Health Insurance - Constructive Suggestions

Anyone who ever has spoken with me likely realizes that this is the single biggest point of stress in my life. Health insurance is so expensive, and using it so complicated, and the consequences of messing up so dire, that it creates more stress on my than the 100+ lawsuits I fight at any given time combined.

I do not purport to have the answer to what ails our system, but I think that anyone who believes our system is hunky-dory has either not been paying attention or has not been paying his/her own bills.

I support the Affordable Care Act because something had to be done. The problems with health insurance did not materialize in January, 2009. They did not materialize with the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. With that said, I recognize that it is highly imperfect.

I read something interesting today and recommend it to anyone reading this blog.

A few excerpts of ideas of how to reform the nation's healthcare delivery system:

First, we’re going to require hospitals, medical providers, and pharmacies publish their prices clearly and consistently for everyone. If Starbucks can put the calorie count on a muffin, you can tell me how much a pill costs. This will give consumers the critical piece they need to make informed decisions on non-emergency care.

You will get no arguments from me on this one. Before my youngest was born, we had the option of purchasing "health insurance" that did not cover maternity at a savings of approximately $200/month for the family. Rest assured, I could have found a use for the $200. Unfortunately, no matter how many hospitals, doctors, nurses, insurance companies, etc., I asked, I could not get even a ballpark figure for how much having a baby would cost, even assuming no complications.

Second, we’re going to have a debate about patent reform. The fact hospitals often don’t seem to know how much an MRI costs or how much a drug costs is part-and-parcel with patents. A $30 million piece of equipment costs $30 million because of patents. Patents are important for a lot of things, but healthcare seems to be an area where that profit is more problematic. If transparent pricing doesn’t work, then let’s setup patent reform. This could be government buy-backs of technology, front-loading the research grants (maintaining our status as a research powerhouse), limiting their duration for drugs and life-saving patents, or all the above.

My brother is a doctor and gets his rates pounded down by insurance companies and the government all the time. Interestingly, neither the device manufacturers nor the drug companies face the same pressure. Maybe they have better lobbyists? I don't know, but when a new pill gets 1% better results and costs 200% more than the old one, perhaps we should have a discussion about value.

Forget state lines, let’s open this up to the world. Insurance carriers and pharmaceutical companies’ cozy relationships with legislators are over. Let’s open competition globally. Drugs in Canada cheaper? Buy ‘em there mail-order. Health insurers in South Korea think they can provide better service to Americans than Anthem? Bring it on. Doctors in Japan want to provide tele-health services to look at grandma’s bunion? Let’s try it.

If Samsung can manufacture dishwashers from Korea and sell them against GE, and Tylenol can be made in Mexico and sold here, so can anything else. We have the systems and incentives in place to ensure people stay no less safe than they are now.

I include this specifically because I note that "globalization" has only served the interests of some and completely gored the interests of others. Out-of-state lawyers can't come and litigate here as a general rule, but foreign roofers and dishwashers come here with impunity. If globalization is good for the goose, surely it's good for the gander.

I could go on, but I recommend reading the blog post at the link above.