to give me a free sample. After the sample ran out I needed to purchase another dose, outright, as it is a hassle to claim it on my Australian insurance. Now, to buy it from any pharmacy in the US it would cost me roughly $80 + tax. I had a look at an online pharmacy from Australia and was able to purchase the same thing, over the counter, and have it express shipped to my house for a total of $28 USD..

Government intervention should come in the form of regulation as well as large fines for anyone trying to rort the system. It is not a matter of telling you what you can or cannot do..

Edited February 21, 2007 by Infidel