THE problem with our health care system

Insurance doesn't actually pay that much a lot of times. Its something for the consumer to look at and say "wow, glad I have insurance". Its a racket. But I agree with your premise.

I experienced the same pricing differential at the dermatologist.

X treatment paid by insurance $2,200 (where the insurance would only cover 50%).

X treatment paid in cash $850.

Guess which option I took.

Also, I believe the reason cash payments are set up this way are so that doctors that have their own practices can get a little pre-Obama spending money. That is, all services paid in cash don't get recorded. The cash goes straight into the doctors pocket, tax free.

Very true and I can vouch for both. I work a part time job at the ER while paying my way through nursing school without loans. As for the health care issue I'd guess 50-70% of the patients that come in do not need to come to an ER but they use it as a normal primary care because they don't have to pay. I pay cash for my own medical care because I can't afford insurance. My Dr.'s visits cost me $85 of the top before any treatments every time I go. I pay him cash. But THEY come into the ER (If they paid the cash bill it would be between $600-1000 to see an ER Dr.), because they dont have to pay shite. Why not got to a primary care like I do?
As for school, I'm a nursing student and "shopped around" for my best deal when choosing a school. BY FAR the best value is the RN-ASN at the community college. I pay cash for it also. But tuition has gone up 40% since I started just two years ago. Luckily I will graduate in December before it gets stupid high. My point is you, I'm a broke arse nursing student living on $1100 a month, and I can still afford my education AND healthcare. I just live well below my means and know it will pay off in the long run.

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is that someone ELSE pays.

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Correct.

However, the influence of private insurers on medical costs was minimal prior to the establishment of Medicare in the 1960s. Once Medicare (and, later, Medicaid) got into the mix, medical costs and what insurer's were charged skyrocketed.

Do you realize that the bill charge to insurance companies is irrelevant? Insurance companies set what they pay. It's called allowable or fee schedule. The provider takes that set rate and the patient does not pay the difference.


LINK

Scroll down and read the definition of allowable

I believe the main part of the problem with healthcare, besides the backwards billing and cost realization methods, are that people are getting operations, procedures, and treatments that they honestly cannot afford. Some of the treatments are so expensive like cancer treatments that can be $100,000.

Do people have a right to the best possible medical care without going bankrupt? Increasingly more people are saying yes to this. I think this is something that the american people are going to have to really think about. If a person has cancer they should get treatment, but should they get the super expensive experimental treatment? I think we also need to think about the differences between treatments and cures. If a cure is expensive that is one thing to give it to some one. But if a treatment that may only extend someones life 6 months is expensive, is it worth it?

You nailed it. The lowest cost will always be a straight line between the producer and the consumer. Throw in middlemen with no consumer oversight and you have the recipe for the mess we are in now.