GUEST OPINION

The United States is so far behind the rest of the world in math skills or possibly grammar skills. A prime example of this lack of skill can be seen in the health-care industry, in which we pay more than twice as much as the rest of the world for the same services.

People receive an explanation of benefits statement from their health-insurance company that says they were billed $100 by the health-care provider but the insurance company says it is only going to only pay them $25. That’s a discount of $75, right?

Well, you are wrong. The correct answer is the insurance company got a kickback of $75. Your premiums, which are paid on the basis of the billed amount, are based on the $100 charge.

No place on the explanation of benefits can you find the word “discount.” The real question is whether we are behind in our math skills or our grammar skills? 