This would require a much longer post at some point, but the prices in American healthcare are fake. It's a huge grift designed to generate tax write-offs and commissions (although I don't think they're called that). No one is actually paying the amount that medical providers record as having been spent.
I know exactly what you are talking about. I've heard it explained several times. Yeah it would take a much longer post but he's right @kr. The "healthcare" market in the US is rigged. As in they over-charge and insurance and providers negotiate down. I should have mentioned that. I forget that most people don't know this. It always frustrates me when people act like US healthcare is a free market system. Its not. Very rigged.
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I'll keep this in mind for a future post, because it is fascinating. There are a few really good episodes of Econ Talk that get into it, as well as a bunch of interviews with the Surgery Center of Oklahoma guy.
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Yeah, that guy from OK is great at explaining it. Think I heard either Tom Woods or Bob Murphy interview him a couple times now.
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