The Health Care Solution that Dare not Speak its Name: Price Controls

Free markets don't work with health care because there is no true competition in the capitalist sense. Companies have patent monopolies. Even when they end for the pharma companies, there are just a handful of companies..., so no true competition.

Same goes across the board... including health insurers.

A good example is here in the UAE where the market is open for health care, but prices are maintained through price controls.

For example, a well known drug for colon problems in the states costs around $400 in the states. I was able to purchase this here for my father for $40.

Same drug and company made in Switzerland.

The difference here is price controls. We applied this to Medicare, why not the rest of the system?


Of course, we know why this will never get off the ground!

... pharma and specialists no longer get to "name their price".

It's not just big pharma ripping us off, when a surgeon gets $10,000 for a 30 minute procedure, he is ripping us off also.

And don't get me started on medical devices. A total rip off.

system like it is here, price controls can also work without single-payer... granted there is also a mandate for everyone to have at least minimal insurance.

... would be ALMOST as good as single payer provided enough people were let in. Because it could control prices also and it would only be a matter of time before private prices would have to match.

This is why HCR without at least a public option is a FUCKING WASTE OF TIME.

I think about that every time I hear a corporation, or an industry, or the righties, THREATEN us saying "if you tax us, or regulate us, those costs will just be passed through to the consumer!"

Fuck them, and their threats!

Tax 'em, regulate 'em, and freeze their god-damned prices!!!

(Sorry about all of the profanity, but I'm all wound up this morning).

Pure insanity.