Health Care I

Most of the people I know have health insurance.... and pretty good health insurance at that. While they might grumble about the cost, they are getting pretty decent coverage for the cost (assuming they don't consider how much their employer is contributing). Unfortunately, not a one of them sees the train wreck on the way. Insurance is really pretty simple; everyone puts money in the pot and those who need it take it out. If you don't need it (e.g. you're healthy) you're paying for peace of mind, nothing more.

Unfortunately, we've lost sight of that fundamental principle. In the name of providing "choice", we've allowed younger, healthy people to go uninsured, or buy insurance policies with minimal coverage. Without these people in the pool, the rates for those in the "not so healthy" category have soared. This, in turn, causes even more people to be unable (or unwilling) to pay the cost of health insurance, which shrinks the pool even more and tips the bias even more toward people who need to use the insurance rather than just pay for it.

How does it all end? Why does this need to be so difficult. Let's put EVERYONE in the insurance pool and have ONE insurance company that negotiates rates. We'll decide how much of the budget we want to spend on health care and we'll tax everyone appropriately. It works people. Don't listen to the hype. It really does work. No, it's not perfect. But if we don't do it, we're headed for a cliff. And oh, by the way... in case it matters to anyone, the 30+ million people that currently don't have health insurance will be covered. No, this isn't welfare. Most of these 30 million are hard working people who simply can't afford or qualify to get insurance. Don't forget, we already cover the poor with Medicaid.

I really think the half-assed compromise politically motivated non-legislation being floated around Washington needs to be killed. We really do need to start over, BUT, we need to start by resurrecting H.R. 676 and get everyone behind a Medicare-for-All, single payer system. If you agree, please write your congressman. If you don't.... think it over again. You're not feeling the pinch nearly as much as you're going to in the not so distant future. You may soon be one of the ones on the outside looking in.