GOOD Sheet: Bill of Health
- Posted by: GOOD , KarlssonWilker
- on September 18, 2008 at 1:20 am
The prognosis for health care in America isn’t positive. Many people are uninsured and many more lack the level of care they need. Collectively, we cough up trillions to keep citizens well, but our health indicators lag behind other nations that spend far less. Here is a detailed diagnosis of the problem.
View GOOD Sheet: Bill of Health
This exploration of health care is a collaboration between GOOD and Karlssonwilker.
DISCUSSION: 5 Comments
Hello,Two things popped out at me, while reading the material on the “Bill of Health” — 1) It would have been easier to compare data, if the same data points were used in all the sections. To have some with 2006, others with 2007, and finally estimated 2008 data, confuses the issue, by not making clear how things really compare.2) Under the “Symptoms” section, there was an important point that was ignored — that some 17.8 million uninsured are making over $50,000.00/year, this is about 6.3% of the population. For these, it appears that no medical insurance coverage is a deliberate choice being made by them. If we add their percentage to those who are covered, we reach total in excess of 90% of the population who are covered, or who have resources and reject coverage (could some of the lower groups also be rejecting coverage, due to religious beliefs, etc.?) To make a major wholesale change for less than 10% (possibly less than 7%) of population does not make a lot sense, unless your goal is only to put government in charge.
I think that STCook is making a REALLY important point here. I’m glad someone else caught this too. Look, there’s serious need for improvement here but don’t try pulling my heartstrings for possibly less than 7% of the population!!! Is this typical of GOOD magazine?
I also noticed this point about 17.8 million uninsured presumably making over $50,000/year. Perhaps a certain percentage are between jobs, but many are probably self-employed and are choosing not to have insurance. However, putting this into perspective, it’s still true that 2/3 of the uninsured population make less than $50,000. We can choose not to consider the 17.8 million uninsured making over $50,000, but we’re still facing some 29.2 million people who are uninsured presumably because they cannot afford coverage. Why do we always insist on seeing everything in terms of percentages? Less than 10% may seen insignificant to some, but that’s almost 30 million lives. Why is it somehow a more important issue if the number is 16% instead of 10%? Besides, given the information provided here we don’t even have an accurate explanation for the 17.8 million who presumably “choose not to purchase health insurance.” It is not wise to jump to conclusions without having all the necessary information.
Currently, legislation that “protects our safety” is written by pharmaceutical companies and health insurance companies, and then they pay billions in lobbying dollars to get these “safety” bills signed into law (read “secure our profitsthrough government monopolization”) In the ’90s when HMOs came on the scene (thanks, Hillary) the costs of administration (bureaucracy) went THROUGH THE ROOF, while costs of actual care stayed level with other price increases. When people talk about the cost of healthcare, they need to talk about the real cost – the real cost in healthcare is GOVERNMENT. It is government shaking hands with Big Medicine that have caused this “crisis.”End government involvement in the healthcare system and we may see some freedom to make our own choices, some freedom to drive prices down through demand, some freedom to put a corrupt system out of business by having the freedom to shop the competition – and have greater freedom to give it away (see the “band-aid” article on the front – cool!) To help end government intervention (fascism) in healthcare, STOP SB 425. Thanks, GOOD!
Back to the point about the people who are uninsured but making over $50k/yr…speaking from experience (not mine, but many of my friends), people in that category are not only people who are self-employed and choosing not to provide themselves insurance through their companies. They may also be people working 3/4 time, people working free lance, or people working as contract employees (on a contract basis, not a staff position). The people I know who are in this situation are in the entertainment industry – actors, cinematographers, producers, etc – but there are so many jobs out there that are freelance or non-staff positions that we barely ever think about. Additionally, even if you’re making decent money at $50k/yr, that doesn’t really mean you can necessarily afford health insurance. In particular if you are providing for a family, have a prior health condition, etc, that rates for buying your own health insurance (or at least insurance that covers anything more than the rare ER visit) is extremely expensive. So, while it may seem that this is an option to some people – which I’m sure it may be – for many who on paper look like they’re totally set, unobtainable/unaffordable health care is actually a huge problem and one that certainly needs to be ameliorated sooner rather than later.