The average waiting time on transplant lists is 4.5 years for kidneys (although this is expected to
Question:
The average waiting time on transplant lists is 4.5 years for kidneys (although this is expected to rise sharply due to the rising incidence of diabetes, a major cause of kidney damage). Many of these people waiting must undergo dialysis, at a cost of $80,000 per year, paid for by private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. Suppose that if payment for organs were permitted, the transplant waiting time was shortened by four years, and that for the average patient, the result was thirty-six months less on dialysis. At what price for a kidney would a system of paying for organs be a “break-even” proposition for insurers? Show all calculations and explain your reasoning.
Step by Step Answer:
The Economics of Public Issues
ISBN: 978-0134018973
19th edition
Authors: Roger LeRoy Miller, Daniel K. Benjamin, Douglass C. North