Reform Ideas

My ideas are not complete.  You may or may not agree with what I have to say.  But I want to and will say it nonetheless.  Since I've had plenty of time to read up on the whole healthcare debate, I've thought up of my own ideas I'd implement if I had some type of implementation power.

Everyone has the basic right to receive healthcare, regardless of title or money.  Whether or not you believe that statement, it is in fact implemented today in the United States.  The Emergency Department is not allowed to turn down patients.  And who pays for these visits used by the poor and uninsured people?  Ultimately?  Hospitals will raise their costs to combat with the money lost in the ED due to uninsured people.  And who pays for the hospital bills?  Insurance companies.  And who pays the insurance companies?  Ultimately, it is those who are insured who are paying the bill...

So, how is this fixed?  Require everyone to purchase health insurance.  Make it illegal for insurance to deny people due to pre-existing conditions.  Also, set up three different tiered plans (one being all inclusive while another pays for just basic, preventive care).  That way, consumers have some type of choice when choosing a plan.  Also, rates cannot be increased due to chronic medical conditions.  Did I mention the whole healthcare industry will go completely non-profit?  I cannot morally agree with the healthcare industry and insurance companies being able to choose between a person's well-being and a profit.

Insurance will not be employer-based anymore.  Health insurance follows the American citizen; it doesn't stay with the employer.  Employers can still offer payment incentives towards the healthcare plan to stay competitive. But how do we help those majority affected by health insurance premiums?  We put a percentage limit of how much people should have to pay for health insurance (say a 10% cap).  And the government will help foot the bill.

Wait a second?  The government?  No, no, no...  America will not become socialist.  The government will not control us.  Did I mention that almost 50% of all healthcare expenses are already paid for by the government?  So, it really wouldn't be a huge leap to this kind of idea.

Now that I've looked on the insurance side of the equation, let's look at the healthcare providers' side.  Emergency departments will be allowed to deny non-threatening conditions (with the exception of there being no doctor's offices or urgent care facilities open).  Physician's offices and Urgent care facilities (of at least 5 practicing physicians) will not be able to deny people with insufficient coverage.  That in itself lowers the medical costs by a lot.

Also, healthcare insurance will band together (how they do this, who knows - probably governmental help) and demand that hospitals and clinics treat their members for a certain set price (which is a little lower that the current price).  One voice won't mean much, but many voices will be heard.

So, how would the doctors fair since their compensation is being cut?  First off, this whole I'll-sue-your-pants-off malpractice issue needs to be fixed.  Limitations should be set for different types of malpractice instead of allowing good lawyers to sue for up to a million dollars for knee surgery on the wrong knee.  That way, malpractice insurance premiums will go down for doctors.  And since there is a shortage in healthcare providers (and the shortage is predicted to only worsen in the future), education in the medical field should be looked at.  Maybe offer incentives for those looking to go into the medical field, or reduce the medical school costs a little.  In order to get people to enter into the medical industry, it needs to be desirable.  And in the US nowadays, it's a lot less than desirable...

Those are my ideas so far.  Yes, they are incomplete and probably missing key factors.  And I'm forgetting the fact that the US government is highly corrupt right now.  And the fact that most people put in charge of your health are looking for the biggest bang for the buck instead of keeping you healthy.

Agree or not, we all need to be educated in healthcare reform.  Something needs to be done to fix the growing issues.  And for those who say the healthcare industry doesn't need to change and is just fine the way it is, I hope you enjoy smelling your own shit because your head's so far up your ass, you haven't got a clue about what's going on in US healthcare.  Sorry for the vivid picture, but it's more than true if you believe nothing needs to be changed

I had a lot of time to think about this while working today.  I've pretty much spent the last few weeks getting to know a lot about the healthcare industry.  I've learned about what's being passed in Washington as well as what's working for other countries in regards to healthcare (did you know that a hospital stay in Japan costs $10/night -- that's 2 orders of magnitude different than the cost in US hospital *which is $1000 if you didn't understand the magnitude thing?).

Blegh

I got a letter from our health insurance carrier today.  They're raising our premiums.  And then I realized, we'll be paying 3/4 the amount of what we pay for rent for our insurance premium.  We already pay over half the cost of our rent towards our stupid premiums.  Also, rent takes about 60% of my paycheck away from me.

Did I mention I live in subsidized housing?  Maybe there's a reason for that...

With our upcoming graduation, we will probably be giving up our health insurance.  Because as everyone says, health insurance is a luxury.  And since I can't live in and eat at the hospital, then I guess I have to give up health insurance.

Apparently, having a roof over your head is a luxury.  So is buying food from the grocery store.  So is having a job.  I must just be some lazy ass who can't do anything since I can't find a job (so say the political pigs)...

Health Reform

So, I know the healthcare debate is a major issue today.  And there are a lot of people against it saying they're responsible to pay for their own healthcare, why should there be a government healthcare plan?  Well, I can tell you, I'm for government health care.  It'd be nice to see a health plan out there that isn't for-profit and is affordable.  Maybe the one in debate today at the capitol doesn't fit those terms exactly, but it's one step towards it.

An alternative to government healthcare would be to enforce employers to offer healthcare benefits to both full-time and part-time employees.  An emergency plan is not the same as a healthcare plan.  And I know most retail employers hire employees as part-time, so they don't qualify for full-time benefits.  And then they have the employees work full-time three of the four weeks a month, just so they don't have to bump the employees up to full-time status.  And its just ridiculous that employers are that greedy and unwilling to support their employees' health.

Here's my own personal situation.  Utah State University does not offer its part-time employees healthcare.  It does offer students health care plans.  The health care plan costs more than buying private insurance, it's a 70/30 plan, and you still have to call the plan before they'll okay you going to the emergency room or doctor's office (outside of the health and wellness center).  Now, what about Jared's employer?  K-Mart.  I refuse to spend $3000 a year on an emergency plan that'll only cover up to $2000 of your expenses (unless you end up in the emergency room, have a baby, and go to the doctor's office repeatedly -- in which case they'll pay $5000 while you pay $20000).  So, what other options are available?  We had to go through private insurers, and let me tell you, they're expensive (I dare you to go to e-insurance.com and just look up health plan costs).  A fifth of our salary goes towards our healthcare premiums.  And if something were to happen to us and cause us to end up in the hospital, a third to half of our salary would go towards paying the hospital bills even though we have health insurance.  It's ridiculous...  But I'm going to do what it takes to keep myself and my husband insured.

Health insurance was actually the number one thing that kept us from getting married earlier.  I had a plan under my mom.  Jared just went without insurance for a couple of years.  When my mom's employer cut their health benefits down, I decided her insurance wasn't going to benefit me anymore.  They stopped covering birth control stating that was an unneeded expense (I'd take the $600-$1000 a year over $13000-$20000 for a live birth any day).  Health care plans are just ridiculously and outrageously expensive right now.  And I think one of the major problems is the fact that health insurance is for-profit.  We're going to make a profit over someone else's suffering?  Ridiculous...