Comment Re:Other reform options (Score 1) 2044
Totally agree.
Late last year, I had some "required pre-op bloodwork" done in preparation for minor neck surgery. I drove to the hospital, signed some papers, and was ushered to a back room where a nurse drew two vials of blood, then sent me on my way. My car was still warm when I got back in it.
I was billed $1,200 for the hospital visit. My insurance, which I send about $7k in premiums each year, found a dozen "reasons" to deny payment on the subsequent claim. I'm still fighting.
Now, I don't blame the providers for trying to milk insurance for everything they're worth, and for amortizing costs across $30 aspirin and $20 toothbrushes. I also don't blame insurance companies for avoiding payment - they have a bottom line, too. I blame costs. When a blood draw costs as much as a CAT scan, we shouldn't be focused on access to insurance; we should be lowering the cost of the blood draw. Our system lacks efficiency, transparency, and common sense.