Report Traces $200B in U.S. Health Costs To Claims Processing Errors

[Decker]

Look at just how efficient and innovative the private sector is with health insurance administration.

Why with lean and mean efficiency like that, who needs wasteful, socialist universal healthcare?

Insurers' failure to properly reimburse physicians costs the U.S. $200 billion annually, according to a report released Monday by the American Medical Association, the Los Angeles Times reports.
http://www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2008/6/17/Report-Traces-200B-in-US-Health-Costs-To-Claims-Processing-Errors.aspx

[MB]

Not surprising.  How often have you been to the doctor and the billing gets all screwed up between the doctor's office and the insurance company.  The patient is left in the middle to straighten it all out.  I'd seriously like to see us do away with medical insurance.  Eliminating all that paperwork would be a huge savings that could be passed on to the consumer. 

[Decker]

Not surprising.  How often have you been to the doctor and the billing gets all screwed up between the doctor's office and the insurance company.  The patient is left in the middle to straighten it all out.  I'd seriously like to see us do away with medical insurance.  Eliminating all that paperwork would be a huge savings that could be passed on to the consumer. 

I've done more insurance appeals than President Bush has political failures.  When my wife was going through cancer treatments, we spent half our time in hospitals and half our time talking to insurance people...unresponsive, didn't give a shit about the quality of their work and that's when they did answer the phone.

[MB]

I feel sorry for anyone who is terminally ill in this country and has to spend their time worrying about receiving medical bills because the claims are all screwed up.  That is the last thing that should happen.  I had some dental work done, then spent 8 months of my time afterwards straightening out the claims and talking to the insurance company.  If I hadn't been persistant in getting a resolution, I would still be receiving statements years later.  It's a joke.  Medical insurance plays to people's fears, but if you take a good look, the system would run much smoother without it.