Good question Alison. As you know the healthcare system has been in crisis for a while now. Talks about universal healthcare have been on the table with several administrations. I am sure it will come back stronger than ever with the Obama team. I have my own thoughts about what needs to happen to improve not only access to care by everyone (including the uninsured) but to also cut the dependency on healthcare model that focuses on treating symptoms vice creating wellness. Not to mention a system that is filled with inefficiencies, red tape and fraud.
As I stated on previous posting, I have been in the industry too long to know that healthcare is a business and as such "profit" is at the center of the equation. Pharma, Insurance, technology providers, service providers, physician groups, lawyers, etc, etc, etc are part of this monster which is eating our country alive. Many attempts to reform healthcare have failed because we continue to make the same mistakes or refuse to recognize that a radical new thinking is needed to address the many problems than affect so many Americans in the most vulnerable area of survival.
Although nearly 47 million Americans are uninsured, the United States spends more on health care than other industrialized nations, and those countries provide health insurance to all their citizens.
Experts agree that our health care system is riddled with inefficiencies, excessive administrative expenses, inflated prices, poor management, and inappropriate care, waste and fraud. These problems significantly increase the cost of medical care and health insurance for employers and workers and affect the security of families.
In a 2007 Wall Street Journal-NBC Survey it stated that almost 50 percent of the American public say the cost of health care is their number one economic concern. I think in 2008 and beyond this issue is going up due to the economy, the mass lay-offs and employers filing for bankruptcy. There is another USA Today/ABC News survey that reported that 80 percent of Americans said that they were dissatisfied (60 percent were very dissatisfied) with high national health care spending. Have you wondered where does that spending come from? Huhm, perhaps it is due to unnecessary surgeries? over medicated/over prescribed patients i.e. mental health? Multi-specialty treatments for a solo patient whose body gets fragmented into separate organs while no management of treatment outcomes is monitored?
Another recent study by Harvard University researchers found that the average out-of-pocket medical debt for those who filed for bankruptcy was $12,000. The study noted that 68 percent of those who filed for bankruptcy had health insurance. In addition, the study found that 50 percent of all bankruptcy filings were partly the result of medical expenses. Every 30 seconds in the United States someone files for bankruptcy in the aftermath of a serious health problem. It is more than likely that these numbers have gone up with our current economic crisis.
According to a more recent report, the United States has $480 billion in excess spending each year in comparison to Western European nations that have universal health insurance coverage. The costs are mainly associated with excess administrative costs and poorer quality of care. We still are one of the sickest nations among industrialized countries.
The USA spends six times more per capita on the administration of the health care system than its peer Western European nations
Along party lines we know that rising health care costs is the top personal pocketbook concern for Democratic voters (45%) and Republicans (35%), well ahead of higher taxes or retirement security. Will a Democratic President with a majority Democratic Congress have the power to push the universal healthcare program? Who will oppose? It will be interesting to see.
I think we need to rethink our model of healthcare to one that makes the patient more educated about taking charge of his/her health long before the onset of disease. Risk Health Assessments are one step in that direction, but health insurance companies and Medicare are not there yet in terms of providing cost incentives to employers and employees who practice healthier life styles. But the time has come, it is long overdue. We need more States to adhere to efficient management of uninsured with emphasis in prevention at all levels. And why not, higher cost for those who do not care enough for their body and mind to live a healthier, more productive lives. Employers should not be forced to pay for medical benefits for these employees!
Here is more information that can help us get better educated about this very serious problem: http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml
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Good question Alison. As you know the healthcare system has been in crisis for a while now. Talks about universal healthcare have been on the table with several administrations. I am sure it will come back stronger than ever with the Obama team. I have my own thoughts about what needs to happen to improve not only access to care by everyone (including the uninsured) but to also cut the dependency on healthcare model that focuses on treating symptoms vice creating wellness. Not to mention a system that is filled with inefficiencies, red tape and fraud.
As I stated on previous posting, I have been in the industry too long to know that healthcare is a business and as such "profit" is at the center of the equation. Pharma, Insurance, technology providers, service providers, physician groups, lawyers, etc, etc, etc are part of this monster which is eating our country alive. Many attempts to reform healthcare have failed because we continue to make the same mistakes or refuse to recognize that a radical new thinking is needed to address the many problems than affect so many Americans in the most vulnerable area of survival.
Although nearly 47 million Americans are uninsured, the United States spends more on health care than other industrialized nations, and those countries provide health insurance to all their citizens.
Experts agree that our health care system is riddled with inefficiencies, excessive administrative expenses, inflated prices, poor management, and inappropriate care, waste and fraud. These problems significantly increase the cost of medical care and health insurance for employers and workers and affect the security of families.
In a 2007 Wall Street Journal-NBC Survey it stated that almost 50 percent of the American public say the cost of health care is their number one economic concern. I think in 2008 and beyond this issue is going up due to the economy, the mass lay-offs and employers filing for bankruptcy. There is another USA Today/ABC News survey that reported that 80 percent of Americans said that they were dissatisfied (60 percent were very dissatisfied) with high national health care spending. Have you wondered where does that spending come from? Huhm, perhaps it is due to unnecessary surgeries? over medicated/over prescribed patients i.e. mental health? Multi-specialty treatments for a solo patient whose body gets fragmented into separate organs while no management of treatment outcomes is monitored?
Another recent study by Harvard University researchers found that the average out-of-pocket medical debt for those who filed for bankruptcy was $12,000. The study noted that 68 percent of those who filed for bankruptcy had health insurance. In addition, the study found that 50 percent of all bankruptcy filings were partly the result of medical expenses. Every 30 seconds in the United States someone files for bankruptcy in the aftermath of a serious health problem. It is more than likely that these numbers have gone up with our current economic crisis.
According to a more recent report, the United States has $480 billion in excess spending each year in comparison to Western European nations that have universal health insurance coverage. The costs are mainly associated with excess administrative costs and poorer quality of care. We still are one of the sickest nations among industrialized countries.
The USA spends six times more per capita on the administration of the health care system than its peer Western European nations
Along party lines we know that rising health care costs is the top personal pocketbook concern for Democratic voters (45%) and Republicans (35%), well ahead of higher taxes or retirement security. Will a Democratic President with a majority Democratic Congress have the power to push the universal healthcare program? Who will oppose? It will be interesting to see.
I think we need to rethink our model of healthcare to one that makes the patient more educated about taking charge of his/her health long before the onset of disease. Risk Health Assessments are one step in that direction, but health insurance companies and Medicare are not there yet in terms of providing cost incentives to employers and employees who practice healthier life styles. But the time has come, it is long overdue. We need more States to adhere to efficient management of uninsured with emphasis in prevention at all levels. And why not, higher cost for those who do not care enough for their body and mind to live a healthier, more productive lives. Employers should not be forced to pay for medical benefits for these employees!
Here is more information that can help us get better educated about this very serious problem: http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml
December 8, 2008 - 10:24pmThis Comment
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