tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279973426476621559.post559212926743825324..comments2023-04-03T05:20:01.318-04:00Comments on Young, Hip and Conservative: a skeptical blog: Health care wish listMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00427964335321253510noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279973426476621559.post-20295698478712756882009-12-15T21:56:15.831-05:002009-12-15T21:56:15.831-05:00It is true that Americans utilize too much health ...It is true that Americans utilize too much health care treatments. I do agree with that, however, I don’t agree that raising co-payments is the answer. Co-payments are already astronomically high, even with some of the best health care coverage. This goes for premiums and deductibles, as well. My job at a hospital provides me with a very comprehensive, I am must admit, health care package. I only pay a premium of somewhere in the ballpark of less than 100.00 a month, with deductibles for major procedures of somewhere around 20 percent. I have had patients call in with insurances, though, that require THOUSANDS of dollars in deductibles, and cost somewhere in the ballpark of hundreds to close to 1000.00 a month or more. And this is through their EMPLOYERS, not just self-coverage, sometimes. Now, as for co-pays, mine are only about 20.00 a visit for most routines appointments. But multiply this by 2 or 3 times a week when you get a rotator cuff tear from filing charts at heights above your head all day for 2 years, times 6 months… This can add up to almost 200.0 a month!!! Well, I just don’t have that kind of money; luckily, I was able to find an extremely generous physical therapist who was kind enough to…shall we say…pro-rate this amount for me. Others are not so lucky.<br /><br />One solution to people consuming too much health care fare would be to more strictly limit the amounts and kinds of treatments that the people can receive. We would just need to intelligently and carefully structure and monitor the whole health care system on a needs-based level. It might not be easy, but this we could do.<br /><br />Allowing people to purchase health insurance from other states simply makes sound, logical sense. Why we are not already doing this is just bafflement to me.<br /><br />Some of your other points I won’t address, for various reasons. Don’t even get me started about death panels. I have really radical views on this one, that entail believing people should be allowed and even facilitated with ending their lives for more reasons than just what even most pro-end of lifers believe. As for a solution, well, I think you know what I would say. Health Care Reform, all the way. <br /><br />Hope you like your cheap Christmas gift. (Don't worry--you'll be getting some better ones.)Jennifer DuBaynoreply@blogger.com