Market Capitalism Cannot Maintain our Healthcare System

[JCMach1]

It's the 100lb Gorilla in the room no one will be talking about with tonight's SOTU. For years Repugs have been pushing the idea that healthcare should be governed by the free market. Hey, that's all well and good, but what they ignored is the simple fact is that capitalism is ultimately about 'CHOICE'.

Healthcare is INHERENTLY ANTI-CHOICE. You can't check consumer websites when you are sitting in an emergency room. EVen if your HMO would allow it, you have little or no choice when it comes to quality, or pricepoint.

This leaves doctors, nurses, hospitals... all healthcare professionals constantly obsessing about the bottomline. The system gravitates toware the $$$. This leads directly to the irrationalities we have in our system.

And what about the insurance companies? They are often hamstrung by Byzantine laws and at the same time they are driven and forced to react to the same market forces as the doctors... not mention simple corporate greed.

Only, they are not REALLY market forces because they are not driven by consumers who have a choice. So, hospitals, doctors, insures, pharmaceutical companies all drive the cost of healthcare because they must sustain market growth and share. All them are seeking more $$$. Because there is NO CHOICE, they can continue to do so in perpetuity.

Instead, we see an inflationary spiral that favors the NEWEST drug for what ails you... the newest treatment for that severe nail fungus of yours... Rationality, HELL NO!

It is NOT true Capitalism and cannot be maintained!

Healthcare in this country needs to be reframed as a SOCIAL SERVICE... in the same sort of light we see fire deparments and police.

Here is what I would do for starters:

1. Put into Federal Law the RIGHT of every U.S. citizen to healthcare.
2. Completely repeal Medicare and Medicaid and their associated taxes and programs.
3. Mandate that each State develop their own formulae and programs for granting citizens their right to healthcare.

For example, imagine if your state did mandate Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and combined it with state-backed catostropic insurance plan. Imagine if ALL rates, fees, and salaries were FIXED in such a system... Imagine if you could actually bankroll part of that HSA (tax free)each year if you didn't use it (incentive to not abuse or overuse the system)... And finally, imagine each state experimenting and finding just the right formula that would work. HSAs are NOT such a bad idea. However, if our lawmakers don't face the facts about healthcare and the free market the death spiral will continue.

[The Whiskey Priest]

1. We need more Marcus Welby

and less Ken Lay in Healthcare

[Greyhound]

2. Just a guess, but you're in the health-care industry aren't you?

I make this guess because you accurately point out many of the existing problems in our system, but totally overlook the fundamental cause of them, namely, the profit motive. You advocate the elimination of the two most effective health-care delivery systems we have in this country, yet make no proposal to get the insurance industry out of the business. Now, why would anyone want to get rid of a system that delivers effectively with administration costs of 3%, while ignoring the competition that sucks 20% - 40% of the $$ for their 'administration'?
Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm just saying, ya know?

[JCMach1]

3. Insurance is part of the problem too... largely because it is

a "FOR PROFIT" industry.

The IDEA of insurance is a sound one. What has gone wrong is that we have turned a good idea into huge multi-national for profit corporations.

They would need to be thrown out of the temple as well...

[SharonAnn]

4. As I told a friend of mine who was upset that the Insurance Co. didn't

seem to care about her dissatisfaction -

1. YOU are not their customer. Your employer is their customer.

2. Complain to your employer. Complain over and over again until they hear you and at least respond with a REAL answer, even if you don't like it. A REAL answer would be a personal answer to your complaint, not just a form letter.

3. Remember that your employer writes the contract with the insurance company and can change the contract. It may cost you/them more but they CAN change the contract.

[JCMach1]

5. In many states even that is nearly impossible now

with only a handful of companies offering plans to employers...

So, even that choice might not work...

[tocqueville]

6. How healthcare is financed in Europe (for example France)

1) a law says that everybody has right to healthcare
2) 70 of the cost (100% depending on the case is financed - 100% for non curable diseases like diabetes etc...) is covered and ensures a "minimum" of decent treatement
3) the remaining 30% are covered by a private insurance competing on a free market (normally they cover the difference and pay the extras). An insurance like that costs $30-50 a month.
4) the general financing is mostly covered by taxes on the enterprises (employment insurance)
5) some is covered by taxes on individuals (not the main part)
6) everybody under the poverty level has free health-, dental and optic care as long as the person is under that level.

Some treatments are not covered for example plastic surgery (if not caused by an accident)
abortion, contraception are covered

optics and dental care are covered that way too, but the private part is higher.