Was talking to a friend this week that works in healthcare industry and it was shocking. A few tidbits...

Costs are spiraling out of control in every area of healthcare, driven by the advances in technology, litigation, illegal immigration and end of life care. It's completely unsustainable and nobody seems to be doing anything about it. We have the most expensive drug and healthcare costs in the world. Regulations slow down the development of lifesaving drugs and multiply their cost many times over. Technology creates new treatments that extend life, but they always cost more than the treatment they replace so technology does not really save any money, it only increases costs. Illegal immigrants can walk into any ER and get free medical care. They use it as their primary care provider and we all end up paying more for our services and coverage as a result.

I liked his suggestion that we adopt a healthcare system that provides basic services, like Dr visits and preventative care for all, but that people have to pay for treatments beyond what is considered basic or pay for private insurance coverage to offset those costs. If they can't afford a treatment, they don't get it. His point was that certain people feel the "right" of healthcare should cover every conceivable treatment a person could ever need, but it's impossible to provide.

There isn't enough political will in Washington to limit services, but that's the only way to get the costs under control. People have no clue what their healthcare really costs because they are so distanced from the actual payment of for the treatment. Until they can feel the true impact of the cost of treatment, everyone will just expect that every measure available be used to extend their life (regardless of the quality of life it provides) simply because it's the "right."

I just had an 86 yr old relative get a new pacemaker and hip replacement with literally no charge. They spent 3 weeks in a nice rehab facility before heading home, again at no charge. The cost of those procedures was probably more than my entire family of 6 will spend on healthcare in several years. As the population ages in the coming decade, the percentage of tax revenues going to health related expenses could potentially consume the budget. With interest rates creeping higher, the cost of servicing the $20 Trillion plus (and growing) national debt will continue to increase.

Last year the government collected more in taxes than in any year in history and it still operated at a deficit. Any private company would be shut down or bankrupt if they attempted the same thing.

Someone needs to step up and deal with reality or we're all doomed to suffer. It seems so obvious yet nothing ever changes.