Thoughts on concierge medicine?

Creekland
Thu, 28 Jun 2018 15:08:10 +0000

^^^ It’s not only available to those with money to pay. I have a close relative who turned down buying health insurance from her job saying it was too expensive (even though she had extra money she spends on things most of us would consider wants, not needs - like multiple daily lottery tickets). Even without insurance, she’s having no problem getting appts and tests/treatments done - currently on her state’s system to pay for it. She doesn’t like her doctors, but it’s tough for me to have sympathy. She’s currently out of work (workman’s comp for a completely different issue) so low enough income to qualify for her state system the same as any other low income resident.

One can use the same argument to say expensive restaurants shouldn’t exist. There are people who can’t afford them and they NEED to eat (true statement). The expensive restaurants are taking away food that could be for sale in a market with supply and demand lowering the ultimate cost for all.

Do we need expensive clothing or should all material and sewing machines be used for just the basics? The latter would definitely help the poor - or maybe not since some jobs would disappear…

Then luxury or “above average” houses? How equal do we need to be to be “right?” Should we develop the society in “The Giver?” (book by Lois Lowry)

There’s a choice in medical care (at least in some places). There’s nothing wrong with options. If traditional places are having trouble filling voids, perhaps they’ll start paying doctors more of what they’re worth to fill them - or as others have said, NP’s and PA’s can (truthfully) fill in some of void.

Getting better care the way things used to be (more time, fewer patients, etc) is a worthy goal to promote. It might take money at this time to give it a push akin to organic small farm produce, but over time, it could become more of the norm. If more doctors went this route, supply and demand would lower the fees.