I've stated quite a few times on ET that entitlements are looming very big. A good example of one that is not looming but has done it's work already, and continues to do so is the federally mandated entitlement of everybody to medical care at emergency rooms without any federal money to pay for it. 85 hospitals in California are out of business and it's not slowing down that I know of.. that is a picture of the future, the big money guys want the US standard of living lowered to meet the third world standard of living and they will get their way. Personally, I don't measure things materialistically but I am preparing to go "off the grid" pretty much regarding energy, health care, etc. I like being "on the grid" a lot, it's fun, it's good for everybody to some extent, but it is also good to think about the realities of the future.
Are you sure thats why. The average doctor works 4 days a week and makes an average of $700,000 . My wife works for a law firm that sues them they ( doctors)are filthy rich . The reason why health care is so much in america is because Doctors, drug companies, lawyers and hospitols have some of the highest profit margins and somebody has to pay to make them rich. Tha last time we tried to get aroung them by getting drugs from Canada the govt put a stop to it . but then again thats capitalism for you . You take the good with the bad .
Cardiologists were the most sought-after specialists last year, fetching salaries ranging from $234,000 to $525,000 and averaging $320,000 a year, according to surveys. If the most sought after get max 525,000 the average will not be 700,00 as you say. And they work more than 4 days a week. Source: US News
not sure about 700K, but they definitely not starving- http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/...ioners&yearsofexp=&geo=U.S. National Averages http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/...rs&yearsofexp=NULL&geo=U.S. National Averages http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/...ioners&yearsofexp=&geo=U.S. National Averages http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/...ioners&yearsofexp=&geo=U.S. National Averages http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/...ioners&yearsofexp=&geo=U.S. National Averages they do make a lot of money, but you have to remember,how much they paid for education(which is also imo inflated to the roof)
Doctors don't come near your reported "average salary". My wife managed a medical practice of 7 pediatricians for 25 years, and all I can tell you is I make more than they do, and I don't have to buy mal-practice insurance that is over 100k per year each, or pay for the high cost of an 8 year education. Doctors are human. They make mistakes. The lawsuits help drive the cost up because a doctor or hospital cannot take the risk of not having insurance, and unfortunately when doctors do make mistakes they are forced to pay for it dearly. If an illegal alien comes into the US and has a baby, who do you think pays for it? We all do, and now they become US citizens even though the parents may be illegal. Now these children have just as many rights as you or I. We end up giving free health care to all those that cannot afford it. Take a look at our hospital emergency rooms. They are filled with non-emergency type cases because the people know that the hospital will see them for free. For every free person that gets medical attention someone has to pay double. The people with insurance end up paying the bulk of the healthcare costs of this country and number of insured is dwindling.
Honestly, it a combo of all of the above, illegals with anchor babies, ppl go to ER with no insurance, HMO working for profit, and capitalism at it's best in the big picture. What do we have after that. one big clusterf**k. We are all smart individuals, though we may not agree. In Life, most problems or solutions come about by doing many things right or wrong not just one thing. We can all agree on that right? If a gummit as Gnome likes to call spends more than it takes in, after awhile you have a mess like we have now, plain and simple. Maybe it's just me, I am simple guy. What scared me, no I don't have the source to cite, is that many of bankruptcies were due to medical bills that can't be paid, something like 30% in the last few years. That's scary. I think the only doctors that really make big $$$ these days are plastic surgeons, 5k for new tit's damn! 8k for an eye lift! These are almost drive thru procedures now, but I am sure they pay through the butt for malpractice so it's balances out at some level.
You people who blame immigrants are incredibly ignorant. Do you know why we give free health care to illegals? It's because the care they get is almost all preventative, so that they don't get a communicable disease and pass it on to your precious little white children. It's your own family that these policies save, but you're too stupid to see that. Immigration is a net positive for this country. They pay more in taxes than they take in services and work the jobs that Americans think they are too good to do. Nationalism and ignorance always go hand-in-hand.
75% of all health care dollars in the US are spent on the treatment of chronic illnesses. If doctors would treat chronic illnesses appropriately, the acute care costs would plummet. 7th paragraph down for the 75% figure. http://www.dartmouthatlas.org/press/2006_atlas_press_release.shtm
Pure Bullshit!!! Illegal immigrants don't go to doctors and hospitals UNLESS THEY HAVE TO. Having to is not getting a vaccine. I am all for immigration. I have no problem with it at all, but we do have to find a way to tax these people. Many get paid under the table by employers who also pay no taxes. I live and work in Texas and I can tell you it goes on more than you might think. A national sales tax can force the underground economy to pay its due.