But is it Worth it?

Good news.

There is a new drug in the fight against liver cancer. Most drugs do not work on liver cancer so this is a breakthrough.

The bad news.

Nexavar runs $5,400 per month.

So who pays?

All of us.

So what does the patient gain by using this new drug?

Average life expectancy without the drug . . . 7.9 months.

Average life expectancy for those using the drug . . . 10.7 months.

Is trading $15,000 for 3 months worth it?

This is a question all of us will have to ask.

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But is it Worth it?

Good news.

There is a new drug in the fight against liver cancer. Most drugs do not work on liver cancer so this is a breakthrough.

The bad news.

Nexavar runs $5,400 per month.

So who pays?

All of us.

So what does the patient gain by using this new drug?

Average life expectancy without the drug . . . 7.9 months.

Average life expectancy for those using the drug . . . 10.7 months.

Is trading $15,000 for 3 months worth it?

This is a question all of us will have to ask.

Read More

Massachusetts in the (Mail) Bag

Regular reader and frequent commenter Scuzz alerts us to the latest from the Bay State:

"Gov. Deval Patrick is calling on insurers, employers and hospitals to help cover costs. Many people have seen their co-pays and premiums rise, and a new cigarette tax is in the works.

"Our goal here is to spread the pain, as people are saying, and to continue the concept of shared responsibility which we think is part of the reason why Massachusetts has been successful...Everybody is contributing to the cost."

"(S)pread the pain?" And here I always thought that insurance was about spreading the risk. Silly me.

A fundamental precept here at IB is that health insurance costs increase primarily because health care costs do. Looks like Governor Patrick isn't a regular reader.

I'll give Scuzz the last word:

"Hmmm. Co-pays and premiums still rising due to health care costs. Just like in the private sector. Except the private sector can't just raise taxes whenever they want to make up for the gap. "Everybody is contributing to the cost". Stunning new concept, isn't it? Seems I've heard that somewhere before. That's the concept of the private sector now."

Indeed.

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Massachusetts in the (Mail) Bag

Regular reader and frequent commenter Scuzz alerts us to the latest from the Bay State:

"Gov. Deval Patrick is calling on insurers, employers and hospitals to help cover costs. Many people have seen their co-pays and premiums rise, and a new cigarette tax is in the works.

"Our goal here is to spread the pain, as people are saying, and to continue the concept of shared responsibility which we think is part of the reason why Massachusetts has been successful...Everybody is contributing to the cost."

"(S)pread the pain?" And here I always thought that insurance was about spreading the risk. Silly me.

A fundamental precept here at IB is that health insurance costs increase primarily because health care costs do. Looks like Governor Patrick isn't a regular reader.

I'll give Scuzz the last word:

"Hmmm. Co-pays and premiums still rising due to health care costs. Just like in the private sector. Except the private sector can't just raise taxes whenever they want to make up for the gap. "Everybody is contributing to the cost". Stunning new concept, isn't it? Seems I've heard that somewhere before. That's the concept of the private sector now."

Indeed.

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Cavalcade of Risk #57: Submissions Due

Sentinel Effect's Richard Eskow hosts next week's Cavalcade of Risk. Submissions are due by next Monday (the 28th). Richard encourages you to include:

■ Your blog's url
■ Your post's url
■ The post's trackback URL (if available)
■ A (brief) summary of the post

You can submit your post via Blog Carnival or email.

We're scheduling late summer, so please drop us a line to reserve your Cav.

Read More

Cavalcade of Risk #57: Submissions Due

Sentinel Effect's Richard Eskow hosts next week's Cavalcade of Risk. Submissions are due by next Monday (the 28th). Richard encourages you to include:

■ Your blog's url
■ Your post's url
■ The post's trackback URL (if available)
■ A (brief) summary of the post

You can submit your post via Blog Carnival or email.

We're scheduling late summer, so please drop us a line to reserve your Cav.

Read More