Health care is so ridiculously expensive. The CVS/Wal-Mart movements make sense. How could anyone with a brain in their head oppose them?
DZ | 05.02.07 - 7:49 pm | #

Like Dr. Goroll, very few people think their industry will be improved by directing less money (or less money per customer) to it. He's right that someone with access to a primary care physician may get poorer care at the CVS clinic, but for those who don't have a doctor because they can't afford one, this sounds like a godsend. (pardon the expression)
just sayin | 05.02.07 - 9:59 pm | #

Sorry to get picky about this but the claim that 50 million people lack health insurance is misleading.

As the link to the CBPP shows, the most commonly cited figure for this is closer to 46 million, a number taken from Census data.

Even that figure seriously overstates the problem though. As researchers at John Hopkins and the Urban Institute pointed out in an article for Health Affairs (posted Nov. 30, 2006) 25% of those 46 million uninsured are eligible for public coverage but, for whatever reason, haven't signed up. Another 20% can afford private coverage but choose to go without it. (The latter are usually 20-somethings who decide they'd rather have extra pocket change or people changing jobs and temporary going without.)

Only about 55% (or about 25 million) are unable to afford private coverage, can't get it through their employer and are not eligible for public assistance -- which is what I think most people think of when they think of the uninsured. So that is the more accurate figure.
Sean Higgins | 05.03.07 - 11:12 am | #

Speaking as someone who is a financial analyst for a healthcare firm and has a sister who is an actuary, I can say that the problem with healthcare in this country is TOO MUCH insurance. Insurance is a just a legal racket. I mean, come on. My sister sits around all day RUNNING NUMBERS.... she's a BOOKIE!!
She knows this, but she likes the money. Insurance artificially raises the cost of healthcare.
Jenny | 05.03.07 - 1:57 pm | #