COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - <\/p>\n
Health care in South Carolina is a $35 billion a year business, just ask an economist like Lynn Bailey. <\/p>\n
\"It is a business,\" said Bailey. \"It is not a charity, it's not a feel good.\" <\/p>\n
One of the biggest in that business: hospitals. The Kaiser Family Foundation found hospital care amounted to 40.4% of health care costs in the state. <\/p>\n
\"We now spend on average, probably, $8,500 per person in South Carolina for every man, woman, and child on health care,\" said Bailey. \"That's the $35 billion.\" <\/p>\n
The top three of the Midlands' largest employers are Palmetto Health Alliance, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of SC, and Lexington Medical Center. <\/p>\n
Why does that matter? You're never sick, so this doesn't affect you right? <\/p>\n
Wrong, health care costs can turn up in unexpected places, like the price of a new car. <\/p>\n
Consider this: When G-M sells a vehicle, $1,400 of what you pay is paying for GM's employees' health insurance. <\/p>\n
The National Institute of Medicine estimated in 2009, $2.7 trillion in the U.S. is spent on health care. But they claim $765 billion is potentially excess spending. That's right: billions on what they consider unnecessary tests or procedures. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
More here:<\/p>\n
WIS Investigates: The business of health care<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Health care in South Carolina is a $35 billion a year business, just ask an economist like Lynn Bailey. \"It is a business,\" said Bailey. Continue reading