Quote Originally Posted by Randi View Post
All I'll say about this is that I'm happy to pay a higher tax and know that everyone in Denmark can be treated for free in a hospital, and of course go to a doctor free of charge. We do pay some for dental visits, though.

This is how our system works: http://www.im.dk/publikationer/healthcare_in_dk/all.htm
The HC system here in the US is very costly because of the laws, the lawsuits and the beliefs - propagated by stupid TV shows - that you can have a pill or procedure that will cure you of everything.

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I have used this example time and time again.

A stainless steel screw, used to fix fractures in bones, can cost around 50-60 dollars. THat was a few years ago. Because the screw has a special bit to insert it and a special thread the costs go up because the facility has to purchase or rent a special drill to use. Then the costs to keep that driver in service are another consideration.

For sixty dollars you can purchase a few boxes of stainless steel screws at a home repair center.

There are tons of costs related to the screw. Research and development, manufacturing, insurance and ???? Many people will RUN to a lawyer and in some cases rightly so, should a medical device fail or not work.

On TV there are regular ads from lawyers that ask, 'if you took X medicine, or had X treatment and your loved one died or is still ill, call our office, you may be eligible for a cash settlement for you pain and suffering...."

It makes me think of people getting paid to be ill, as sucky as that sounds-

Malpractice is another consideration, but why would a doctor make mistakes like that?

IT's a mess and money has a great deal to do with it.