People are willing to pay more for good care.
Talking with a friend from South Korea during our monthly fellowship meal yesterday. Cannot remember how we got onto the subject. In a nutshell he wondered why so many Americans are upset about the health care reforms that President Obama wants the Congress to pass. After all many nations have national health care in the sense that health care is provided by the government. Rich or poor – you receive the care that you need. It either is free or you pay a nominal fee.
(This friend from South Korea his boss is the head of the local Tea Party. Who used to be one of our active ministry volunteers and is a great guy.)
During an English Conversation lesson about going to the dentist one friend from Japan explained how in Japan you pay $10 to see the dentist. Typically you pay 10% of whatever the cost is. That sounds fair and reasonable to me. I especially appreciate a system in which dental care is not separate from other health care as it is in the United States.
My friends from South Korea and Japan say that people in those nations are generally pretty happy with the care they receive.
I have been greatly concerned about the health care reforms being pushed through(?) Congress. Will it mean what we spend each year goes up? Will it become more difficult to get an appointment with our doctor? Will it reduce the level and quality of care we receive? Because let me tell you right now our family is extremely happy with our doctors and very happy with the care we receive.
This is not to say there have been no problems. Speaking of the government limiting your choices – our private insurance has been limiting our choices. During the last few years we have been told that we can longer go to that excellent hospital we are only fully covered if we go to this hospital. Two of my doctors became so dissatisfied with our private insurance that they pulled out of the network. Because it is difficult to find someone else in those fields I still see them but must pay cash for each visit. So much for having private insurance.
I like the idea of every American receives the care they need. And I am not as repelled by the idea of a “single payer” system as most conservatives are. Talking with congregants from other nations one wonders “What’s so bad about national health care anyway?”
Do not misunderstand me. That does not mean the health care reform(s?) being proposed by President Obama and considered by the Congress are not problematic. There is little question in my mind that they will become another hugely expensive entitlement program. That they will further damage an already struggling economy. That proponents of these reforms have resorted to extensive dishonesty and demogoguery. And because we live in a finite universe there will be times the government will say “no you cannot receive that treatment or procedure because it is too expensive”.
But what exactly is so bad about national health care anyway?
Last summer, thanks to a bunch of business travel, I had racked up enough miles and points to take the family to a resort hotel on one of the British islands to the south of Florida (first time out of the country for my kids). I sprung for the extra points to get the “all inclusive” package which meant that our out of pocket spending was limited to a rental car (steering wheel on the wrong side, of course) and a few gifts to take home.
That week, my wife and two kids enjoyed hanging out at the beach and the pool…especially when the waiter would walk up to their umbrella and ask them if they wanted anything to eat or drink. They quickly learned what “inclusive” meant and took great advantage of it. About mid-week, my son was playing in the pool with one of his new friends and the waiter dude came by. My son asked his friend if he wanted a smoothy…his friends hesitated and my son then said, “well, its free!”
Of course, it wasn’t free…it was just that my son wasn’t going to have to pay for it. Since I had already identified to the staff who was in our family, he could ask for pretty much anything (that an 8 year old might ask for) and get it only by telling the waiter his room number.
In his recent column, George Will (the most evolved human intellect currently drawing breath) wrote:
“Employer-paid insurance is central to what David Gratzer of the Manhattan Institute calls “the 12 cent problem.” That is how much of every health-care dollar is spent by the person receiving the care. Hence Americans’ buffet mentality: We paid at the door to the health-care feast, so let’s consume all we can.”
Victor Davis Hanson (a top 5 intellect) recently wrote:
“Before envisioning dramatic change, the Roman emperor Augustus is said to have warned, “Make haste slowly.” The reformer Augustus was eager for radical social transformation. But he also knew he had to deal with generations of Roman tradition and habit — and thousands of entrenched special interests.”
There are two issues with “national healthcare” that must be addressed before we can get it: 1) How will it be paid for? 2) How do we go from what we currently have to a single system without destroying everything?
Recently, a friend of mine decided to “get all up in my bidness” about this issue and asked me why I would oppose free healthcare for everyone in the US.
My son’s eager comment from last Summer is still ringing in my ears. I suppose that if we do get a national healthcare plan, I’d like to opt for the lifetime “inclusive” plan please.
Woohoo! Glad you finally were able to comment. Sorry about all the trouble with the site.
Excellent thoughts.
Krauthammer was edging out Will for “most evolved intellect” thanks to 2008-2009. But Will is fighting back!