One of the things the Doctor who wrote what the OP posted says "Most people, of course, do need medical care at some point. If they are uninsured, they can go to the doctor and whip out their checkbook, just like your mother or grandmother did, and just like you probably do at the veterinarian’s, the dentist’s, the massage therapist’s, or the mechanic’s". Really? The biggest Vet bill I ever had was $2500.00. Dentist? $5,000.00 Therapists I don't use. Mechanics? Maybe $4500 for an engine. On the other hand I had a heart attack that cost $60,000.00 My wife had cancer treatments that cost over $100,000.00. My mother and grandmother never had to write a check for as much as 10% of those amounts and they couldn't have if they wanted to. Her point is taken but needs a dose of reality. Most people cannot deal with a major medical disaster cost. It would wipe them out.
In the area of the country that I live, at the present time, there are very few independent doctors in private practice. Most are contracted with large health care provider groups that own the hospitals, diagnostics, treatment, and special facilities. They buy up most of the surgical centers and specialist groups. There is no market competition whatsoever. I am not too sure those folks are going to reduce their rates even if we take the government out of the rules and regulations column.
I had the catastrophic insurance plan for years. I paid between $5000 and $10,000 a year of costs and it would pay the rest. It was nice and it was cheap. It is gone now and it's resurrection isn't very likely in my opinion.
The reason for the huge charges is because they bill the insurance company, which pays it because they charge so much to the insured in premiums that they can afford to. Change all that around, and all prices would dramatically go down. That's the nature of a free market.
As for catastrophic coming back, the only thing preventing it is government regulation essentially outlawing it. Remove that, and demand for it will bring it right back at a competitive price.
