Why an MRI costs $1,080 in America and $280 in France • Hacker News Board

Re: Why an MRI costs $1,080 in America and $280 in France

#221

Post by FireBeyond » Mon, Mar 05, 2012, 8:50 PM UTC

FireBeyond wrote: post #203

rsynnott wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Although it dovetails with the well worn narrative on HN, this comparison fails due to the level of care. The context is purely the model of provision; level of care isn't addressed. > Second, some of the development of MRI technology happened in Britain. Most was performed in the U.S. Who is paying for the cost of development of this and other new technology and drugs? It's often not the people in places like Cana…

"This marketing spend is disproportionately targeted at the US, as it's one of the few countries which permits heavy marketing of prescription drugs directly to normal people." By few, you mean two, soon to be one. The US and New Zealand, and New Zealand has passed legislation to phase it out. The US will be the only country in the world where you can be advised of your potential need for a prescription drug not by a…

Not sure why this was downvoted, other than "USA! USA!".

Disclaimer: I live in America.

Re: Why an MRI costs $1,080 in America and $280 in France

#222

Post by jasonwocky » Mon, Mar 05, 2012, 10:20 PM UTC

yummyfajitas wrote: post #206

jasonwocky wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One situation: if they believe that their competitors will follow suit. Unless an insurance company concocts a way to lower costs that isn't easily replicable , they have little incentive to do so. Otherwise, they're just triggering a race to the bottom.

By this logic, no company in any industry should attempt to reduce costs in an easily replicable way. Since the world doesn't behave that way, there must be something wrong with your logic.

Or maybe there's nothing wrong with my logic. Maybe there are other forces at play that, when all mixed together, result in companies sometimes seeking cost reductions, and sometimes not seeking cost reductions.

Parent was looking for an example to explain a possible situation, not a dynamic that the entire world must obey at all times.

Re: Why an MRI costs $1,080 in America and $280 in France

#223

Post by 18pfsmt » Tue, Mar 06, 2012, 11:23 AM UTC

nooop wrote: post #178

18pfsmt wrote: post #83

Without yet reading any of the other comments, I have an anecdote that may be interesting to others: One of my father's business partners has a mother that lives in France. She is ~88 years old, and the family's net-worth is on the order of 100s of millions ($USD). She had a medical condition which required surgery, but due to her age, she was not eligible in France, so she had to come to the US for her surgery. So,…

> but due to her age, she was not eligible in France I call bullshit on that. Due to general condition maybe, but if you are in great shape except on one risky point and the risk of treatment seems acceptable you are not going to be refused treatment because you are too old.

Well, she was. She was deemed too old to receive the organ transplant, and the fact that she was willing to pay extra didn't matter. She is now 95.