quote:Originally posted by Wild Irish Prose:
I agree with part of what DocDerez and zip said as well. But the system is simply set up to make it almost impossible for some people to attain quality health insurance; it's really not a matter of priorities anymore.
Here's what I think needs to happen:
*Ability to sell across state lines.
*Pre-existing conditions reform - meaning dropping some of the ridiculous guidelines in place now for insurance underwriters.
*A safety net for those out of work - and earnestly trying to find it - much like unemployment benefits, to cover until they can afford it again.
*Do away with plans that render people underinsured due to lack of real coverage in the plan.
*Do away with employer-sponsored plans. I realize some companies want to keep this as part of the compensation package, but I don't want to be stuck with an employer I'm displeased with just for the insurance. All plans should be individual and transferable (from job to job).
*A means for those stuck in the middle, i.e. make too much for a government-sponsored plan and too little for a private plan, to afford coverage. In other words, make it affordable.
Everyone always complains about government bureaucracy, i.e. reimbursement issues, but what about insurance company bureaucracy? An example of this is the fee-for-procedure arrangement that exists now for physicians. Physicians are paid for each service they provide, so in order to pay bills and salaries, it is in their best interest to order expensive tests that a patient may not need.
Also, for example, if you go to a dermatologist for a regular check-up and she/he finds a suspicious mole, it can't be removed that day (in what would take about five minutes) while you're already there. You have to come for a follow-up visit to have it removed and biopsied because that's how insurance companies pay physicians.
So, last on the list...
*Physicians should be paid a salary and allowed to do what they were taught in medical school: treat patients.
Yes, there needs to be some type of reform. I disagree with you on the idea that so many people are against it. I think so many people are against OBAMAs reform. Govt can pass legislation (like selling across state lines) to help guide insurance companies in the right direction, but to allow the govt to get their hands in the insurance business would be a HUGE mistake.
The US Govt needs to get on the ball and worry more about things that drive healthcare costs up (thus driving insurance costs up). Things like ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION! Do you have any idea how much of a burden on the healthcare system our illegals are? Look at the Decatur Hospital, it almost went under because of it. Look at our car insurance, its goes up because so many uninsured motorists are on the road.
Lets fix these multi million dollar lawsuits against hospitals and doctors. Realize it or not, we pay for that. Doctors charge more to pay for their insurance (that charges more), then insurance companies charge us more and WE PAY FOR IT. Lets cap some of these lawsuits and put some common sense into the legal system. Geez....
The deeper the govt becomes involved in the business the worse it will get.
Kirk