Healthcare

Public Option vs. Cooperatives

Having a public option is a vital part of the current health care discussion. Being a former Insurance Agent and Underwriter I can attest that a Cooperative isn’t going to achieve cost controls, ease pre-existing condition clauses, or expand coverage to those who most need it.

Cooperatives are to the insurance industry what deregulation and the repeal of the Glass Steagall Act was to the investments and banking industries. In the late 1990’s deregulation was going to bring about competition and level the playing field. More competition meant lower cost to attract more business and produce greater capital. However, as described in Sen. Dorgan’s book titled, “Reckless”, much of our current recession was caused by the mechanisms unleashed by deregulation.

Regulation isn’t a bad word. Regulation does not limit freedom, it enhances freedom. Regulation creates boundaries, safeguards, and balance. Creating the FDA insured that consumers would be better informed when making lifestyle and health decisions

In fact the invention of Medicare and Medicaid gave the insurance companies greater tools to make money. Medicare supplement insurance, Long Term Care insurance, AARP reinsurance products are all examples of private business initiative since the creation of Medicaid


Cooperatives would not lower cost or eliminate pre existing condition clauses

A Public Option, is just that an option. France still has private health insurance companies and reinsurance companies (not to suggest we go French).

II. Cost Controls

Negotiating Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements rates to the states is an important step in cutting cost.Minnesota, Oregon and even Maryland have suffered because of outdated formulas used to determine how each state is reimbursed for their dollar. Cost tables and overpricing safeguards should be updated and better managed

Whether popular or not we need to include legal and illegal immigrants into the discussions. First, because health care is a human right and also we‘re going to pay for them anyway, why not be upfront about it!

Tort reform and malpractice insurance premiums are important topics to address in the debate about healthcare. Every person should have the right to seek compensatory and punitive damages for a wrong incurred, but a lawsuit friendly society is another thing entirely.

Encouraging younger people to enroll in healthcare is an important ingredient. It expands societal responsibility and levels cost

III. Government Intervention

In my opinion there are things the government does well and other things the government does not so well.

Medicare is something the government does well. Most senior citizens love Medicare. It is confusing and imperfect at times, but it is the best we have. You don’t hear any Republicans saying, “Discontinue Medicare”. Why because it would political suicide and the success of the program far out ways the negatives

Most of the disagreement on health care has more to do with cultural fears and misinformation than anything substantive. An amendment including “Living Will” consultations turned into “Obama Death Panels”. Let’s arm ourselves with the facts instead of AK47’s!

Abortion isn’t going to be federally funded or encouraged.For those who say to government, “Take your hands off my Medicare”, too late!

We might be better served if we expand Medicare to include people under age 65. This idea would be less intrusive to the far right and make the healthcare debate easier to manage for Obama

IV. Finally

Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Decisions of life and death should never be a business decision. Universal Access is the outcome we should strive for. Listening to our worst fears and special interest groups won’t achieve that.