How does yelling "UNIVERSAL CARE IS THE ONLY SOLUTION!!! stop anyone from collecting data? The reason data isn't collected is because the people who should be collecting the data don't care. The private clinic doesn't care if syringes double in price because they'll charge you double the price plus the cost to keep a few thousand in stock. It makes no difference to them how much a syringe costs because you are paying for it. Furthermore, the syringe company has many private clinics as customers. If one doesn’t buy, another will.
Because a project to accumulate enough data to determine sources of inflationary pressures would be a huge project, not something a few people can cobble up together between youtube posts. It's also not something a clinic or two can cobble up on their own. Nor Walmart. They all have a piece of the picture, but no one is out gathering those pieces to put the puzzle together. And they DO care because they don't like having to pass on higher prices.
Those who claim to be most interested in finding a solution to health care problems (ie: you and your type) have already made up their minds what the solution is to the problem (which is not a solution - it's a bandaid.). You are not interested in accumulating the data because you don't care either. Your focus is to start universal care because that is the ONLY solution you puny little minds can come up with. You don't give a ripe fart that health care would not even BE an issue if its costs has stayed level with the rest of inflation. You mind is made up, so no new data is needed.
Meanwhile the republicans are so focused on preventing universal care, they don't seem to care either. As long as universal care is blocked, their job is done, as far as they are concerned.
Meanwhile those who are looking for a genuine solution instead of the traditional government patch cannot get enough momentum to get their own studies started because the brain dead lemming pundits of both sides hammer them out of the way in their undying pursuit of their own single minded agendas. neither side is interested in actually trying to look at the problem itself.
So, we end up back where we always were. The patient will never know why syringes cost so much, the private clinic doesn’t care and life goes on.
And you don't care either because you are so convinced universal care is the answer, all you see is making sure the damned things are paid for, regardless of how much they cost.
People have this absurd idea medical services are like any other service people require. Sort of like if one requires a carpenter they’ll shop around and get estimates. Ever see a guy with a broken leg driving around from hospital to hospital getting an estimate? A heart attack or stroke victim asking hospitals to submit tenders?
A smart person does not wait for trouble. They get themselves a regular physician, so when trouble does come up, they have a doctor that knows their history. They also get themselves proper coverage if they can afford it, because then the coverage ddoes the bargaining while they're getting their leg set, their bypass, etc.
Of course, the problem is those who don't have the means to decent coverage. And the reason for that problem is rising care costs is driving coverage out of reach of more and more people. But simply providing them with that coverage is not a long term solution. The problem with rising costs will go on making it more and more difficult to cover anyone, let alone everyone. Countries with universal plans are already feeling the pressures, resulting in decreasing standards of care, increasing waiting lists, etc.
And don't get me started on this nutty idea of medical insurance. Does anyone know what illness they are going to contract? One buys home insurance having a good idea what to be insured for. Those in a desert environment can safely exclude flood damage while those in a tropical climate probably won’t need coverage for snow/frost damage. Plus, they have a good idea of what damages may result and the cost. How can one possibly determine what medical illnesses, the costs, the possible complications, etc.
It’s just an all around, bizarre set-up.
Medical insurance is the exact same principle as any other insurance, but is designed to provide for a much wider range of possible problems. The fact that 85% of Americans get good quality care at affordable (to them) costs proves it works whether you have the cognitive abilities to understand why it works or not. It's quite simple - premiums are set at a rate where the more healthy majority pay for the higher expenses of the less healthy minority, plus a profit. (most people understand this, which is another fact that gives lie to your statement that people won't pay for their health care and other's too - it is already happening.)
Rising costs drive premiums up. Rising health problems (mostly do to lifestyles) drive premiums up. Pretty soon too many can no longer afford it, and then we have problems. Find and fix the rising costs, and premiums will settle down some. Get people into healthier life styles, premium will come down and more people can afford coverage.
But the principle is easy: those with fewer health problems pay for those with more health problems.
