Nobody gets to keep all the money.

I forgot big pharma who has to spend all the time, and money for testing on a drug that either fails or when approved is then often litigated to death. How much of that price goes to subsidize the prices in Canada and Mexico?

Overall, there are so many hands in the pot, its no wonder its expensive. Every pre-existing condition or mandatory coverages that protects the few is paid for by those who dont use it. The doctors and hospitals get the brunt because they charge for all the books, teachers and prevailing wages, professors that raise the cost of medical school.

Ironically, I ran into a case similar to the one described. I dont have insurance at work and I choose not to spend 400-600 a month for it. Another guy, who makes less, has two jobs and a fondness for illegal drugs, pulled up his shirt for a variety of people one day and from the looks of it, its a melanoma [sp] and its about the size of a quarter. I told him to get it tested at harborview. He wont even go, cause he thinks he will have to spend money. Is 50 bucks to much? It seems that some folks do not value their own life very much.