I was talking to someone today about the dysfunction we have in government and the false dichotomy we have between left and right, good and bad, Democrats and Republicans. I think Americans deserve more than boxes, parties, and labels. I would argue that most people aren’t completely to the “right” or to the “left.”
Personally, I am to the right of many things (I consider myself a libertarian on many issues) but I am to the left on the issue of health care. I think the current system is dysfunctional and after thinking about numerous avenues over the years, I don’t see another cost-effective, ethically inclusive scenario besides universal coverage.
When it comes to solving the problems with cost and access regarding health care, I’m reminded of that old joke about how many blondes it takes to screw in a light bulb, except this time it’s how many politicians does it take to solve a problem that has already been solved.
I’m talking about the fact that we are the only industrialized country that doesn’t have universal health care, and we spend more for health care as a percentage of our GDP than any other country. For those worried about the cost of universal coverage, we already spend more than any other country. Look at the cost for countries with universal coverage. They spend less. So can we stop with the fear-mongoring and look at the facts?
When it comes to providing universal coverage at a lower cost, we don’t have to re-invent the wheel. Here is a list of countries that have already done it.
For once, American doesn’t have to come up with something novel and extraordinary. We don’t have to be first in everything. That ship has already sailed for health care.
In reality, we’re not #1 when it comes to healthcare. Has anyone looked at a doctor bill recently? Americans pride themselves in being the best. Where is their vision-courage to challenge what is a complete rip off when it comes to the cost of care?
I’m intrigued by the argument that universal health coverage is socialized medicine. It goes back to the left or right divide, which has no place when you need to see a doctor. But let’s talk about it any way. Who in this camp is going to give up Medicare when they turn 65? Medicare is socialized medicine. Will opponents to socialized medicine sign pledges that they will refuse Medicare when they are eligible?
I don’t think so.
What about the members of Congress that get 72% of their premiums covered by taxpayers? Any politician want to give up that?
I doubt it.
John McCain was right to vote against the “skinny repeal.” How can he vote for a plan that will provide less coverage when he is a direct beneficiary of “socialized medicine?”
Then there is the Medicaid camp. These are people that don’t make enough money to pay for private insurance. So they receive taxpayer funded insurance. So, as a country, we cover the old (who generally need more services) and the poor, but not the segment in between, the large group of people that pay through the nose for coverage. Then there is their employer’s contribution which, of course, amounts to a pay cut. Instead of that money going to you, it’s going to Aetna, or BlueCross BlueShield, or Regence, etc.
We get screwed on both ends.
We have a tax-payer based system that covers some people, but not others. Meanwhile I walk into my local hospital and see a chandelier that costs $20,000. I see charges that don’t make sense. If my friend goes in for a skin biopsy, why is he being charged for an office visit and a biopsy? He already had an office visit. That’s why he’s having a biopsy. And we’re talking about hundreds of dollars difference between one visit and two.
Ridiculous.
But let’s go back to socialism. Every 4th of July a bright red firetruck goes down Main Street, a symbol of freedom, courage, and what it means to be American. But your fire department is socialized. So is your police department, libraries, public roads… look around you. Most of us will use the doctor’s office more than the fire department.
So socialism is patriotic for the fire department, but not health care?
My final point is about access. Would you rather have free health care with limited choice, or broad choice that is very expensive? Because this is what we have now- top quality health care that is out of our price range. On the books, we have health insurance but realistically, we can’t afford to see the doctor unless we know the cost beforehand. That means calling the doctor’s office, getting the CPT code, calling the insurance company, getting a cost “estimate,” then deciding whether to call back and schedule the appointment. When I see Medicaid recipients accessing health care and not worrying about a bill, it makes me think we can do better. We shouldn’t have to sink to the bottom financially before receiving help with the cost of care. We shouldn’t have to lose our home and declare bankruptcy before getting financial assistance to pay for exorbitant costs. We shouldn’t have costs that are wildly disproportionate to what people make. (Personally, I don’t make as much in a full eight hour day compared to what my friend was charged for a 30 minute visit to a pulmonary specialist.)
It’s not fair for some Americans to have access to healthcare and others not. It’s not even cost effective.
Demand health care reform that serves all Americans, just like the fire department serves all Americans. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Many other countries have already done it.
Brace yourselves- we can do it too.
