Sharyl: When we talk about what’s the issue with healthcare today, a lot of people say the issue is getting everybody insured. This was not really the approach that you took.
Bartlett: You’re right. I don’t agree with that. I think the solution is getting the cost affordable and I did not take the approach of “insurance for everyone.” I found a lot of waste just with the insurance part.
She began by comparing charges from two different hospitals for similar knee replacements.
Bartlett: And one came in around $30,000 in the other at $105,000. Huge difference. I just kept asking why, why? Well, the implant was much more expensive. Well, can I see the invoice? Can I see what you paid? No, that’s private. You can’t see that. So I couldn’t get to the information. It was frustrating and I couldn’t get to the answers. And one hospital said, well, we don’t really know our costs.
How do you stay in business if you don’t know your costs? You rely on government mandating everyone have insurance. Note that having health insurance does NOT equal having health care.
The health care system was screwed up during WWII when health insurance became a benefit due to wartime wage and price controls. It was further screwed up by Medicare and Medicaid. These are unconstitutional transfer payments that further inflated health care costs. Health insurance should be treated like any other insurance—automobile, homeowner’s, or life. You purchase what you think you need and can afford from private companies. You do not have a right to health insurance, or even health care.
Source: Montana’s Solution
