Amazon, Berkshire, JPMorgan to Create Healthcare Company

Post by tptacek » Tue, Jan 30, 2018, 5:19 PM UTC

idlewords wrote: post #248

e40 wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kaiser is no longer a low-cost provider. They actually are quite expensive. We go through a very large group to get a better rate but it's still much higher than many of the other options that we have in our plan. When you look at how Kaiser is structured, they should be cheaper. I think they're just pocketing the difference between the market rate and what their costs are.

Cancer care at Kaiser was outstanding. They may be spending the money on extra staffing and facilities, not just pocketing it. The only place where I believe Kaiser falls short and gives the impression of pinching pennies is mental health care.

Post by maxxxxx » Tue, Jan 30, 2018, 5:20 PM UTC

collyw wrote: post #228

WisNorCan wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is nothing wrong with “lining your own pockets” as a motivation. It is the fundamental driver of capitalism and the motivation for most entrepreneurs.

As a European I would disagree. We have helathcare for the purpose of keeping people healthy rather than for profit. It seems to work out a whole lot better than your system in the states.

Post by dv_dt » Tue, Jan 30, 2018, 5:21 PM UTC

weka wrote: post #116

11thEarlOfMar wrote: post #53

It's not just the cost. It's the incredible inefficiency of the operations, and, the gerrymandering of coverage. Under the ACA, I had to choose between allowing my family to continue to see their lifetime care givers, or, paying in network rates, for the full year, because the insurance company I chose gave me incorrect information when they were trying to get my business (my wife is less kind in evaluating their mot…

I had the same unfortunate experience that in angers me to even think about it. - I leave my last employer on July 21, 2017 - My old employer rols me off system on last day of July 2017 - On June 2017, they switch HR providers from TriNET to Namely and now the payment processor is Discovery Benefits and the Dental/Vision are now in Guardian. (So it went from Aetna to Aetna/Guardian and two other companies). Since my…

Post by colmvp » Tue, Jan 30, 2018, 5:21 PM UTC

everdev wrote: post #250

mapgrep wrote: post #176

As some other people have mentioned below, the much lauded[1] vertically integrated health provider Kaiser Permanente started this way, as the health provider caring for the workers of an enlightened large employer, Kaiser Steel, which at the time was a massive shipbuilder for the Navy and others headquartered in California with a major presence in the SF Bay Area. I was briefly covered by a Kaiser plan, and have a l…

Ditched my BlueShield PPO for Kaiser and costs went down dramatically. There's tons of costs to be saved in healthcare and glad to see the private sector making an effort.

Post by skybrian » Tue, Jan 30, 2018, 5:24 PM UTC

hidenotslide wrote: post #271

skybrian wrote: post #227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Generally speaking, insurance companies profit if they don't have to pay out, which is why they sometimes pay for prevention. But this has other problems. Incentives are tricky.

Normally that would be true, but under ACA profits are capped at 25% of premiums. They can increase profits only by increasing premiums, which can be justified by rising costs. Private insurance companies in America have no incentive to lower healthcare costs.