>On 10/15/07, Vitaliy wrote: >> >> The US healthcare system is definitely broken, and it doesn't make any sense >> to me. The free market works very well for other parts of the economy, >> what's so different about medical care? Why is it so outrageously expensive? >> Where does the bulk of the cost come from -- surely not the doctors' and >> nurses' salaries, rent, and equipment? > >The free market is working perfectly. The problem is that the demand >for health care is inelastic. Ie how much are you willing to pay to >avoid death? Also, there's so much more to spend health care dollars on today than 50 years ago. Lots of neato diagnostic equipment and medications. Still, there's too much regulation. Do you really need to see a doctor for common ailments, when a nurse would be just as good, and much less expensive? We need more for-profit (but efficient) walk-in medical care centers, where you can go for common problems. People have tried to do this, but (surprise!) the doctors union blocks it. -- --- Chris Smolinski Black Cat Systems http://www.blackcatsystems.com -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist