Abortions are pretty cheap if done early. Are there really a lot of uninsured women having babies because they can't afford one? I'd guess not. So why are we even wasting time on this? I get why you'd want to make people get coverage for expensive stuff. It's not very nice to let them die in the street and more than a bit unfair if they free-ride at the public's expense. But $1,000 procedures?

I had a D&C under general anesthesia as an outpatient to resolve a miscarriage and the purported sticker price as about $8,000 before the negotiated discounts, etc.

How much after the discount? 975.00

ckone....those discounts would not be available to the writer if the procedure is not covered. Back to the $8000.00 cost.

itochka:

I had a D&C under general anesthesia as an outpatient to resolve a miscarriage and the purported sticker price as about $8,000 before the negotiated discounts, etc.

That sticker price was primarily the general anesthesia. Abortions are customarily done with local anesthesia.

Particularly these days, lots of people would have trouble coming up with the "inexpensive" amount of $1000, putting aside that for second trimester on, they can be more than that.

More importantly, any number of costs covered by insurance are less than $1000.

-j

If you can't afford a $1,000 procedure, you sure can't afford a baby and will probably wind up on welfare. To say the obvious.

Particularly these days, lots of people would have trouble coming up with the "inexpensive" amount of $1000, putting aside that for second trimester on, they can be more than that.

You underestimate the resourcefulness of the poor. There would be charities for the rest.

More importantly, any number of costs covered by insurance are less than $1000.

and that's why health-care costs so much.

The "poor" which includes many people not so stereotypically labeled as such are deprived of any number of things others deem necessities, even with the help of charities. Some of these things cost a lot less than $1000. OTOH, we have insurance and other things even with charities.

And, how does your second point follow? For instance, a trip to the dentist or eye doctor is usually covered by insurance. It tends to cost less than $1000. How does this make health care cost so much? If the individual items are low cost, would that not reduce the costs of health care?

-j

So put a $1000 deductable on everything and insurance costs would go down? More likely it would just become even more profitable. Also, underestimating the resourcefulness of the poor? Big fan of irony are you?

Last I heard there was a 'charity' called Planned Parenthood who would assist people who couldn't afford the cost.