just Jim wrote:
Jim wrote:
Vic Smith wrote:
On Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:51:31 -0700, Jim wrote:

H the K wrote:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch2.html



I'm going to defy the truce, which I shouldn't do.

Had an interesting discussion yesterday. Out of a group three of us
dock neighbors, two just had Colonoscopys. Both had two polyps
removed.

Third guy, a liveaboard who makes his living doing odd jobs, said he
(age 53) could never afford a Colonoscopy, as he had no health
insurance (or an actual job) he has other things to pay for.

I did some looking, a Colonoscopy costs from a low of $650, to about
$3200.

I saw what the insurance company was billed on the first one I had
about 5 years ago. Six or seven benign polyps removed.
$4700.
Go figure.

--Vic


When I looked at prices, they ranged from $1500 to $42000. If they
find polyps the charge for the removal of each one. $4700 sounds
about right.

I'm kind if suspicious that my neighbor and I each had two. I'll bet
they never find just one.

That is a profit based health care system works.

Does the library make a profit? Fire Dept? Police? Craigslist?

As Craig said, "I'm running a service, not a business." Maybe our
health care system has the wrong focus.

I saw bills totaling nearly $10,000 for a recent colonoscopy with polyp
removal/ endoscopy/ lab procedure.

Wow, but it still is 1/10 of cancer treatment, is far easier on you, and
has a better outcome.

I found a huge range of prices.

The challenge is to have whoever pays, pay the same price as a private
individual would pay. You know those guys who yell the loudest about
destroying capitalism? They are seemingly the same ones who don't want
competition in health care.

I'd sure like to see us find a way to provide preventative procedures
for everyone. That would undoubtedly be cheaper than what we do now.

Want a surprise? Look at life expectancy figures. We aren't at the
top. Interesting to see what countries have the longest, and who we are
behind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ife_expectancy