Re: [spiers] Medical outsourcing
I was reading about how toxic the amalgam fillings and other metals that are
found in our mouths and asked the dentist to tell me how much to replace 6
fillings with composite resin. The cost, $2500, because our dental insurance
won't cover it. I told my husband it might be time to take a quick vacation to
Mexico with the $2500 and get the fillings replaced there for about $460. I'm
also becoming an alternative health practitioner, since my self-employed husband
and I gave up our health insurance because of the crazy premium increases. I
must say we are healthier than ever and have had no need to visit a regular
doctor in the last 3 years. I'm 46 and my husband is 49 years old.
Eloisa
Yes, he Thais are moviing up fast in medicine... a partner of mine in Hong
Kong has cancer of
the tongue, and chose a hospital in Thailand to take care of it. He could afford
just about any
doctor anywhere, but he chose the best, who happened to be cheap.
My mother got dinged $250 for a one block ambulance ride, required if the
insurance was to
cover her hospital spell. It took four hours to arrange. Well, very quickly
round trip airfare
and hotel starts to look cheap compared to USA, where we pay more for
everything.
I have a sister and bro-in-law in Thailand, working on Thai oil projects (with
oil at $60/
barrel, everyone has oil reserves... hmmm... how come as more oil comes up out
of the
ground, price does not go down? Interference somewhere...) Anyway, they have all
their
medical stuff done there, and my sister flew my nephew out to have some dental
work done
in thailand. Why, if something is not done about this trend, we might see reform
of medicine
in USA!
When the Soviets built the Berlin Wall, they said it was to keep the criminals
(capitalists) out of
the socialist paradise. Of course, the Wall was really meant to keep the eastern
europeans
locked in.
By the way, how is that wall along the Mexican border coming along?
John
On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 21:29:03 -0700, Paul Snyder
wrote :
>
> I just picked up an old issue of Newsweek magazine, I think it was
> dated May. Much to my surprise and pleasure, they reported on a
> variety of medical outsourcing firms, which has been an intermittent
> topic in this forum. Apparently, there are already companies in the
> States that coordinate the entire process, travel, hospital, hotel
> afterwards, flights, and any insurance processing. I was surprised
> that Thailand's Bumrangrad hospital has increased their menu beyond
> boob jobs (which I heard about sometime back - not for myself - mine
> are large enough) to include joint replacement and angioplasty! The
> other players mentioned are India and Singapore. One point mentioned
> is the fact that those countries have no laws protecting the patient
> against malpractice. Interesting - I suppose quality and reputation
> will determine success of these hospitals. Hmmmm, there's an idea.....
>
> But what really caught my eye was a self-insured medium-sized company
> in the States (in an unrelated business) that incentivizes their
> employees by offering them over $1000 if they get sick and fly to
> India (with their partner) to get treated, but no incentive if they
> go to Blue Cross. The company wins, and the employee profits. And
> the couple gets a vacation break as part of the deal.
>
> So I am very encouraged that there will be a solution offered to the
> American health-care idiocy.
>
>
> Paul Snyder
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Mag Lev and China
Prefabricated Housing from Toyota
I read this article from the Seattle Times:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003062192_toyo
tahousing15.html
Could be an import idea.... Toyota is building prefab houses at three
plants in Japan. I noticed from the picture of the model that the
design looks markedly "American"; a craftsman style home. Someone was
thinking about "what Americans like". Way different from the prefabs
you see along I-5 in rural areas.
You can throw up a Toyota house in just 6 hours! Amazing!
Anthony
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Mag Lev and China
Re: [spiers] Medical outsourcing
Speaking of American health-care idiocy and asinine
ideas. I read a New York Times article about the
government paying New York medical schools NOT to
train doctors. It turns out New York produces 15% of
US doctors. The idea was ...if you reduce the number
of doctors, you'll reduce the demand on medical
services like lab tests. However, just like the
energy companies, restricting supplies drives up the
cost.
I think we should do the opposite and flood the market
with doctors. Let supply and demand find the best
balance.
Anthony
--- Paul Snyder
> I just picked up an old issue of Newsweek magazine,
> I think it was
> dated May. Much to my surprise and pleasure, they
> reported on a
> variety of medical outsourcing firms, which has been
> an intermittent
> topic in this forum. Apparently, there are already
> companies in the
> States that coordinate the entire process, travel,
> hospital, hotel
> afterwards, flights, and any insurance processing.
> I was surprised
> that Thailand's Bumrangrad hospital has increased
> their menu beyond
> boob jobs (which I heard about sometime back - not
> for myself - mine
> are large enough) to include joint replacement and
> angioplasty! The
> other players mentioned are India and Singapore.
> One point mentioned
> is the fact that those countries have no laws
> protecting the patient
> against malpractice. Interesting - I suppose
> quality and reputation
> will determine success of these hospitals. Hmmmm,
> there's an idea.....
>
> But what really caught my eye was a self-insured
> medium-sized company
> in the States (in an unrelated business) that
> incentivizes their
> employees by offering them over $1000 if they get
> sick and fly to
> India (with their partner) to get treated, but no
> incentive if they
> go to Blue Cross. The company wins, and the
> employee profits. And
> the couple gets a vacation break as part of the
> deal.
>
> So I am very encouraged that there will be a
> solution offered to the
> American health-care idiocy.
>
>
> Paul Snyder
> psnyder@alumni.caltech.edu
Labor conditions
John, are you or any other importers on the list, concerned about the
conditions at the factory where your imported products are produced?
I read this article on the BBC,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5079590.stm
Apple ipods may be produced in sweatshop conditions. Workers work 15
hours per day and get paid $50/month.
Then, I saw a show on PBS about China....I think it was Frontline but
I can't remember. The show interviewed a professor at UC Berkley
(Born in Hong Kong) who has studied Chinese labor for 25 years. She
conveyed a story about migrant construction workers getting paid once
a year. The shocking thing was (at least for me) that the worker is
paid at the discretion of the construction foreman. If the foreman
says "Get lost! I'm not paying you.", the worker has no recourse, he
gets nothing. He basically worked the whole year for food and
water....a slave. Do such arrangements happen in manufacturing in
China? What would Chairman Mao say?
Don't get me wrong, John is turning me into a free trade apostle.
But I want my designs to bring people opportunity (while fattening my
bank account) not add to their plight. That sounds Pollyanna'ish, I
know…can't help it.
Anthony
Mag Lev and China
Re: [spiers] Medical outsourcing
John,
You are a very optimistic man. I just read the first post about medical
outsourcing and your (wishful?) comment " Why, if something is not done about
this trend, we might see reform of medicine in USA!." Then I saw this gem today
from the AMA:
>Millions of upper-income Americans refuse to buy health insurance because
they're young and healthy and figure they don't need it.
But now the American Medical Association wants to force them to buy coverage.
At its annual meeting in Chicago on Tuesday, the nation's largest doctors' group
called for mandatory health insurance for anyone who makes more than five times
the poverty level. That works out to $49,000 for an individual and $100,000 for
a family of four.
No one would go to jail for refusing to buy coverage. The AMA instead suggested
using the tax code to force compliance. There would be incentives such as tax
credits for people who buy insurance and higher taxes for those who don't.
Of the 46 million uninsured Americans, about 5 million, or 11 percent, make more
than five times the poverty level. The AMA said these people burden the health
care system when they incur catastrophic medical bills they can't afford to pay.
The cost gets passed on to those who largely pay for the health care system:
taxpayers, employers and the insured.
"Society should not be penalized by the potential costly medical treatments of
those uninsured who can afford to purchase health insurance coverage," an AMA
report said. < http://www.suntimes.com/output/health/cst-nws-ama14.html
When it passes, and it will in some form pass, it can be titled the "American
Medical System Full Employment Act" This is a variant of the Massachusetts law
making it mandatory for its residents to purchase health insurance.
Where are all the "get government off the back of the people" conservatives now?
The "free market" advocates in Washington D.C. seem to be missing in action
here. I wonder why.
R.L. Tietz
Mag Lev and China
Re: [spiers] Medical outsourcing
Hello John,
I will be in Malaysia for about four months Sep - Dec. I was going to have
dental implants done in Malaysia, (all I want for Xmas is my two front teeth!)
but since your sister already knows an excellent Dentist in Thailand, would you
mind sharing Dr's name and contact info?
Thank you
Nurlinda
John Spiers
Yes, he Thais are moviing up fast in medicine... a partner of mine in Hong
Kong has cancer of
the tongue, and chose a hospital in Thailand to take care of it. He could afford
just about any
doctor anywhere, but he chose the best, who happened to be cheap.
My mother got dinged $250 for a one block ambulance ride, required if the
insurance was to
cover her hospital spell. It took four hours to arrange. Well, very quickly
round trip airfare
and hotel starts to look cheap compared to USA, where we pay more for
everything.
I have a sister and bro-in-law in Thailand, working on Thai oil projects (with
oil at $60/
barrel, everyone has oil reserves... hmmm... how come as more oil comes up out
of the
ground, price does not go down? Interference somewhere...) Anyway, they have all
their
medical stuff done there, and my sister flew my nephew out to have some dental
work done
in thailand. Why, if something is not done about this trend, we might see reform
of medicine
in USA!
When the Soviets built the Berlin Wall, they said it was to keep the criminals
(capitalists) out of
the socialist paradise. Of course, the Wall was really meant to keep the eastern
europeans
locked in.
By the way, how is that wall along the Mexican border coming along?
John
On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 21:29:03 -0700, Paul Snyder
wrote :
>
> I just picked up an old issue of Newsweek magazine, I think it was
> dated May. Much to my surprise and pleasure, they reported on a
> variety of medical outsourcing firms, which has been an intermittent
> topic in this forum. Apparently, there are already companies in the
> States that coordinate the entire process, travel, hospital, hotel
> afterwards, flights, and any insurance processing. I was surprised
> that Thailand's Bumrangrad hospital has increased their menu beyond
> boob jobs (which I heard about sometime back - not for myself - mine
> are large enough) to include joint replacement and angioplasty! The
> other players mentioned are India and Singapore. One point mentioned
> is the fact that those countries have no laws protecting the patient
> against malpractice. Interesting - I suppose quality and reputation
> will determine success of these hospitals. Hmmmm, there's an idea.....
>
> But what really caught my eye was a self-insured medium-sized company
> in the States (in an unrelated business) that incentivizes their
> employees by offering them over $1000 if they get sick and fly to
> India (with their partner) to get treated, but no incentive if they
> go to Blue Cross. The company wins, and the employee profits. And
> the couple gets a vacation break as part of the deal.
>
> So I am very encouraged that there will be a solution offered to the
> American health-care idiocy.
>
>
> Paul Snyder
> psnyder@alumni.caltech.edu
Mag Lev and China
Re: [spiers] Medical outsourcing
Yes, he Thais are moviing up fast in medicine... a partner of mine in Hong Kong
has cancer of
the tongue, and chose a hospital in Thailand to take care of it. He could
afford just about any
doctor anywhere, but he chose the best, who happened to be cheap.
My mother got dinged $250 for a one block ambulance ride, required if the
insurance was to
cover her hospital spell. It took four hours to arrange. Well, very quickly
round trip airfare
and hotel starts to look cheap compared to USA, where we pay more for
everything.
I have a sister and bro-in-law in Thailand, working on Thai oil projects (with
oil at $60/
barrel, everyone has oil reserves... hmmm... how come as more oil comes up out
of the
ground, price does not go down? Interference somewhere...) Anyway, they have
all their
medical stuff done there, and my sister flew my nephew out to have some dental
work done
in thailand. Why, if something is not done about this trend, we might see
reform of medicine
in USA!
When the Soviets built the Berlin Wall, they said it was to keep the criminals
(capitalists) out of
the socialist paradise. Of course, the Wall was really meant to keep the
eastern europeans
locked in.
By the way, how is that wall along the Mexican border coming along?
John
On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 21:29:03 -0700, Paul Snyder
wrote :
>
> I just picked up an old issue of Newsweek magazine, I think it was
> dated May. Much to my surprise and pleasure, they reported on a
> variety of medical outsourcing firms, which has been an intermittent
> topic in this forum. Apparently, there are already companies in the
> States that coordinate the entire process, travel, hospital, hotel
> afterwards, flights, and any insurance processing. I was surprised
> that Thailand's Bumrangrad hospital has increased their menu beyond
> boob jobs (which I heard about sometime back - not for myself - mine
> are large enough) to include joint replacement and angioplasty! The
> other players mentioned are India and Singapore. One point mentioned
> is the fact that those countries have no laws protecting the patient
> against malpractice. Interesting - I suppose quality and reputation
> will determine success of these hospitals. Hmmmm, there's an idea.....
>
> But what really caught my eye was a self-insured medium-sized company
> in the States (in an unrelated business) that incentivizes their
> employees by offering them over $1000 if they get sick and fly to
> India (with their partner) to get treated, but no incentive if they
> go to Blue Cross. The company wins, and the employee profits. And
> the couple gets a vacation break as part of the deal.
>
> So I am very encouraged that there will be a solution offered to the
> American health-care idiocy.
>
>
> Paul Snyder
> psnyder@alumni.caltech.edu
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Mag Lev and China
Medical outsourcing
I just picked up an old issue of Newsweek magazine, I think it was
dated May. Much to my surprise and pleasure, they reported on a
variety of medical outsourcing firms, which has been an intermittent
topic in this forum. Apparently, there are already companies in the
States that coordinate the entire process, travel, hospital, hotel
afterwards, flights, and any insurance processing. I was surprised
that Thailand's Bumrangrad hospital has increased their menu beyond
boob jobs (which I heard about sometime back - not for myself - mine
are large enough) to include joint replacement and angioplasty! The
other players mentioned are India and Singapore. One point mentioned
is the fact that those countries have no laws protecting the patient
against malpractice. Interesting - I suppose quality and reputation
will determine success of these hospitals. Hmmmm, there's an idea.....
But what really caught my eye was a self-insured medium-sized company
in the States (in an unrelated business) that incentivizes their
employees by offering them over $1000 if they get sick and fly to
India (with their partner) to get treated, but no incentive if they
go to Blue Cross. The company wins, and the employee profits. And
the couple gets a vacation break as part of the deal.
So I am very encouraged that there will be a solution offered to the
American health-care idiocy.
Paul Snyder
psnyder@alumni.caltech.edu