The American Health Care Industry is mighty. It serves many masters, including the insurance industry, the legal profession, the health care providers and most importantly...the patients. As our politicians work toward enacting some much needed reform, it seems the patient is being lost in the debate. The industry has ratcheted up their demands for protection from competition, which will water down the most important reform objectives. Who is protecting the patient? America claims home to the finest health care professionals in the world, but the ability to afford access to this care is not within the reach of most Americans.
I was discussing the state of health care with a local business owner. He was living in New Zealand for a few years when his wife became very ill. New Zealand’s health care system was not working very well for him…it seems his wife’s case was being handled poorly by the New Zealand health care system. They bought a ticket home to the US and were admitted immediately to one of the country’s finest hospitals. His wife is back on the road to recovery.
Although the business owner was able to afford speedy access to the US system, including an emergency airfare for two from New Zealand, I wondered how his employees would fare under the same circumstances (even without the plane ride). In fact, the vast majority of low wage employees (of which he has many) are not even covered with health insurance. I am sure he would tell me that it is too expensive to cover employees and remain competitive in the marketplace.
So it finally comes down to competition. When the latest reform proposals suggested a “government run” option, the industry cried foul. They are afraid that a government option will be too popular and will take away from their customer base, thereby causing a loss of profits. Kind of ironic, wouldn’t you agree?
When a government option has been suggested before, the opposition have always contended that government would screw it up. Now, the opposition is suggesting that government may be able to do it better than them. I would suggest that America can do better than this. We may have only one chance to guarantee that all our citizens have access to health care…regardless of station. The time is now.
