Health Care Reform

Chuck Plante (backtothestreets) | September 1, 2007 | Chuck Plante

[backtothestreets]

Where the heck is our nation headed with the present health care reform proposals being touted? There are two basic forms being proposed. One would have the government subsidize health insurance premiums directly. The other would give tax credits to individuals and businesses (which deplete government revenues), to purchase health insurance premiums. Both cost the government money, only the details are changed.

I don't like either remedy as they have government in control, and never address the real issue, high medical costs. I am firm in my belief that the real solution will be found when we have enough medical professionals and services to drive costs down. This is a supply side issue everyone should be able to understand.

I have devised a simple experiment anyone can try to illustrate my point.

Let's pretend gas is medical care, a motorist at a gas station is the patient, and you are the government, an insurance company, or a combination of both.

Approach a motorist, or lots of motorists, and request permission to pay for the gas to be pumped. Repeat this process as often as necessary to see if prices at the pump plummet due to the change in payee. Discontinue the experiment when you see my point, or think you are nearly broke (but not before you tell me where you are paying for gas).

All current proposals benefit health insurance companies. It just so happens health insurance companies are major contributors to the political campaigns of both major parties. Any relief people gain will be short-lived as costs continue to escalate for medical care, and hence medical insurance. Insurance companies will have guaranteed profits, and the political parties will retain this source of campaign contributions. Any shortcoming on financing the government induced insurance premium programs would be financed with borrowing to mask the debacle.

It should also be noted that the government controls the size and capacity of our medical schools. It is this control that has created the shortage of medical care services that has driven rising medical costs, and higher health insurance premiums.

[backtothestreets]

Yes, I am venting. This subject of health care reform, and the remedies touted by politicians of both major parties really frustrates me. People are not exercising their brains to reach their own conclusions, but are simply giving politicians a nod to assist their major campaign contributors. Well, that's my opinion anyway.

Chuck Plante

[coloradan]

Why do we hear so much about tort reform, school reform and health care reform - but we don’t hear about restaurant reform, or shopping mall reform, or landscaping reform? Because the former have government involved, and therefore, are all screwed up and in need of reform, while the latter are taken care of by the free market.

[backtothestreets]

Amen!