Real life example before I was an educated health care consumer. I just had really never bothered before.

Knee pain while in Birmingham. Guess who I went to see. Yep, Dr. Andrews because he was "the best". I skipped the GP because I wanted the best care for basically a swollen knee with no damage.

Why did I do that? There are several reasons really. The first is that I thought I really had a serious issue because of the pain. The second is that I wanted the best doctor for the job. The last is that Dr. Andrews has marketed himself well.

Because my insurance pretty much allowed for this without much thought or financial pain I likely created a claim that was triple the value of what it should have been.

My GP could have done what they did which only an x-ray and an Rx for anti-inflammatory meds.

We are completely disconnected from the true cost of care.

Another example is getting MRIs in hosptials. Another is getting care at the brand name/most expensive hospital/clinic without ever researcher their actual outcomes.

We are a mess in that regard.

ETA: Clearly, I didn't see Dr. Andrews. I went to his clinic. He wouldn't bother flying on his personal jet in from the beach to see me in B'ham just to tell me I was sore.

This post was edited on 3/10/17 at 9:04 am

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Posted by dkreller

Laffy

Member since Jan 2009

30486 posts

Posted on 3/10/17 at 9:03 am to roadGator

Constant ordering of MRIs and other "excessive" tests is a result of fear of malpractice suits.

This post was edited on 3/10/17 at 9:05 am

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Posted by Aubie Spr96

lolwut?

Member since Dec 2009

41366 posts

Posted on 3/10/17 at 10:17 am to roadGator

LINK

quote:
However, when patients pay their own medical bills, they act like normal consumers ? comparing prices and looking for value. And when patients act like prudent consumers, doctors who want their patronage must respond by competing on prices, convenience and other amenities.

Consider cosmetic surgery, one of the few areas of medicine where consumers pay out of pocket. The inflation-adjusted price of cosmetic medicine actually fell over the past two decades — despite a huge increase in demand and considerable innovation [See Figure]. Since 1992:

The price of medical care has increased an average of 118 percent.
The price of physician services rose by 92 percent.
The inflation rate, for all goods and services, as measured increased by 64 percent.
Yet cosmetic surgery prices only rose only about 30 percent.