Will Obamacare succeed where term limits failed?

[Xiahou]

I few years ago I had to get a chest x-ray and I didn't have insurance coverage. I called several hospitals... and none of them could tell me what a chest x-ray would cost me out of pocket. They honestly did not know. I was transferred to different departments, talked to different people, I never got a clear answer. Basically, I would have to come get the x-ray and they'd bill me- then I'd know what it costs.

Finally I found an outpatient surgery center in the phone book and they told me- $80. So guess where I went?

The point is- healthcare providers and consumers are both far isolated from the actual costs of their services. There is zero incentive on either side to keep costs low. If you want to see costs go down, you have to make people care what their healthcare costs.

If my car needs work done, I shop around for the best deal. People need to do the same for healthcare. For emergencies, you don't have much choice- but for everything else, there should be a price incentive.

There is no overall increased demand for being ill. People get sick regardless of having insurance or not. The overall healthcare system ie private and public has to care for the people and with chronically ill rarely if ever recovers any money.

This is a gross oversimplification. The threshold at which people seek treatment can vary greatly. If you have costly coverage or no coverage, you're less likely to go to a doctor for less serious problems.