Stating The Obvious
Reuters reports that a new study confirms what should have been obvious: Bills pile up when uninsured get Medicare
BOSTON – Americans who previously had no health insurance rack up some expensive medical bills once they are old enough to be covered by Medicare, researchers said on Wednesday.
The reason: uninsured people put off the care they need, which makes it more expensive to treat them once Medicare is available to pay, Michael McWilliams of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston found.
And those people continue costing more for the first eight years they are in the program, McWilliams and colleagues reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
If you don’t have insurance, you will only seek medical assistance for life threatening problems – you can’t afford to do anything else. Healthcare costs could be significantly reduced if people had access to help before problems become emergencies.
Another point is that something has to be done to provide access to a doctor other than 9 to 5, Monday through Friday. Even with excellent insurance coverage my Mother has ended up in the emergency room on weekends, because there was no other way of getting a needed prescription. These visits cost thousands of dollars and wouldn’t have been necessary if there was another system in place, like a walk-in clinic.
4 comments
Somewhat OT, but somewhat relevant – Nathan Newman has an interesting take, which I’ve linked to just in case you missed it.
I have to agree with him – the chances of the federal government enacting single-payer are pretty slim, even with a potential future Democratic congress & president. But if the states can lead the way and provide the example…..
I like the Healthy Wisconsin” plan; it’s a interesting start.
I gave it, its own post. That is what I’ve been envisioning, and the savings are much larger than I assumed. The way the GOP has been acting lately, nothing of any kind will get done unless the Dems can get 60 votes in the Senate.
“unless the Dems can get 60 votes in the Senate”
While I think that’s possible, I have to agree with Newman. Expecting congress to withstand the pressure from Big Pharma and the InsuranceHogs is wishful thinking, and I’m not just pointing the finger at Republicans. However, a STATE pulling it off and realizing the savings could stiffen some spines.
Let’s keep our eyes on Wisconsin. If they are successful – and it looks like a very viable plan to me – it will create a domino effect.
That first successful plan is important.