Comments on: Thank Goodness for Insurance? http://theflatironlife.com/2007/09/25/670/ These are the ramblings of a young married couple in the great City of Chicago. Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:21:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Rob http://theflatironlife.com/2007/09/25/670/#comment-553 Rob Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:13:37 +0000 http://theflatironlife.com/2007/09/25/670/#comment-553 Also, I don't believe that mechanics would charge $100 for an oil change. In health care, insurance generally only covers you if you go to "in-network" providers. Those providers are only allowed to charge certain amounts for various procedures, and many procedures are not covered. Health care providers often complain that the rates set by insurers are artificially low - whether this is true or not, I'm not sure. I'll read the full article when I get a chance, but if that strawman is the bulk of his argument, I'm not totally convinced. Also, I don’t believe that mechanics would charge $100 for an oil change. In health care, insurance generally only covers you if you go to “in-network” providers. Those providers are only allowed to charge certain amounts for various procedures, and many procedures are not covered. Health care providers often complain that the rates set by insurers are artificially low - whether this is true or not, I’m not sure.

I’ll read the full article when I get a chance, but if that strawman is the bulk of his argument, I’m not totally convinced.

]]> By: Joscelynn http://theflatironlife.com/2007/09/25/670/#comment-548 Joscelynn Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:44:36 +0000 http://theflatironlife.com/2007/09/25/670/#comment-548 We do care about things that are insured, we have car insurance and we still care whether or not we total the car (just not as much). The real difference between car insurance and health insurance is that we bear the full cost of premiums for our car insurance and we do not for employer sponsored health insurance. We care even less about the amount of health care we consume because we don't bear the full cost of premium increases associated with health care use. If your car insurance covered oil changes how much would they increase your premium? Would you hit your deductible sooner or would that be raised? I have to imagine some combination of these things would prevent you from willingly consuming a $100 oil change. We do care about things that are insured, we have car insurance and we still care whether or not we total the car (just not as much). The real difference between car insurance and health insurance is that we bear the full cost of premiums for our car insurance and we do not for employer sponsored health insurance. We care even less about the amount of health care we consume because we don’t bear the full cost of premium increases associated with health care use.

If your car insurance covered oil changes how much would they increase your premium? Would you hit your deductible sooner or would that be raised? I have to imagine some combination of these things would prevent you from willingly consuming a $100 oil change.

]]>