How about forcing the health care providers to charge the same fee for the same service...

[TheCoxwain]

If I cut my hand and you stitch me up ... why should you charge me $500 if I am insured and $5000 if I am not. It is the same service.

[Occam Bandage]

1. So you're suggesting we eliminate insurance?

I don't really understand. If you get charged the same rate regardless of whether you're insured, then why have insurance? Isn't that the Republican Dream Plan for health care: rather than pool risk, you pay up front and entirely out-of-pocket from your "health savings account?"

[TheCoxwain]

3. I meant -- what the provider charges the insurance . ( you have just your copay)

[subterranean]

5. I think you missed the point.

The OP was saying that hospitals should end their practice of charging different rates for insured and uninsured patients. As it stands now, they charge uninsured patients the full "rack rate," which is often much higher than the negotiated rate that they charge insurance companies. In other words, they charge their highest rates to those who can least afford to pay.

[Donnachaidh]

2. if you charge me $500 for a cut hand can I slap you HARD to make sure it works?

Either price is RIDICULOUS.

But I agree with you. My doctor regularly got paid $68 for my visits, but billed for much more. Now we don't have that insurance, he expects me to pay the BIG price? WHY should the uninsured be penalized -- they are the ones who actually need the cheaper prices.

[madokie]

4. About 22 years back I had an accident

and no insurance and wasn't using the va at the time so I was faced with a bill that was going to be $4500 bucks for the operation and the night in the hospital I'd be needing but then I found out that work rehab would pay for it so I go ok. I had the operation, inner ear, and a few months later I got a copy of the bill the hospital and doctor charged the government, for the same thing when I was going to have to pay $4500 for, they charged work rehab a little over $5000 each. Almost $11,000. I'm sure I still have all the paper work on that here somewhere to prove it too.