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QUESTIONS: Again, this is not to say that medical insurance is not necessary. Quite the opposite ...the insuring function is absolutely necessary. It’s just that insurance should be provided by an entity that is uniform in their payment schedules, offering a series of plans to one and all with premiums based on the individual's age and health, with incentive discounts for those who chose to lead healthy lives. No expensive staffs to pay; no corporate CEO to siphon off unseemly huge salaries; no stockholders looking for "a Return On Investment" ...just premiums in, minimum overhead for administration, and payments out to hospitals and providers of care. Consider this: a not-for-profit single-payer type of insurance program — a form of "self-insurance" at the organizational/county/state level. All health care premiums presently being paid to insurance companies, Medicare payments, etc., would be collected by the Single Payer Entity and paid out according to the plan level purchased by the individual. The dollars are there, folks. In this dynamic, funds would not be siphoned off as occurs in our current profit-driven private health insurance system. Extra medical benefits could be available by encouraging Health Savings Accounts for the individual so inclined. Let's consider your current insurance company. Try thinking it as a "single payer" plan, since as far as you are concerned it is a single payer for your health care bills. Now think how much more beneficial it would be if your insurance company didn't have to function in a "for profit" mode — no large salaries for senior administrators, no investors requiring a stake in profits, etc. And now consider several such insurance companies combining into a single company with that same limited administrative staff and no profit incentive driving premium cost. That is what a "single payer" non-profit health insurance plan would look like. Makes sense to me that eliminating corporate officer and investor pay-outs would result in more of the premium being made available to the providers of care and would permit a lowering of premiums... the way a non-profit agency conducts itself. Aren’t you tired of all this? It’s no way to run the show. By now your interest has been piqued enough by the debacle being proposed by our congress that you surely have some thoughts about how better to organize health care insurance for the masses. Non-profit is the way forward. Tell the profiteers to find some other field of interest — not health care insurance. Personally, I am repulsed by an activity that seeks profit from the misfortune of others (i.e. illness/ surgery, etc.) while investing nothing of themselves in the mix, having only a pecuniary interest. Insurance programs based on this principle morally have no place in health care, in my opinion. There is a whole new ball game pending in the delivery and funding of health care in America. Change is afoot, it is an absolute certainty. Make sure the change is not for the worse. You have a voice. Use it. Get involved. It’s your health. It’s your money. Let's make the most of this opportunity. Talk to your local leadership, your state senators and representatives. Don't let this become a FEDERAL program!!! Governors take notice! State Insurance Commissioners can require an absolutely level playing field. "Managed Care" (i.e. Managed Financing) can indeed be accomplished in far a better manner. NOTE: |
