On Healthcare Reform

By Michael Kiaman
Michael.kiaman@gmail.com

Relax, I’m not a Socialist… I just need to see a doctor.

And so we begin again. Another conversation about a serious topic has been taken over by political lobbyists aiming to confuse and scramble efforts to bring about substantial change to a problem that is only getting worse over time. The truth is, we need healthcare reform in our country and after suffering the wrath of the Bush Administration for eight years, we now have a real opportunity to bring about a new look to healthcare in our country.

I remember being infused with a sense of deceit during the course of the recent Presidential campaign when I would hear Republican Presidential nominee John McCain gloat about how our healthcare is the envy of people around the world. I have never heard something so far from the truth. The fact is that our scientific advancements in treating people are the envy of people around the world, while our ability to prevent disease is actually the laughing stock.

Perhaps this brings up an interesting question: are we better at treating disease than any other country because that’s all we do? It seems at times we are larger proponents of treating a disease rather than making sure we prevent it. This concept is costing us billions of dollars and is one of the inconvenient truths not brought forth by some of these individuals crying foul on the current debate on healthcare reform.

I do give the far right hypocrites in our senate (that enjoy healthcare provided by tax-payers) some credit in their ability to campaign on fear. “Socialized medicine” is the new tune they are punching down the throats at just about every media appearance. Socialized medicine? Healthcare advocacy groups now have to defend themselves against accusations of being socialists? This is where I lose complete respect for the far right and at times feel that the 60 votes the Democrats have in the Senate isn’t enough of an indication to the Republican Party that they need to change their platform. If you are so adamant about that viewpoint and so concerned that universal healthcare is an indication that we are becoming Socialists, then why do you insist on maintaining close relationships and providing aid to (in your viewpoint) Socialist nations like England, France, and Austria. The charge is ridiculous and fortunately we live in an age of increased transparency with information more readily available to concerned citizens via the Internet. That is a tool Democrats did not have in 1993, the last time this effort was pushed forth.

Here is a pop quiz for opponents claiming that this effort is going to break the bank. How much is it costing us to not have universal health coverage? The reality is that healthcare bankruptcy accounts for about half of all bankruptcies in the country. If it was any other issue causing this amount of an economic burden, we would have declared it a national emergency and would have addressed it immediately, but not with healthcare. With healthcare we need more time, more studies, and more politics to take a simple fact that is comprehendible to secondary school Economics student and dilute it just enough so that we can make a deal for our buddies over at the insurance companies. The same ones that have made adsorbent promises and dumped millions of dollars to make sure the current (more profitable) system stays in place for their future gains.

The big hold up now on delivering on Obama’s campaign promise is the public option. There is a major point that I think is being lost in all the back and forth. While I don’t think it’s wise to have exclusively nationalized healthcare coverage, I think it’s wise to have it as an option. Whether healthcare advocates like it or not, these insurances companies generate billions of dollars in tax revenue and provide employment for a large portion of our workforce. The idea has always been to improve the system with change, not necessarily do a complete overhaul. Failure of these huge corporations will ultimately leave a job loss burden on an economy that is already ailing. However, the public option brings about a very important check to private companies. Having competition that is in part regulated by the government will provide the oversight needed to make certain that insurance companies price their services competitively.

In basic principle, understand this notion by taking Subway Restaurants as an example. When Subway wants increase its profit margin, it can do one of two things. It can either lower its expenses on goods, which means quality will suffer or it could increase its price on the items it sells, which means the consumers will pay more. This is exactly the concept that has become a burden on our healthcare. For a healthcare provider to generate billions of dollars of profit, it must do one of two things. It must either provide less care (or deny care when needed) or increase the price on health insurance. But the ultimate cost of this game is not about a sandwich at Subway, it’s about your health.