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Comment by aabeshou | Hacker News Reader

weird that you're getting downvoted. probably for the use of the word "parasitical" which I assume some of the HN crowd deems combative or divisive. but it's just true. there's a whole pointless middleman industry whose entire purpose is to derive profit from healthcare by denying coverage and increasing premiums, which of course have real world consequences of people dying or going bankrupt.

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In the absence of taxpayer funded healthcare, insurance companies are the only ones negotiating pricing and protecting their customers from being fleeced.

that seems plausible. but I consider that a reason why we need taxpayer-funded healthcare, just like so many other countries have had for years. not a reason why insurance is a necessary/lesser evil. I don't see how it's better for insurance to be fleecing people rather than medical providers

But ... doesn't medicare do a more effective job negotiating than the private insurance companies? Like, my understanding is that typically for a given procedure medicare pays the least, private insurance pays somewhat higher, the uninsured pay way more.

Unfortunately, the voters of the US have determined only people over 65 are eligible to receive that pricing.

Medicare might pay the least, but I assume they must still be a net profit center if healthcare providers accept them.

voters of the US overwhelmingly support universal healthcare and a majority supports medicare for all. it's not the voters. it's the politicians who are bought and who deceive voters into thinking they are on their side, who tell lies about what things are possible because it hurts their donors.

Clyburn, the congressman from South Carolina whose endorsement arguably delivered Joe Biden a landslide victory, has received millions of dollars from big pharma [0]

[0] https://khn.org/news/democrats-taking-key-leadership-jobs-ha...

Medicare does a better job of "negotiating" because they aren't really negotiating. The gov't simply passes a bill that says "Medicare will pay $X" and providers are left to either accept it or not take Medicare patients.

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