Health insurance is no longer insurance
The President has stated that the intent of health-care reform proposals is not to promote a public program but to create competition. The problem is the bills also put restrictions, limitations and caps on the private plans, thus making it impossible for them to compete.
It would be the equivalent of giving Americans the option of buying cars from a dealer or a government operated dealership. However, the private dealerships are only allowed to sell Rolls-Royces.
The biggest reasons for escalating health-care costs is that health insurance stopped being insurance. Major medical insurance in the '60s was designed to prevent an accident or illness from financially devastating the individual or family.
Today we expect our insurance programs to pay for anything remotely considered to be medically related. If other types of insurance had taken this approach, our auto policies would pay for our gasoline and oil changes.
Homeowner policies would cover our landscaping and house painting. Yet if those were options, once we saw the premiums required our reaction would be "No way am I going to pay that much. I can afford oil changes or to paint my house. I just want protection in case I'm in an accident or my home burns down."
The solution to controlling the cost of health insurance lies in it again becoming just that, insurance. Other areas such as malpractice costs and improved relations between the insurance industry and health-care providers are also essential.
The socialized medicine approach will only serve to swap premium dollars for tax dollars. It will stymie medical advancements; reduce the quality and availability of care. It's no wonder the President and other politicians want reform passed so quickly. The longer the delay the more chance it will be recognized for what it truly is.
James Broderick
Hoffman Estates