The systematic reaming of middle class America - US health care

 A very riveting and interesting article that hits the nail on the head.

On being insured and the insurance company being the negotiator

“You keep thinking it’s free,” she said. “We call it free, but of course it’s not.”  (sic)

Yet, the sad story is,

1. The USA outpaces rest of world on a 7:1 ratio in terms of medical spending
2. The quality of care is most horrifyingly "average".
3. The total number of drugs/scans/tests/procedures ordered per patient is unnecessary (see it 'saving ass').
4. What more the drug/scan/procedures, USA is the most expensive in all 21 categories.
5. The list goes on and on...

Here is another gem,

The high price paid for colonoscopies mostly results not from top-notch patient care, according to interviews with health care experts and economists, but from business plans seeking to maximize revenue;

While several cheaper and less invasive tests to screen for colon cancer are recommended — colonoscopy has become the go-to procedure in the United States. “We’ve defaulted to by far the most expensive option, without much if any data to support it,” 

Latest NYT article on health care expenditures:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/health/colonoscopies-explain-why-us-leads-the-world-in-health-expenditures.html?_r=0

An article by the renowned Dr Atul Gawande on escalating costs and an explanation as to why?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/health/colonoscopies-explain-why-us-leads-the-world-in-health-expenditures.html?_r=0