21 graphs that show America’s health-care prices are ludicrous

[NobleSavage]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ow-americas-health-care-prices-are-ludicrous/

The graphs speak for themselves.

 

[maxparrish]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ow-americas-health-care-prices-are-ludicrous/

The graphs speak for themselves.

If you mean they "speak" by raising many questions without clear or convincing answers, then you are correct. For example, how does one reconcile the US vs Other spending differences? If an office visit is 30 dollars in Canada and 176 dollars in the US, are we to suppose that the doctor and his/her office staff earns in the US earns 6 times more than a Canadian MD and his/her staff?

And how does one account for differentials of 5 to 10 times in pricing, when the difference between other countries on a GDP is 1.4 or 1.5 times, even for those with comparable SofL (e.g. Canada)?

It would seem these high prices are subsidizing someone or something far beyond the patient and providers, most likely those who don't pay at all?

 

[Tom Sawyer]

That's answered in the article:

In other countries, prices are set centrally and most everyone, no matter their region or insurance arrangement, pays pretty close to the same amount. In the United States, each insurer negotiates its own prices, and different insurers end up paying wildly different amounts.

If you have a bloated and unnecessary middle-man sitting in the middle of the process for no good reason, they're going to end up jacking up prices.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ow-americas-health-care-prices-are-ludicrous/

The graphs speak for themselves.

If you mean they "speak" by raising many questions without clear or convincing answers, then you are correct. For example, how does one reconcile the US vs Other spending differences? If an office visit is 30 dollars in Canada and 176 dollars in the US, are we to suppose that the doctor and his/her office staff earns in the US earns 6 times more than a Canadian MD and his/her staff?

Really Max? That one is pretty obvious since there is a bloated corporate bureaucracy sitting in the middle between patient and doctor.

It would seem these high prices are subsidizing someone or something far beyond the patient and providers, most likely those who don't pay at all?

If you mean the executives of the large insurance companies, you are correct, but even their exorbitant salaries are a small piece of the pie of the cost of the insurance providers.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ow-americas-health-care-prices-are-ludicrous/

The graphs speak for themselves.

There's a big problem with this data--they're looking at the billed rate, not the rate after insurance discounts.

Note, also, that the 95% percentile is going to catch oddball cases and isn't a good representation of the average.

For example, trauma capability in ski areas without major nearby cities. It sits basically idle when it's not ski season and the prices charged will legitimately reflect this.

 

[Garnet]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ow-americas-health-care-prices-are-ludicrous/

The graphs speak for themselves.

There's a big problem with this data--they're looking at the billed rate, not the rate after insurance discounts

Where did you get that? The article states, "Every year, the International Federation of Health Plans — a global insurance trade association that includes more than 100 insurers in 25 countries — releases survey data showing the prices that insurers are actually paying for different drugs, devices, and medical services in different countries."

On a personal note, I take Celebrex. My insurance company pays $900 for a 3 month supply. Of that, I pay a $120 co-pay. Celebrex has been around for a long time. I don't understand why it's so expensive.

 

[Narapoia]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ow-americas-health-care-prices-are-ludicrous/

The graphs speak for themselves.

There's a big problem with this data--they're looking at the billed rate, not the rate after insurance discounts

Where did you get that? The article states, "Every year, the International Federation of Health Plans — a global insurance trade association that includes more than 100 insurers in 25 countries — releases survey data showing the prices that insurers are actually paying for different drugs, devices, and medical services in different countries."

On a personal note, I take Celebrex. My insurance company pays $900 for a 3 month supply. Of that, I pay a $120 co-pay. Celebrex has been around for a long time. I don't understand why it's so expensive.

Case in point. In no well-functioning health system should you have to pay that much for that drug. What the fuck.

Available over the counter in Australia for $25.99 per month (30 200mg caps @ recommended 200mg per day)

or

With a prescription and for people on Medicare $36.90 for 2 months - this is partially subsidised through taxes. For just your co pay you could get 6 months worth of the drug, including the cost of the doctor's visit, in a proper health care system. Someone, somewhere is making obscene amounts of money on these transactions.

 

[Garnet]

Yeah, prices here are unreasonable. I could function without Celebrex but I would be in a lot of pain. If I ever lose my insurance or end up on one of the high deductible plans that are all the rage now, I'd have to stop taking it. I can do the $120 for a 3 month supply. I couldn't do $900, or worse, somewhere over a grand which is the price without an insurance discount.