Health Care Cost: Hospital and Physician

Hi everyone!

Now, I want to go back to the thought that Healthcare is a multi-billion dollar business. You know, if you think of it as a business it sort of takes on another dimension. A service and materials are provided then a bill that includes parts and labor is sent to you. This is no different than any other business. It may first go through your health insurance company to pay a contracted amount. Finally, the balance is billed to you. Once again, your insurance company may have contracts with you that limit the portion of that remaining balance that you will ultimately need to pay. I know it always seems like a large bill........... because it is!!!
You know...the $2.00 aspirin. As someone who has aspirin in the cabinet where the entire bottle was two dollars it doesn't make sense! But if you think about it like a business, the cost of that aspirin is partially labor, pretty much all of it. It includes the pharmacist, a pharmacy tech, transport to the appropriate place and then Nurse who gives it to the patient...but WAIT!! There are two of them, so it will be $4.00. Items or services that are larger in scope and higher cost will be marked up maybe less than the "aspirin". Most providers I have had experience with have some sort of algorithm for the purpose of pricing.

Now------- Hospital / Doctor Pricing:

What do ya'll think about it? Post a comment to this blog.

Until next time, Alice

ps: Next time we will talk about Health Insurance options and"sould you have health insurance"?