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Is there competition in US health care?

How many of you got competitive bids before your last surgery? appalachian american - thank you. You got second and third opinions and selected the DR you were most comfortable with. Price/benefit analysis never entered in your decision. We are relying totally on the private. insurance companies to control costs, and they obviously aren't doing the job.

Public Comments

1. i went to 3 doctors to get a opinion.my insurance covered all three.so they all said i needed it.then i chose the best one.
2. Over 14,000 US health insurance companies exist. If you honestly believe in the collusion of all of them to raise prices you are an idiot.
3. not I
4. Do you REALLY think there will be if Obama's plans are put in to place? Prices will still rise but we lose more control too.
5. Not since Democrats made it virtually illegal, no.
6. there are more than 1200 insurance companies. when you buy a policy, you should know the up front cost, there are no surprises, unless you did not read and or fully understand your policy. it is on you to understand what you are buying or signing up for. if you do not like your policy and its benefits, change providers. it is really that simple.
7. There isn't. That's the point. Socialism is already a major part of our medical system, and it's time we did SOME SURGERY OF OUR OWN! Remove it. Bring back competition. DON'T add more Socialism to it! Dear Gods, why in the worlds would you want LESS competition in a system that already costs an arm and a leg!
8. My company researches health insurance options every year, and chooses the best option for our 55 employees.
9. idk
10. There are over 1,000 insurance companies in our country! We do NOT need a government takeover for competition...they just want power and control. Allow people to cross state lines to purchase their insurance and there will be no problem purchasing affordable insurance.
11. Yes. My insurance company negotiates with doctors and hospitals for competitive rates. Those entities are considered "in-network". Out of network doctors and hospitals cost them more and me more. People who say there isn't are lying.
12. Sure, just like there is "competition" for cable TV and gasoline. Competition in this regard is nothing more than an illusion.
13. yes there is competition. Competition amongst ins companies to give the best rate. There is less competition for non-elective stuff but there is doctor level competition for elective's like lasik and stuff like that. What point are you trying to make, the plans on the table wont introduce competition, other than adding 1 more ins company that no other companies will be able to compete with because its subsidized by the government. Eventually we will have single payer because other companies will have no way to compete with the trillion dollars in funding and operating at a loss indefintely. If you support the upcomming health care you essentially support getting rid of all competition in a few years. Let me ask you a basic question, if we only want to control costs why not give everyone HSA's and then have the gov regulate the costs of procedures (you know the same way Ins companies negotiate rates for each procedure)? Why does the government need to RUN a health insurance company???
14. I haven't had surgery in the past 22 years. The one I had was outpatient and I worked with the hospital and surgeon because I had no insurance. I'd say there's competition and also many options for uninsureds and uninsurables and I see no reason to tack on another government burden that doesn't lessen the one they already carry. Stop using healthcare and insurance interchangeably. They aren't the same thing.