tracs101 Loc: Huntington NY

Ridiculous. The hospitals or doctors should not be permitted to charge those rates in the first place. Would that mean that a diner can charge $85.00 for a hamburger plate because their insurance rates for the diner are high? Or that someone might sue them because they are allergic to sesame seeds on their hamburger roll? The insured should not be allowed to "write off" the $$$ they did not get from the insurance co. to avoid paying taxes when their rates were inflated in the first place . Then other folks will have to pay the taxes. Something needs to be done. Who do I call? Write to? I'm ignorant in this arena, but I know the difference between right and wrong. Frustrating.

dpfoto Loc: Cape Coral, FL

Another reason for the high prices is the people who have no job, no insurance, and cannot (or won't) pay. The government still requires the hospitals to treat them.
Let's look at it another way; Let's say you are a wedding photographer; You shoot 50 weddings per year for $2000 each, leaving you a net profit (after all your costs and taxes) of $1500 per wedding. This would be an annual income of $75,000.

Then the government REQUIRES you to provide FREE wedding photography to any couple who can't/won't pay. You still shoot 50 wedding per year, but 25 of them are free. In order to maintain your annual income of $75,000, you have to raise your price per wedding (for the 25 who DO pay) from $2,000 to $4,000.

Hospitals and Doctors have to work the same way... They still have CODB (Cost of doing business). The paying patient pays for the deadbeat patient so the provider can make a living.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

We wait here, too, depending on time of day, etc. When I went with my thumb, I asked the receptionist if this was a bad time., She said it's always a bad time. Actually, there were only three people ahead of me. The local hospital has such a bad reputation, that ambulances services say they can usually drive patients across the Hudson to a better hospital.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

As a Brit living in the US, I see both sides of this situation... My Dad, on the NHS, was told that he needed to see a specialist, and that they would call to set up his appointment. When the call came, the first available appointment was for more than 2 *years* later. Of course, he didn't have to pay anything for it, but for many conditions, that delay would have killed him.

When I had a serious diagnosis last year, I was strapped into an MRI machine less than 2 hours after the original doctor visit! Of course, if I had been required to pay the full costs, I would have had no chance... I think the MRI came out at almost $4000.

You pays your money (or not...) and you takes your choice.

jiminee1 Loc: S.E.MA

Why is it that when you like take your car to a garage and you see the price of the services offered and when you ask at the Dr's office what its going to cost they cant tell you. All this preventive medicine should be pretty well spelled out. Sounds like a never ending story of greed. I have to take an infusion once a month and it costs $5000.00 just for the meds. Was 2500.00 with a copay but now, since I retired, medicare covers it. Seems like there is a lot of fraud going on too. Anyone experience double billing?

raferrelljr Loc: CHARLOTTE, NC

The moral of the story...........................BE MORE CAREFUL!!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Now you tell me!

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Have no fear it is about to get worse. The GOP is now in charge and they are announcing their replacement for OBamacare and it looks like a diaster for the middle class but a boon for the wealthy!

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

I'm sure your right about not being able to write-off uncollected billing, but high billing does justify high write-offs or equipment depreciation, supply usage, and capitol depreciation deductions. I'm no tax lawyer but it seems reasonable.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Considering all the replies to OP it seems clear that our health care system is broken, notwithstanding ACA. As we are a strong insurance-preference country, I would suggest we adopt the Bismarch model. It was first invented by the Iron Chancellor of Prussia.

catchlight.. Loc: Wisconsin USA- Halden Norway

The system is forever broken... Insurance company's add 35%. Administration costs from the health care provider add another 35%. Most other countries are not regulated by an insurance system and operate on less than 15%. We waste so much money providing administration and big paying CEO's jobs today instead of the actual health care needed.

For example...75,000 in premium payments were collected from my wife and I over a three years... when we did not need care over that period where did all that money go? That's a lot of money if it were properly invested.

Four years ago and 15 years prior our premiums had been paid as a compensation package and we paid a $100 deductible per year. Quite a jump for us going from $100 per year to a $25,000 premium per year and a $8000 deductible. Mr. Obama's actions left so many out in the cold and gave employers an excuse to walk away.

Premiums based on age is the biggest overall problem from my prospective and very discriminatory as you get older.

So...I recently quit my executive job and we sold our Wisconsin home to purchased a new place in Norway. (my wife's home country). We took the best path I think long term but it's sad to end careers early and leave the country because of a corrupted expensive system.

It will be interesting to see what happens next with the up coming changes. I am I'm glad to have the option to get out. Social programs mixed with capitalism is our country's biggest problem...

Impressionist

And a chicken🥁

27ftWhaler

The system is hopelessly broken. My ACA premiums are $26,000 with an $8,000 deductible. I just had arthroscopic outpatient knee surgery. Just for humor, I counted how many people I needed to see prior to getting approval for the surgery; 48 people and my second contact, a MD told me what was wrong and that surgery was most likely required. The really sad part is that my spouse makes less than our ACA premiums and if she quits work our premiums drop to nearly $0.

agillot

maybe you would have been better paying $8.00 a gallon for gas like in europe and get near free education , free health care , and a modest retirement when they send you home , $ 5000 would buy a lot of gas at $ 8.00 a gallon .you cant have it both way .the medical industry is a scandal at all levels .

Sneidley Loc: Goodyear, AZ

And what is your income tax rate?