by Karl Denninger, Market Ticker:

The entire “health industry” needs to be destroyed.

Not “reformed” — there is no reform possible — destroyed.

Everyone involved at the executive level must go to prison and, if the government won’t do it, well….. use your imagination.

Millions of sleep apnea patients rely on CPAP breathing machines to get a good night’s rest. Health insurers use a variety of tactics, including surveillance, to make patients bear the costs. Experts say it’s part of the insurance industry playbook.

The article goes on to point out that not only are insurers and the companies that make these machines getting “telemetry” on your individual use data they’re screwing you blind on the price of consumables too because you have “insurance.”

Of course said “insurance” usually comes with a deductible, which means for many people you get screwed out of the whole difference in cost simply for having the “insurance.”

And they spy on you — the data from which, I’m sure, will “never” be misused — right?

If this isn’t racketeering, never mind a blatant anti-trust violation may I ask what is?

Oh, and no, health insurance companies are not immune from 15 USC under McCarran-Ferguson.  They twice went to the USSC — all the way there — with that argument in the 1970s and lost both times.

So where are the damned cops?

Where is the FBI?

Where is the AG — federal and all 50 States’?

Why is it that this sort of behavior, which is endemic across the health “industry”, hasn’t resulted in prosecutions, prison, and if the government won’t do it why don’t the people find their damned pitchfork and torch?

What sort of stupid is America filled with these days that allows this crap to go on?

May I remind you that you’re being hosed all-in to the tune of 500% on health care, generally, over what free market prices?

Think I’m kidding?  Go over to the Surgery Center of Oklahoma and price a procedure (they’ll give you a price.)  Now call your local hospital for the identical procedure.  If you can get a price you’ll find it it’s typically 500% higher — and in some cases worse.

Oh by the way the Surgery Center has a hospital-acquired infection rate 1/20th — that’s not a misprint — of most hospitals.  Why?  Because as a “one price, everyone pays the same, cash on the barrel” provider if they give you an infection they have to eat it instead of billing you for it.  This means they’re a lot more careful than the hospital is.

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