I am trying to stay away from politics on my blog. I know that some of my intended readers do not share my feelings. As well, I don't entice dialogue. Occasionally my readers will address something I've written about. For the most part, they are merely saying something like, "Oh yeah, I felt that way too," regarding some experience, that I related.
However, I have to share these particular feelings about the new Ryan Healthcare proposal that is sailing through the House of Representatives.
Market-driven healthcare provision:
This concept proposes that if put on the free market health care insurance will become more affordable. The theory is there will be competition among insurers to gain market share and lowering the prices will be a possible outcome.
None of the insurers want customers who are old people or people with a pre-existing health problem ( heart disease, cancer, etc...) Older people, who are not on medicare, have more health care needs than younger people. Therefore data tells us that they will cost more than they will pay into the system. The same is likely for patients that have pre-existing conditions. Now under the Ryan plan, older insured will be covered for less and pay more. For those that have pre-existing conditions, they would have to be put in high-risk pools and pay higher rates.
A possible outcome is, that until they get onto medicare, older Americans and those with preexisting conditions will not be able to afford the minimal coverage and opt to not buy insurance.
Seeing that the plan also eliminates the mandate, they will have no incentive to buy insurance. History tells us these people will not get basic health care much less preventative care. They may, or more than likely will, end up in the Emergency Care Unit.
So my questions are, What do we do with the eleven million people who are going to lose coverage? How do we incentivise younger people to get into the system without the mandate?
We know that insurance companies are corporations. Their first responsibility is to their shareholders. That is one way of saying they have to maximize profits. There are three basic things that any company offers its customers, Quality Products, Superior Service, and Competitive Price. Consumers can only expect two out of the three, or the company will not be able to make a profit. My question is which two will we get in the new Free market model, Ryan proposes.
Trying to define healthcare is like describing world peace. It is complex and for most of us hard to understand. Let's face it most of us don't really know what our automobile or homeowners insurance covers until we need to make a claim.
n a true free-market, I fantasize that I've been in an automobile accident. Laying on the cold concrete, I'm on my cell phone trying to find the lowest cost ambulance service that will take me to a hospital that my primary physician is authorized to practice. Is it better to die while trying to minimize cost or just let them do what they want and bill me later? No need to answer. This is a rhetorical question.
The question is if we are to buy a medical plan how do you compare them. I believe that most people are incapable of knowing what they are going to need. And even if they do, will they be able to pay for it?
One of the benefits I have being on Medicare is the pro-active preventative care I get from my Physician. Data shows that more needless emergency care and high-cost services are avoided if patients are served by a primary care physician.
Ten to twenty million people will not be served by the Ryan plan because they can't afford it. What do we do with these people when they become ill? Where do they go for treatment and how is it paid for?
The bigger question is for those people that don't think the government ought to be legislating healthcare at all. There are those who believe that we should not offer government-sponsored healthcare at all. I might add that includes Medicare and Medicaid. My question to them is how do we live with the consequence of that decision?
My last question is this. The Republicans have told us for years that the Affordable Healthcare Act is a mess and unsustainable. Now that you're driving the bus, why do you need a street map to show you the way? After eight plus years of complaining, is this the best you can do?
However, I have to share these particular feelings about the new Ryan Healthcare proposal that is sailing through the House of Representatives.
Market-driven healthcare provision:
This concept proposes that if put on the free market health care insurance will become more affordable. The theory is there will be competition among insurers to gain market share and lowering the prices will be a possible outcome.
None of the insurers want customers who are old people or people with a pre-existing health problem ( heart disease, cancer, etc...) Older people, who are not on medicare, have more health care needs than younger people. Therefore data tells us that they will cost more than they will pay into the system. The same is likely for patients that have pre-existing conditions. Now under the Ryan plan, older insured will be covered for less and pay more. For those that have pre-existing conditions, they would have to be put in high-risk pools and pay higher rates.
A possible outcome is, that until they get onto medicare, older Americans and those with preexisting conditions will not be able to afford the minimal coverage and opt to not buy insurance.
Seeing that the plan also eliminates the mandate, they will have no incentive to buy insurance. History tells us these people will not get basic health care much less preventative care. They may, or more than likely will, end up in the Emergency Care Unit.
So my questions are, What do we do with the eleven million people who are going to lose coverage? How do we incentivise younger people to get into the system without the mandate?
We know that insurance companies are corporations. Their first responsibility is to their shareholders. That is one way of saying they have to maximize profits. There are three basic things that any company offers its customers, Quality Products, Superior Service, and Competitive Price. Consumers can only expect two out of the three, or the company will not be able to make a profit. My question is which two will we get in the new Free market model, Ryan proposes.
Trying to define healthcare is like describing world peace. It is complex and for most of us hard to understand. Let's face it most of us don't really know what our automobile or homeowners insurance covers until we need to make a claim.
n a true free-market, I fantasize that I've been in an automobile accident. Laying on the cold concrete, I'm on my cell phone trying to find the lowest cost ambulance service that will take me to a hospital that my primary physician is authorized to practice. Is it better to die while trying to minimize cost or just let them do what they want and bill me later? No need to answer. This is a rhetorical question.
The question is if we are to buy a medical plan how do you compare them. I believe that most people are incapable of knowing what they are going to need. And even if they do, will they be able to pay for it?
One of the benefits I have being on Medicare is the pro-active preventative care I get from my Physician. Data shows that more needless emergency care and high-cost services are avoided if patients are served by a primary care physician.
Ten to twenty million people will not be served by the Ryan plan because they can't afford it. What do we do with these people when they become ill? Where do they go for treatment and how is it paid for?
The bigger question is for those people that don't think the government ought to be legislating healthcare at all. There are those who believe that we should not offer government-sponsored healthcare at all. I might add that includes Medicare and Medicaid. My question to them is how do we live with the consequence of that decision?
My last question is this. The Republicans have told us for years that the Affordable Healthcare Act is a mess and unsustainable. Now that you're driving the bus, why do you need a street map to show you the way? After eight plus years of complaining, is this the best you can do?
Comments
Post a Comment