[Diondra]

I suppose I should be more specific in my meaning. I know Drs charge a shit load because of insurance haggling. However, the price of public hospitals should not be set by either hospitals, nor the insurance. We, the people, as well as Washington officials have time and again let the medical practice and pharmaceutical companies set the prices so high, no one average income individual can afford either alone. The government could regulate hospital rates, Dr salary caps, prescription drug costs, and assisted living costs. They jacked the price of tobacco through the roof justifying it to cover health care expenses, however, they could just adjust the cost of public health care. If cost of routine healthcare would become more managable by average Joe, all insurance would be needed for is major procedures such as implants and prosthetics, etc. Which are far less of an insurance expendature than er visits, tests, routine check ups, follow ups and prescriptions combined on an annual basis. Take some of that tax money taken from the tobacco industry and actually use it to cushion medical expenses as it was intended to do. It's public health care, not private "if you can afford this" health care. People wouldn't be so drastic in the way they get healthcare that way maybe... Of course, I have a different way I feel about healthcare in maximum security prisons and death row, but that's a different subject and very harsh.