Hmmm... from Jerry Pournelle's blog

[daveon]

The way to lower prices is to increase supply, or decrease demand. 

OR reduce costs.

A multipage, itemised invoice from the hospital for M's operation doesn't come keep.  Nor, I suspect do the army of admins I see moving files in my Doctor's office. 

Comments

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

I've heard figures that compare the overhead costs in the NHS and the US 'healthcare system'. Apparently the NHS manages 5% overheads (ie. admin on top of actual healthcare costs). The US equivalent is 30%, much of which is taken up by people in insurance companies trying to find reasons *not* to cover people. Oh, and profits to the insurance companies.

[t--m--i.livejournal.com]

Oddly when I went privvit in the UK there was v. little paperwork bar the cheque, but to be fair they were both fairly atomic things - seeing a consultant, and an MRA. However no insurance was involved (though I did get most of the money back via a friendly society).