As you may know, the latest news in the US health care reform debate is whether private for-profit insurance companies can honestly and competently offer comprehensive health insurance at prices which every American can afford. Senators are working on a proposed bill which will give a federal agency, the Office of Personnel Management, the power to negotiate with insurance companies to offer national health plans similar to those offered to members of Congress. If these plans do not meet criteria set forth to make coverage affordable for all, it would trigger the government to offer a “public option” which will compete with private insurers. But many, including lawmakers, do not support such reform which would replace the public option with a purely private approach. However, if acceptable, affordable and comprehensive coverage existed, does it matter who administers it? Perhaps not, provided that certain measures were in place. Other capitalist countries like Japan, Germany, and Switzerland all mandate that each citizen have health insurance, be it through private insurers, community-based plans, etc. The catch is that insurers cannot make a profit on basic health care or deny anyone based on preexisting conditions. If the government is able to successfully negotiate with insurance companies and also offer some public assistance to pay for premiums, then perhaps this proposal can be a capitalist compromise that will bring forth some much needed social change.
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
December 10th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Having insurance per se isn’t enough all the time. With an HMO and medicaid, you might as well have charity care. With a catastropic illness, i e my Pulmonary Hypertension, Congestive Heart Failure, etc. I am sure to get, and have gotten a hell of a lot less medical care than I deserved. Derseved? I guess I didn’t deserve to live a life of any kind of dignity because doctors don’t want to deal with my insurance. Oh, the red tape, the primary care doctors-becoming less and less, force people to the emergency rooms, where people die after they are stablized, no matter if they need help in a rehab center, are thrown out, with a “This is all your insurance will pay for.” Depopulation? Oh yes, many people die young and that is the way of this Capitalist system. The big guys at the top of the pyramid you see on every dollar bill. What the hell do you think that means?
December 10th, 2009 at 7:28 am
there is no one that wants the government to control our lives. Our health care. We have worked all our lives, have taken care of our family’s. Protected them with excellant health care. Even if an American can not afford health care and medications they still receive them. This health care bill is for power, greed for the government.
Let me ask you: If your child was sick, would you want the government to tell you what health care that he is limited too???????????????
December 10th, 2009 at 8:05 am
There are still members of our society that expects a free ride regardless of their productivity and lack of contribution to the system.
Regardless what systems of government you may like to compare, the free enterprize system always works out to be on top. This, as one may say is, follow the money. Unless there is profit, the system dies and without the system, charity dies with it. Governments are not equipped to survive without massive income through tariffs and taxes. When government expenses exceed revenues, government recourse is limited to two options, cut expenses or increase tariffs and taxes. In either case we are the losers, less health care and/or more taxes.
The best solution is personal responsibility and freedoms within the free enterprize system. When the system works correctly there is competition and market forces prevail. Costs of health care is no different than the competition amongst toasters. Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.
Keep the government out of health care, it doesn’t belong there.