Health Care Reform – 3 Truths and 5 Parts To a Solution
// December 7th, 2009 // View Comments // Small government
This is a rough outline of the thoughts I have been working on. I’d appreciate and welcome any CONSTRUCTIVE input to improve on this.
There are 3 simple truths that relate to this health care debate that are un-deniable.
Truth 1: Health care is NOT a right owed to us by government (neither is hair care, car care or lawn care).
Truth 2: Health care and health insurance are NOT the same thing. Health care is the process by which a provider and patient engage in an interaction to improve health. Health insurance is a tool that a patient can use to control expenses in the event of a catastrophic health event. (Also see “auto insurance”).
Truth 3: Wellness and prevention are the solution, not sick care. Nationalizing “health care” as it is defined today simply enriches big pharma, the government and large membership organizations (AARP, big labor etc). The key to true health care is prevention and a wellness-focused lifestyle. If less Americans get sick, there is less demand for drugs and sick-care services. Eating healthy, exercising and lifestyle management are the key to health care NOT prescription medications and gastric bypass surgery.
With those three truths as the foundation, here are the 5 “broad stroke” solutions to the problem.
Part 1: Agree on what the real immediate need is. We do NOT have 46 million Americans suffering and dying in the streets. That number is simply over-exaggerated by politicians and special interest. We have approximately 8-10 million Americans who need help. Let’s find solutions to help them during their temporary need. Don’t offer them a permanent solution unless they are physically or mentally unable to provide for themselves.
Part 2: Incentivize charity. Incentivize citizens to support one or more non-profits that already provide financial support or high-quality free health care to those in need. Churches and synagogues around the country already provide financial help to those in need. Take a look at what Children’s Miracle Network, St. Judes, Shriners and Ronald McDonald house already provide — high quality health care at NO COST to the recipient. We simply need to support the expansion of those charitable organizations. Supplement any shortfall through STATE funding programs.
Part 3: Increase competition and reform corruption Let individuals buy health insurance across state lines so that the cost of insurance can drop through healthy competition. Go after obvious corruption at the big-business/political level. Build group plans at the state and association level that allows individuals to buy affordable group coverage when not employed, under-employed or self-employed.
Part 4: Get the federal government, trial lawyers and special interest groups (big pharma, insurance companies, big labor) out of the entire process. This alone will drop double digit percentage points off the cost of any health care or wellness initiative.
Part 5: Return and preserve the doctor-patient relationship. Get the third-party payer out of the way. Give the individual (employee)the freedom to choose AND PAY their health care provider directly. Give them a tax-free spending account to use for regular check ups, minor illnesses and prescription drugs. Let them carry health insurance for catastrophic needs. (Also see auto insurance – a door ding on my car is not a logical insurance claim. I pay that out of pocket. A car accident, however, is something I submit for insurance payment or reimbursement).
Question – But what about those who cannot afford to pay for their health care?
Answer – Seek charity. There is plenty of it already available through non-profit organizations.
Question – But what about those with pre-existing conditions?
Answer – Offer a temporary catastrophic care group plan at the state level for those who have lost their jobs or have a pre-existing condition. Some states may choose to subsidize the cost. Other states may choose not to. This temporary gap insurance can serve as a stepping stone to my next policy.
Question – What about the unemployed?
Answer – They can buy into or access the state group plan during the term of their unemployment.
