Many people think that Universal Health Care is the answer to our problems. People have looked at universal health care plans in Canada, Britain and other countries and wish that we had their universal health care. Not so fast. It isn’t very pretty up close. Countries with universal health coverage are economically worse off than the U.S. Also, A hard lesson about socialized medicine
Let’s look at what is wrong with the current solution.
- Pre-existing conditions can make health insurance unavailable or unaffordable.
- Forty-Five million people are not covered by a plan. (That number is not true, but we will use it for now.)
- People with health issues must pay more to get coverage.
- Preventive medicine is not rewarded.
- Medical records are still being duplicated and inefficiently handled because they are not electronic. Too many mistakes, excessive tests, and misdiagnosis are being made as a result of poor quality data.
- People view health care as a health coverage plan instead of a catastrophic insurance plan
- Third-party pay system. When you go to the hospital for an operation, you don’t check the bill you receive when you check out. Why? You don’t care. It’s not your money. A third-party, the insurance company, has paid the bill for you.
If I were the person in charge, here’s what I would suggest:
- Pre-existing conditions cannot be considered, as long as you opt-in to a plan within a certain period of time. For example, when you turn twenty-one, you need to purchase your own health plan. Everyone gets the same premium quote based on their attained age. (Obviously, as people age, they use services more than younger, healthier people.)
- We can argue about how many people are uninsured, but whatever that number is, everyone has to have coverage. RW Johnny of The Tennessee ConserVOLiance blog shows that the real number is closer to 11,260,150 only 3.75% of the population of the US, not the near 16% according to the political left.
- All children up to the age of twenty-one would be covered by plan that would cost about $20 per month per child. (Illegal aliens would be required to purchase their own insurance coverage at the same rates as citizens of the US.)
- H S A (health savings account type plans, also called high deductible health plans,) would be the only type of plans available. These catastrophic plans would have a free annual physical examination provided. This extent and depth of the physical exam would be determined by the doctor. The H S A type plans would have a deductible in the range of $3,000 for an individual and $6,000 for a family. After the deductible is met, the insurance company would cover 100% of the costs. All covered expenses go toward meeting the deductible — including medications.
- If you compare what people want in their health plans to what they get with their auto insurance, you will see the difference. Your auto insurance doesn’t have, oil changes, tire changes, car washes and other related items. Auto insurance simply helps you pay for a catastrophic event – a car wreck. Your health plan should be a catastrophic coverage plan that pays 100% after you have met your high deductible.
- All people, whether they are dealing with health issues or not, will pay the same premium.
- All medical records would be required to be electronic. There would be a medical database that all doctors and hospitals would be able to access that contains your health conditions, health history, medications taken and other related medical data.
- Get rid of third-party payer system.
What will happen if the government plan is adopted?
“The new government health plan that many politicians support would compete with private plans. The government would set benefits, premiums, commissions and payment rates.
The Lewin Group estimates more than 118 million people would shift to the government plan almost overnight, resulting in more than 2 out of every 3 Americans in a government plan. The reason for this dramatic shift is that the government would continue to use Medicare payment rates, so premiums would likely be 30 percent less expensive than current plans.
With more Americans under a government plan, health care system costs would shift from the government program to private plans. As a result, private premiums would skyrocket, making private health insurance unaffordable for most. Clearly the more affordable government plan could have devastating effects on private individual and group insurance plans.” Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina.
If you wonder if this will happen to the United States, just consider how well the government runs the USPS. The United States Postal Service is not even close to being as efficient as FedEx, UPS or any of the private firms. They are continually raising the cost of sending letters and packages around the world.
Another government mistake: Medicare is said to be insolvent. Study Claims Medicare Debt Will Rise $32.4 Trillion
Here is an excellent article on social security shows that it is in a crisis, Is There a Social Security Crisis?
If you further wonder what is likely to happen if we choose universal health care, simply look at what is happening in Canada and Britain
We all have a critical stake in health care reform, and it is important that our voice is heard. Given the momentum building in Washington, we ask that you join us in weighing in with Congress to support health care reform, but oppose a government plan option by writing or calling your members of Congress today.
I would appreciate it if you would comment below. Give me your suggestions as to how we can fix the present system. Or, why do you think that universal health care the proper solution?
9 responses so far ↓
1 Heemanshu // May 14, 2009 at 5:01 am
Great Blog….. Thinking about the future healthcare
2 Ashley // May 26, 2009 at 9:46 pm
No. You are wrong. HSA plans do not work. I understand your point about just having a catastrophic policy (just to protect you in case you get cancer or omething awful like that). I have an HSA.
If you have a chronic pre-existing condition like type 1 diabetes, you can not afford the over $200 for a doctor visit, the $95 a month vial of insulin, the costly glucose test strips, insulin pump supplies, etc. Even with that HSA negotiated discount, it is an awful predicament to be in. You are just trying to take care of yourself and prevent future complications from the disease.
You can not get a quote on how much a doctor visit will cost, to comparison shop. Once, I was charged more for a doctor visit because I had insurance (the HSA). I raised cain and made them give me the uninsured rate.
It’s always a big surprise to get a doctor bill. Often the cost has gone up from the previous visit. I skip doctor visits with the HSA. I can’t afford them!
I was so sick this past Christmas. I suffered for over 2 weeks because I could not afford another doctor bill. Thank you, HSA!
HSA’s work if you never get sick. Don’t plan to have a baby either. You’ll pay!
I suggest some kind of fee for service plan. You pay a reasonable fee to see the doctor. If you have test run , it still the same fee. I think it’s called point of service or fee for service.
To manage diabetes, submit blood sugars by internet (download). Just pay a monthly reasonable fee to keep in contact with a diabetes nurse or doctor. Have a yearly or bi-annual checkup (foot check, heart, blood pressure, hemoglobin blood test). If you are in bad shape, like needing blood pressure checked more often or weight monitored, be able to do that by paying a reasonable monthly maintenance fee.
My HSA offers a free hemoglobin A-1-C test a year, but only if you are a child. One free A-1_C test could be offered to all insured, regardless of age.
My point is - you should not have to fork out $400 for a doctor visit or $200 just to get a prescription for some antibiotics. The endocrinologist wants to see me every 3 months. It’s too much!
You should not have to worry about how much your prescriptions and doctor visits are costing your family. You should not have to wish for a second child, but never be able to have that because you have an HSA. You should not have to give up cycling or rollerblading because you fear an ER visit and know your HSA won’t pay for anything.
You said that I need to see a doctor who takes Inclusive Health. I don’t qualify for the program because my husband’s company offers an HSA plan. I don’t know how we would afford the over $700 a month (just for me) for the Inclusive Health Plan, anyway.
I am looking for a job now and praying I can get insurance or that my husband can find a federal job. I am not just sitting and griping. But I do want to make my voice heard!
3 admin // May 27, 2009 at 1:12 pm
I just called my doctor and talked with the person who deals with the accounting and claims to the insurance companies.
She said that if a person comes in for a visit, it costs $80 to $95 depending on the insurance company. If you have type 1 diabetes, it still would cost in that range.
She didn’t know what the cost of insulin is. However, she said the doctor, many times, may have some on hand that they give out…depending on the doctor. (I would check around for better pricing.)
Because you have an HSA plan, they have to reprice the visit to the negotiated rate agreed upon with the insurance company.
She also said that the cost of $200 for a prescription for antibiotics that you paid, was probably for a high-end, new drug. Or perhaps it was a combination of several drugs.
She recommends that you ask your doctor for generic drugs and to go to Wal-mart for your pharmacy needs. They are very affordable as compared with the better known pharmacies.
You can shop around for a less expensive doctor, too.
I am mentioning these points because I am concerned that you are struggling. In the above article, I point out some of the failures in our health care system.
4 Ashley // May 27, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Hello. Thanks for checking on some info. for me. Actually, the doctor visit I mentioned that cost $200 was about $180. (It’s the endocrinologist that can be over$200). I was able to get a sample of antibiotics from the them. They had quoted me a price of $75 for a visit. I was then billed $180 (thinking it would be cheaper than my primary physician). They gave me incorrect info. and I was told that they never should quote a price to a patient.
I call around for prices. They don’t want to give me a price for a visit. They often refuse to. Then you get charged extra if you are a new patient. That adds another variable to the mix.
The insulin is a standard discount rate. Every pharmacy has the same negotiated rate. I know of the wholesale pharmacy and others online. They do not sell the short-acting insulin I need for the pump. There is no generic available.
I have checked with two discount pharmacy plans/clubs. They both said they couldn’t help me. My pump supplies and insulin are not discounted under there plan.
I go to Novant Health for endocrinologist and primary. My retinologist only charges me $70. He is independent. Can I trust a rate quote from a doctor?
5 admin // May 27, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Thanks Ashley for clarifying some of the facts. It looks like you cannot trust a rate quote from a doctor. Actually, not to defend them, but they aren’t used to quoting prices.
Until the HSA plans became popular, doctors NEVER had to quote a price. Many doctors still haven’t gotten with the program.
When people are paying out of their own pockets, they are concerned with prices and they do check around. People should do more checking around for prices, I think.
The smarter doctors will realize that they will increase their business if they can quote prices semi accurately.
6 John // Jun 13, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I’m surprised you made the comparison to the USPS vs UPS/FEDEX.
When people send letters, most choose the slightly slower but much cheaper USPS. You should try it out.
7 admin // Jun 15, 2009 at 8:35 am
You make a good point John. If speed of delivery doesn’t matter, then USPS is probably better.
However, if you really want to be sure that it gets there within a certain time, AND you want to be able to track where it is at any particular time, then UPS or FEDEX is the way to go.
Let’s say I think I have cancer. The doctors tell me that I need to schedule a CT exam.
However, they also tell me that it will be 6-months before I can get the exam. I don’t care how cheap it is, if I need it now.
I don’t want a bureaucrat controlling my health care.
8 cathy // Jun 29, 2009 at 10:34 am
It doesn’t matter if it is 11 million or how many or uninsured, everyone should be insured. I would say most people are uninsured because of “preexisting conditions”
This is the “left speaking” Universal healthcare is coming, so get ready for it.
9 sisena // Oct 28, 2009 at 3:19 am
Great post. PJ Hayman, a leading UK specialist travel insurance provider, is now launching a policy that covers medical costs that may arise from complications while receiving treatment abroad.The cover is available for all UK nationals who are resident in the European Economic Area and who are up to the age of 74. They should also be registered with a medical practitioner in the EEA.
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