In America’s health care sector, patients aren’t the actual customers of care; insurers are. Insurance companies are responsible for buying services from hospitals, physicians, medical equipment providers, and other professionals in the field. Sure, patients who have insurance are subject to out of pocket costs such as co-pays and co-insurance. Deductibles are as high as $6,000 for an individual and $13,000 for a family for policyholders who don’t have access to health benefits through their jobs.
But, for the most part, patients are blinded by the true cost of care. The lack of consumerism and the largess of government price controls over health care services and health insurance are key factors that keep high health care costs alive and well.
How would the health care sector operate if patients had control over their medical expenses?
David Goldhill, CEO of Game Show Network, offers excellent insight on the benefits of consumer-driven health care in his book, “Catastrophic Care: Why Everything We Think We Know About Health Care Is Wrong.” It’s a must-read!
