explain analyze select count(*) from mm_medical_care_container_table JOIN mm_object USING (number);
                                                                      QUERY PLAN
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Aggregate  (cost=73149.73..73149.73 rows=1 width=0) (actual time=2780.516..2780.517 rows=1 loops=1)
   ->  Hash Join  (cost=2025.33..72927.66 rows=88826 width=0) (actual time=406.166..2774.618 rows=5936 loops=1)
         Hash Cond: ("outer".number = "inner".number)
         ->  Seq Scan on mm_object  (cost=0.00..28666.63 rows=1651963 width=4) (actual time=0.015..1074.074 rows=892597 loops=1)
         ->  Hash  (cost=1369.26..1369.26 rows=88826 width=4) (actual time=22.724..22.724 rows=0 loops=1)
               ->  Seq Scan on mm_medical_care_container_table  (cost=0.00..1369.26 rows=88826 width=4) (actual time=0.028..13.889 rows=5936 loops=1)
 Total runtime: 2780.599 ms

explain analyze select count(*) from mm_medical_care_container_table LEFT OUTER JOIN mm_object USING (number);
                                                                   QUERY PLAN
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Aggregate  (cost=95099.40..95099.40 rows=1 width=0) (actual time=2919.999..2920.000 rows=1 loops=1)
   ->  Hash Left Join  (cost=40863.54..94877.34 rows=88826 width=0) (actual time=2283.399..2913.955 rows=5936 loops=1)
         Hash Cond: ("outer".number = "inner".number)
         ->  Seq Scan on mm_medical_care_container_table  (cost=0.00..1369.26 rows=88826 width=4) (actual time=0.021..12.450 rows=5936 loops=1)
         ->  Hash  (cost=28666.63..28666.63 rows=1651963 width=4) (actual time=2263.407..2263.407 rows=0 loops=1)
               ->  Seq Scan on mm_object  (cost=0.00..28666.63 rows=1651963 width=4) (actual time=0.022..1067.016 rows=892597 loops=1)
 Total runtime: 2920.260 ms

I figured maybe the '*' was the culprit, so I tried this as well:

explain analyze select count(mm_medical_care_container_table.*) from mm_medical_care_container_table LEFT OUTER JOIN mm_object USING (number);
                                                                   QUERY PLAN
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Aggregate  (cost=95099.40..95099.40 rows=1 width=4) (actual time=2984.603..2984.603 rows=1 loops=1)
   ->  Hash Left Join  (cost=40863.54..94877.34 rows=88826 width=4) (actual time=2318.856..2978.470 rows=5936 loops=1)
         Hash Cond: ("outer".number = "inner".number)
         ->  Seq Scan on mm_medical_care_container_table  (cost=0.00..1369.26 rows=88826 width=8) (actual time=0.024..16.904 rows=5936 loops=1)
         ->  Hash  (cost=28666.63..28666.63 rows=1651963 width=4) (actual time=2295.350..2295.350 rows=0 loops=1)
               ->  Seq Scan on mm_object  (cost=0.00..28666.63 rows=1651963 width=4) (actual time=0.018..1074.118 rows=892597 loops=1)
 Total runtime: 2985.101 ms

And here's what I expected to happen:

explain analyze select count(*) from mm_medical_care_container_table;
                                                                QUERY PLAN
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Aggregate  (cost=1591.33..1591.33 rows=1 width=0) (actual time=17.427..17.428 rows=1 loops=1)
   ->  Seq Scan on mm_medical_care_container_table  (cost=0.00..1369.26 rows=88826 width=0) (actual time=0.021..12.186 rows=5936 loops=1)
 Total runtime: 17.482 ms