June bug: The press between elections and patients
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008It is June. Graduation has already occurred for most Universities and High Schools. Even the Democrats have finally taken their final exams for their nominee. And, even the public is looking for higher education is energy policy, healthcare reform, and in how to resolve the world’s short opinion of how we are currently handling most things. And, it is still June.
I am most concerned these days about patients. About those whose options have narrowed down to none, when staying at home is not possible and being in the hospital is almost impossible. I am concerned about the rhetoric that addresses so much of what bugs us about the current way health care is dispursed and yet is so very far from the impossibility of being a patient.
For us in HHS, we have a small company. Our renewal for health insurance is being increased by 29% on August 1. None of us have had serious illnesses or serious chronic illnesses. No one smokes. and, we have no choice. No matter what, everyone will have health insurance as it is on the list of “must haves,’ like auto insurance. My Dad used to say “don’t turn on the ignitioin without insurance.” What is the equivalent for health insurance?
So, how do we resolve this? Jennifer James at a recent AONE conference said that universal healthcare was only remotely possible because of the current addiction to American exceptionalism, the belief that we, as the leaders of the free world, cannot possibly do what anyone else does, even if it works. What a shame. So many other countries are so much healthier than we are.
What I know now is that health insurance is a 30-day guarantee. Any master group, or group policy, can be cancelled or otherwise changed with 30 days notice. That is why premiums are paid monthly and not annually.
How does this make you feel? For me, it is more risk that I would like to bear. It is actually worse that the slot machine risk here in Reno. At least gambling is regulated and payout minimums are set in advance. Right now, the gamble on health insurance …well, it is game I would not opt for.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
You ask “How do we resolve this?”
The answer is simple: Universal Health Insurance.
We remain the only developed country on earth that does not offer health insurance to all citizens. The problem you face as a small company dealing with rapidly rising costs for insurance is not unique. There are 50 million Americans without health insurance.
What should you do?
Vote and tell your politicians what you want
June 29th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Henry, you are correct and according to Jennifer James who spoke recently at AONE natonal conference, “Amercian exceptionalism” to which the US is addicted allows our fearless leaders to ignor what works everywhere else. The push will have to come from consumers, not from political leaders who are being pushed in a variety of conflicting directions. John Edwards had a workable plan that used what already works, Medicare and the VA system…and allowed for choice. I do not see any other plans viable or immune from the political pressures that now exist. In the meantime, the question remains as to what to do. We invest in our staff and will continue to do so as we could not fathom this work without their individual and collective skills and commitment. However, businesses often forget the value of their own employees and opt out of what they would not tolerate for their own families.