Flyinhigh

One of the reasons our health care costs are higher than the rest of the industrial countries is the high cost of malpractice insurance. My family doctor runs a practice with two doctors and four FNPs. His annual premium for malpractice insurance is in excess of $100,000 per year. And he is only family medicine. Imagine what it is for a specialist or a surgeon. It takes a lot of office visits to generate $100K to cover this cost.
If we want meaningful health reform, start with tort reform. I know this will never happen because of the lawyer's lobby, but it sure would help with the costs.

FrankTheTank

Can't really read sarcasm in text.. You are joking, right?

FDXLAG

Nope he is dead serious, and he can't see the connection between Medicare and Medicaid shifting their costs on to regular insurance and the rising cost of health care.

Huck

Oh I see it.

But that's not what I'm talking about. Here's my point:

1. We pay more for health care than the countries we are competing against.

2. We have to pay less to be competitive.

Paying less involves a) becoming healthier and b) lowering costs.

As for a), well, we could start by cutting subsidies for unhealthy foods....

As for b), well, that sort of is the nub of the argument.

FDXLAG

And yet the cost of health care insurance is increasing by 60% and health care professionals are leaving the business. We are increasing demand and decreasing supply and somehow costs are going to be lowered.

AerisArmis

Hillarycare will save us in 3 1/2 years....bank it!

Anthrax

I love this style of thinking. The, "We don't have it so bad when compared to this or that." It's a poor-man's philosophy, and adopted by far too many here on property, which is why our contract sucks.

kronan

Our contract sucks....compared to whom? Anthrax, let's assume you found Aladdins lamp and a genie has offered you one wish...and your wish is to be a pilot, with the same relative Senority, for ______?

It's not poor-man's philosophy, it's perspective. It is delusional to assume that our health care premiums will never increase.

Some posters are extrapolating that OUR negotiated health plan will be identical to what is offered to our non-union breatheren at FDX. But that's not what was stated in the most recent video, nor do I think such a contractual provision would pass. So, it's a distraction-just as PBS is a distraction.

For years, health care costs have been expanding in the 8% a year ball park. Most of the premium increases are "hidden" since we rarely think about the employer portion, but it's still part of our total compensation package.

All that being said, doesn't mean FDX can't afford to up our total compensation.

Another discussion I love is when someone breaks out the "real" inflation rate argument that our 3% pay raise was really a paycut. Well, try having that argument with someone whose absolute dollars, not only didn't keep up with the "official" rate of inflation but declined over the past few years.

satpak77

U.S. healthcare is amongst the least user friendly in the world. Want to be proactive (like I tried) and get some blood work done ? Must see a doctor to "order it". Try to see a doctor ? Who referred you ? We need a referral for lab work. I don't have one. Well, you need one. Finally talked them into it. Go get lab work. Lab folks, may I pick up my results tomorrow, in person ? No, we can't release them to you (the person we just took blood from). Policy. You have to see your doctor. He will go over them. Dr office, yes can I see Dr Jones to review my blood work ? Dr. Jones is full for next two weeks, how does the second Tuesday of next month sound ?

the U.S. healthcare system could be more user friendly.

FDXLAG

Try paying cash. If you think it will be easier once we are all on medicare you have been smoking to much medical marijuana.