Michael, yes, I do, it is a standard deductible set by my insurance.

I was specifically asking about Pete Burgess' suggestion that without insurance coverage, people would be force to make cost/benefit decisions on what health care to get. Since you are insured, the question is moot, as all the decisions have been made for you.

I would note, however, that very rarely has my standard deductible been my only out of pocket expense for anything more than a routine checkup. Radiology services regularly send me bills saying that I owe the balance between what they felt like charging, and what they agreed to let my insurance pay. Insurance doesn't always negotiate the best prices for you.

We continue to argue about how to pay for health care when the real problem is why does it cost so much.

And I continue to agree with you. It is ridiculous that a 5 minute session with a doctor, followed by 10 minutes of a nurse doing the actual work, should cost me several hundred dollars.

what do you suggest?

Remove the artificial barriers to receiving basic health care. Allow nurses, who are more than competent enough, to perform more functions without an MD.

Make the legal system for trying negligence slightly more sane, there is a big difference between a doctor being negligent and a doctor being wrong.

Make them advertise the costs of their services up front and in the open. I can't think of any profession that doesn't do this.

Finally, doctors should make their best effort to help you, not every possible effort regardless of how likely it actually is to help you.

Until we address costs we are wasting time. Make it cheaper and insurance becomes more affordable. Make it cheaper and the uninsured could even pay cash for some services. Make it cheaper and the problem gets better.

So Steve, as one who has no idea how to tackle that particular aspect of the problem, (ya know, the aspect that is running at double the rate of inflation?)

what do you suggest?

I think helping shape the debate makes sense. But one can be opposed to it in principle and fight the principle. There's always time to negotiate later.

Like with the stimulus bill? Mind you, I am left of center, but I feel things could have been better if the Repubs had brought more to the table than "anything but Obama!!!"

This is politics after all.

I have to thank you for proving my point with your response: the left is surprisingly intolerant of dissent.

You respond to my post with a crude insult:
"A few suggestions:

1. Turn off Rush
2. Turn on Brain"

and then you attempt to stifle Dr. Joyner by stating:

"If you feel it is inevitable, why not give up a pointless fight and work to make it better when it comes"

Did you take your own advice before we invaded Iraq?

James, this was my initial reaction as well. There are a # of good conservative reasons to be against "national health care" as it is presently perceived. If one just says "I'm against it!" does not one run the risk of being froze out of the discussion altogether?

I think helping shape the debate makes sense. But one can be opposed to it in principle and fight the principle. There's always time to negotiate later.

Do you know how much it would cost you, out of pocket, to get an X-ray?

Michael, yes, I do, it is a standard deductible set by my insurance.

Who has the cheapest X-ray service in your town?

Whoever my insurance sends me to (they negotiate the rates).

You can't make a rational cost/benefit analysis about your health care, when you don't know the cost.

I don't need to... my insurance knows the cost. They decide.

In many cases, you're not even told the cost until after you've agree(d) to pay it.

My cost is fixed at a set copay. (by the by, I am a union carpenter, so I have good health care, but that does not mean I don't pay for it... Our contract is for a set $ amount, yr by yr, if it all goes to health care, so be it)

Michael, I know where you are trying to go with this. But, can you not see how the "system" has failed us in this particular situation? I haven't had a raise in years (because of HC costs & inflation) and I am one of the guys who are better off.

that the only question is how long we can delay it and what form it will eventually take. But that doesn’t mean we should give up without a fight

If you feel it is inevitable, why not give up a pointless fight and work to make it better when it comes?

James, this was my initial reaction as well. There are a # of good conservative reasons to be against "national health care" as it is presently perceived. If one just says "I'm against it!" does not one run the risk of being froze out of the discussion altogether?

I for one would prefer to see both sides of the aisle at the table so we can get the best of both worlds together in one plan.

Why is it that both liberals and the media now feel that any questioning of their ideas is now unpatriotic?

A few suggestions:

1. Turn off Rush
2. Turn on Brain

Do you know how much it would cost you, out of pocket, to get an X-ray? Who has the cheapest X-ray service in your town?

What I don't like about our latest quasi-national system is that with health savings account, we sign up for a relationship with a provider, who makes no commitment to us for low costs at all.

I haven't sprung for the HSAs, but I gather that I'd have this HSA policy with my HMO, and they'd tell me, after the X-Ray, how much to cough up (no pun intended).

It is a cost that must be balanced against the overuse of coverage benefits by people used to today's attitude.ie; What is this pain in my shoulder? Oh well, I have coverage for X-rays, so let's go find out. Conversely, can I live with the pain, does it hurt enough for me to pay out of pocket?

Do you know how much it would cost you, out of pocket, to get an X-ray? Who has the cheapest X-ray service in your town?

You can't make a rational cost/benefit analysis about your health care, when you don't know the cost. In many cases, you're not even told the cost until after you've agree to pay it.

that the only question is how long we can delay it and what form it will eventually take. But that doesn’t mean we should give up without a fight

If you feel it is inevitable, why not give up a pointless fight and work to make it better when it comes?

I think as long as we keep the oppressive, regressive federal tax code, then we should get significant tax breaks for spending our own money on health coverage.

It just seems that the answer to this problem does not lie with dropping it at the feet of the govt and all taxpayers. I am a small business owner who does not provide coverage for my employees, but I have gotten my personal doctor to agree to see my employees for a rate less than the "covered by insurance" rate. Additionally, if I have a possible workman's comp case, I try to cover it as a business expense rather than file it which costs everybody more money.