Galex

I think this article from the Atlantic Monthly should be required reading for everyone who wants to discuss the Health Care issue:

How American Health Care Killed My Father

You may not agree with his conclusions, but he outlays the problems in our current system better than just about anyone else I've ever seen.

I've worked on both the provider (hospital) and payer (insurance) side of things. It ain't pretty no matter which side of the aisle you're on. I had the pleasure of trying to get coverage for myself when I was briefly unemployed and let me tell you THAT is a complete nightmare. I have slightly high blood pressure which is completely under control through one of the cheapest meds around ($4 with or without insurance for 30 tablets). I've never had a coronary incident, my HDL/LDL levels are great and yet I could not get even catastrophic coverage from 2 insurers. That my friends is broken.

I'm a big believer that no insurance company should be publicly traded. We should move back to the system we had about 20 years ago where insurers were not supposed to be earning huge profits to satisfy shareholders -- instead they were there to be stewards of the premiums that were being paid and trying to make sure that the pool of money they had was enough to cover the needs of those they insured. Insurance companies were often local or regional. I feel the same way about hospitals -- being accountable to shareholders is not a good way to run an institution that is supposed to be caring for the health of the community. And let me tell you that as soon as these companies go public, all they talk about is 'what's good for the shareholders' -- I've been through 2 organizations going public and it was a very disheartening experience. I fail to understand why a company being publicly traded is viewed as the only way to inject competition into a system. It isn't. Even organizations that are non-profit have a healthy sense of competition and understand the need for innovation.

Next year I'll be switching to an HSA (healthcare savings account) and hopefully I'll be able to make a go of it. At least then I'll know where my money is going.