Comments on: This week’s articles

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:15:25 +0000

Oakleigh, I appreciate you’re helping me (and many others)to gain a better understanding of just what is going on with the healthcare debacle. Unfortuneately I feel the root problem is far deeper than just healthcare. I think the ‘war’ between politcal parties is far more important to most politicians than any thing else. I also feel the good of the people is not one of the concerns they care about. I think a far more important concern is MONEY, both in pocket and for future polictal backing. I think you’re points are the most logical and intelligent way to work on this problem, paricularly utilizing the minds and common sense of the people who first handedly deal with the complexities of the system on a daily basis. I think instead of reading the current plan our elected officials should be required to read your letter. Maybe some of them would actually decide to think about the people who they represent and what’s best for their interests. Thank you for your dedication to healthcare and my well being.

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:37:25 +0000

Think the whole thing is as simple as this:

A. Let me be able to buy my own health care services at a reasonable cost (or not).
B. I am fundamentally “self insured” so, let me be able to buy insurance for the cost of health care services at a reasonable cost (or not).
C. Don’t charge me, or my insurance company, for someone else’s heath care expenses.
D. The State to provide a minimum level of indigent health care for their citizens who can’t pay for their own.
E. Services cannot be sold at a premium or discount to anyone. Everyone pays the same.
F. Providers are allowed to charge actual cost, plus overhead and profit. Set a maximum profit allowable.
G. Let me have opportunity to save money and pocket the difference.
H. Proof of citizenship is required. If no proof, stop the bleeding and deport.
I. Don’t charge me to cover high-risk behavior of others. If that behavior is job related, charge the employer. If that behavior is chosen by the individual, let them pay for it.
J. If any of these provisions are not followed by the individual States, seek a Constitutional Amendment to allow the Federal Government to provide. Otherwise, stay out of it.

This last point is crucial though. Past Congresses did Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Prescription Drug Benefit and the Cash For Clunkers as well, all without a Constitutional Amendment, and all are or will be bankrupt.

By: Rudi Schnur

Rudi Schnur — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:37:40 +0000

I applaud you for your effort to promote understanding. Profound understanding of the processes underlying the complex system we call “healthcare” is the only way to hope for improvement by way of improving those processes.
I actually share your view about the excellent article by David Goldhill in the September 2009 issue of The Atlantic under its title page headline “WHAT WASHINGTON DOESN’T GET ABOUT HEALTHCARE-HERE’S HOW TO FIX IT”. It should be “Must Reading” for politicians looking for a quick fix and in all likelihood will just make it worse.
Keep up the good work.

By: Philip Tympanick

Philip Tympanick — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:43:53 +0000

Please read my health care proposal. It’s only 5 pages long and emphasises many of the most important points articulated in Oakleigh’s letter.

Download your copy at:
http://tympsnet.com/TympsNet/PDF/HR3200CS.pdf

and get me your feedback. My hope is that WE THE PEOPLE can come up with THE PLAN, and our representatives in Congress can PASS OUR PLAN!

Thanks,
Phil Tympanick
Millville, MA
philt@tympsnet.com

By: granny02

granny02 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:39:34 +0000

Has anyone looked at a hospital bill account summary lately? A friend on Medicare and insurance was in the hospital recently for a quick surgery (went in one morning and out at noon next day). This person had about 5 pills during the whole time and the pharmacy bill was $8,423.58. The other parts of this summary were just as ridiculous. Now Medicare will knock that amount down and pay some and then the insurance company will knock it down more and pay some. Luckily the patient will not have to pay but here is at least one place where some adjustment needs to be made. It seems to me that Government is not willing to give up their political contribution money from lobbyists in order to lower the cost to Medicare.

By: Diane

Diane — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:08:09 +0000

Rob Plamond brings up some good points. Health care, unlike any other insurance we buy, has too many variables to be a one size fits all policy. Preventative medicine and cost of care for illness is important here but also abuse and fraud is important. How many people go to the ER rather than make a doctor’s appointment? How many in the healthcare field overcharge or say they perform services that were not done? I’ve seen both happen when I worked in the medical profession. I pay for my insurance. If I abuse it I get stuck with the bill. If someone doesn’t pay for their insurance and abuses it what are they stuck with?

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:47:44 +0000

This is a great site and you are doing a wonderful service putting the government gobbletygook in language the majority of people can read and understand and use that knowledge to challenge the issues. I have been to Town Hall meetings and the one recurring theme is that no one is Washington is using any “common sense” in dealing with this or any other major issues facing our country right now. It is all about government taking control of more and more of our lives.

By: Rob Plamondon

Rob Plamondon — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:26:59 +0000

There is something I am trying to understand. I would appreciate any thoughts from readers of this forum. Healthcare insurance is fundamentally different from other types of insurace (Home, Auto, etc.) in that we bill our Healthcare insurance company for any healthcare related need including routine office visits, check ups, dental cleanings, etc. We do not bill our auto insurance company for an oil change, nor our homeowners insurance company if our furnace fails. These are costs we bear ourselves. Coverage on our homes and automobiles is designed to protect against more catostrophic losses and the potential financial impact associated with these events. Imagine what our auto and homeowners policies would cost if we billed insurance companies for all our maintenance and repairs in addition to what is currently covered.

So, my question is this: What percentage of claims are associated with routine doctor’s visits such as check ups, physicals, a minor cough, etc. (basically things that probably lead to a claim of less than $200)? I would also be curious to understand what the costs are to admininster and pay these claims. How much of the administrative costs of overall claims is associated with these types of claims? I have no basis to make a guess, but would assume it is fairly high. What would eliminating these from Healthcare insurance models do to premiums and the overall cost of healthcare to families? I am not in a position to say this is a good or bad course of action, but was interested in views others may have.

By: Shannon Kennedy

Shannon Kennedy — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:23:56 +0000

Good stuff Oakleigh… So many reasons for Government to deregulate rather than increase regulation. A simple solution to decrease health insurance cost – remove state regulation (mandates) of health insurance plans. We are the divided states of America, each state has its own rules and fees on how health insurance can be offered; therefore limiting companies from entering every state. Even the largest insurance companies do not have product available in every state. Everyone agrees that competition is good; so allow all insurance companies to compete nationally at same level.

By: Susan Kishner

Susan Kishner — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:22:22 +0000

A friend of mine just emailed me one of your articles from a while back. I read that one a few more. Really enjoy your blog. Thanks