Healthcare

America’s health care system is in a crisis.  At least that is what one is lead to believe watching the nightly news, or reading (those that still do) the morning newspaper.  According to those well-researched sources of information, millions are uninsured and even more are underinsured.  Access to care is diminishing, costs are skyrocketing, and quality is on the decline.  While these reports might be slightly exaggerated, there are certainly many issues with our current system that need to be addressed.   

It is time for our elected officials to get in the game.  This is not to suggest they implement single-payer health care; instead they need to address the bureaucratic quagmire that continues to stall any hope of resolving problems with cost, access and quality.  For instance, there are over twenty federal agencies that regulate or require information from health care providers, not to mention the demands of state, local, and private agencies.  Perhaps it is time that we return to paying for care, not for paper pushing.  If we are serious about lowering the cost of health care, let’s start with reducing the administrative and regulatory burden. 

With the upcoming election, we have a terrific opportunity to ask the candidates what their thoughts are on health care reform and express our interest in making sure they follow through on their vision.  Like the commercials for IBM say, it is time to stop talking and start doing.  We have spent too much time on task forces and blue ribbon commissions, what we need now is action. 

Another step toward implementing significant change would be allowing individuals to deduct their health care expenses.  Currently, there is an unfair discrepancy in our nation’s tax code where employers can write-off the cost of providing care for employees, but individuals cannot do so for themselves.  Not only is this unreasonable, it prevents people from fully grasping the true costs associated with health care.  Part of the problem with the current system is that people do not realize how much they spend on health care.  If employers were not responsible for providing insurance for their employees, they could raise salaries.  In return, employees could purchase the coverage that best suits their personal needs; and they would be more aware of how much care costs.  Perhaps this would compel consumers to demand more from their providers and take more responsibility for keeping themselves healthy.  The fact that people have to purchase their health insurance from their employers also creates a problem of portability in health insurance.  When employees change jobs, typically they must also change health insurance plans.  Different plans have different provider networks, and yet again consistent care gets pushed aside by inconsistent policies.  

Unfortunately, people often do not take good enough care of themselves.  For many, the rewards of simply being healthy are not enough.  Can you blame them?  As former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich says of this situation, “nobody ever washes a rental car.”  People have no financial stake in the impact their decisions have on their health.  Perhaps they get sick with a cold or diagnosed with a cancerous melanoma, either way they go to the doctor and pay a $20 co-pay and their monthly premiums stay the same.  If healthy behavior was rewarded, there could be a tremendous savings in health care spending every year.  This is not meant to advocate punishing unhealthy behavior, but perhaps lowering premiums for people who meet certain benchmarks that are indicative of healthier lifestyles. 

These are relatively simple ways the government could significantly reduce costs in health care, and in turn create much greater access.  The quality of care is not as considerable of an issue in the U.S., but when you empower individuals to make decisions for themselves, undoubtedly greater quality will follow.  There is no silver bullet to address everyone’s problems with the current system, but we have a relatively good system to begin with.  We need to make sure any attempts at reform do not throw the baby out with the bath water.