What choices do Americans have under the healthcare system dictated by private insurance?

The anti-small business crowd are arguing against a single-payer option.

Apparently, private insurance corporations are not open to competition.

But, why? Do they really believe the healthcare "market" provides "consumers" with enough adequate choices?

Exactly what choices are available under the system they're satisfied with?

non-profit?

Yet it still costs an arm and a leg. I was looking at the cost of medicare if you don't have the required years of service and it isn't cheap either.

1. Make all insurance cards have the address for billing on the card. Saves money, because the claims filer doesn't have to spend hours just trying to figure out where to mail claims. Cuts down on MD's costs, which said MD should pass on to their patients (MY boss works for free, and we keep costs as low as possible for our patients anyway, but we do file insurance claims when we can)

2. Make all codes for services and for conditions static--don't keep changing them from year to year when they don't need to be changed. The stupid code books that you have to have cost hundreds of dollars, a yearly expense that is unnecessary.

3. Make a retired elementary school teacher write out the instructions for filing claims and for saying exactly what will be covered. That way it is easy to understand and there are fewer frustrated folks--and less of a need for "specialists" to simply explain to you what is covered.

4.Make all MDs and insurance companies charge what are called "customary and reasonable" fees. There is actually a range for these, and there are books published yearly with the fees listed for each procedure. The difference in the fees could be tied to cost of living in the area where the practice is located. Perhaps making public the fees charged by various health care professionals would be helpful as well.

5. Let doctors practice medicine, not bean counters. We've gone round and round in our office with insurance companies not wanting to pay for certain prescriptions. Usually it takes two or three times to get it through their thick heads that the patient in question is allergic to, or has other issues with, the drugs they want to pay for. All this phone calling and faxing takes time--and time is money.

... so they are in the middle of everything.

Single-payer would eliminate the biggest obstacle of all: the private insurance corporation.

I'm so sick of everything having to be "for profit". Seems to me there is a saying "the love of money is the root of all evil".

God, kill me, but don't make me sick.

One way to get the votes and alert our legislators to respond to the need of the people is for us to simply refuse to pay our premiums. we have been held hostage long enough by this industry.
I am a grandfather of 6 whose parents work and are having to cut or go without in order to provide health care for their family. when my kids bought their houses they were getting health care through their work place; part of their benefits. they now pay over $400 a month for this same health care ,plus their deductibles have gone up dramatically. one went Thur bankruptcy last year. the other is on the verge. do you think this is rare? well it isn't! more and more people are going without health care.
I don't want your or my grand kids going on welfare! lets stop these pick pockets! flood your legislators with letters letting them know if they kill public health-care you will cancel your policies and they can pick up the mess!
all the major countries in the world have public health-care! and those that do rate higher than us in personal health statistics! and pay much less! don't buy into the waiting game propaganda the insurance cartel is spreading- the only fast way into the operating room is the emergency room! and people die in those daily! you've seen the horror stories on TV.
protect your love ones now -speak up!

Not the lies and propaganda the GOP-controlled media are shoving down out throats, but what exists in reality?

What choice is there really? Obviously we want better, but why? We need to put in simple terms what is wrong with the system.

I started this thread as a way to cut through the propaganda about single-payer an help us all figure out the best way to argue against the lies.

The anti-small business private insurance agenda opposes the single-payer option. Does this mean they accept the system as is? Why? What is it about the system that makes it exempt from the age-old GOP talking point of "more competition"?

The GOP are always pushing "more competition," but not in this case.

Why?

I understand what you're saying--we all want single-payer--I'm just trying to provide another way to show exactly how the system is flawed.

to quote the Stones.

Seriously, the only "choice" these companies want is to force all Americans to buy insurance from them. And then they don't want to pay out a dime. I have to jump through the hoops with these companies every time I file a health claim for my clinic, which is a non-profit. Love the reasons they give for not paying--like our charge for an office visit is "too high" ($32 is too high for a half an hour one on one consultation with an MD?)

Why the teabaggers can't see that is beyond me.

That's what I've been left with since I have pre-existing medical conditions that are easily controlled by meds but can be life-threatening if untreated. I guess my asthma is related to my lifestyle choice of opting to breathe.