Time Magazine on Health Care

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Jared Sulzdorf

My family has always had a subscription to TIME Magazine, and because of that I've always had a weak spot for the magazine.  Even though there are other, better written news magazines out there, and even though there are times that I want to slap the editors, I still come back to TIME.  ("Time after time" is now stuck in my head...)  So, when I saw TIME's newest issue on health care reform I had to pick it up and read. 

As usual, the main article was 95% fluff with about 5% decent commentary/opinion, but it's the opinion articles that come after the cover piece that I'm always interested in.  True to form, four pages later, an article written by Joe Klein, titled "Democracy's Discontent," takes on the issues and makes an elegant argument.  Klein believes that the problems facing Obama are many, but two obstacles provide most of the resistance. 

Klein writes: 

"One of the most difficult things to do in a democracy is react to a problem that is real, but not immediately threatening. Obama is trying to do this in two monster areas, health care and climate change."

Anybody that has studied American history knows that we're extremely practiced at ignoring problems until they are staring us right in the face.  It's human nature.  Why deal with something that we can deal with later?

The second problem Klein discusses is, in my opinion, a far more serious concern.  Special interest groups are dominating and directing the conversation.  That's not to say that special interest groups are a demonic hegemon in American politics.  Such groups are vitally important, and provide outlets for individuals interested in solidarity and effecting change.  What's at issue here is that these special interest groups aren't interested in the health of American citizens, but in the health of their own pocketbooks. 

It's disingenuous to say that the current system isn't broken.  One of the biggest reasons to keep the current system in place is to ensure that the individuals profiting off of current insurance policies continue to profit.  Coupled with the fear and uncertainty that change always brings, we are looking at a political stalemate that will have far reaching ramifications, even beyond what we can currently envision.

 

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Wisdom Teeth Removal and Insurance

Posted on July 24, 2009 by Jared Sulzdorf

It's been an incredibly busy past couple weeks, so blogging has not been at the forefront of my concerns, but now that things are getting back to normal I can return to the blogosphere with some fresh ideas.  On Tuesday my wisdom teeth were removed, and while I don't really remember anything about the actual operation, I can certainly remember what the bill looked like: 

  • Tooth #1: Simple - $133
  • Tooth #2: Simple - $133
  • Tooth #3: Complete - $327
  • Tooth #4: Complete - $327
  • IV Sedation $278
  • Total Fee - $1328
  • Anticipated Insurance (if any) - 80% coverage
  • Payment Due - $265.60

Even a simple procedure like getting your wisdom teeth removed is a costly procedure, and without insurance I would be in a world of hurt financially.  The benefits of health care reform in America can't be underestimated when even simple, necessary procedures such as this are bleeding Americans dry.

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Campaigning for Health Care Reform

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Jared Sulzdorf

Earlier this week, President Barack Obama went to Annandale, Virginia to continue his push for health care reform.  I haven't been in a house with a television for nearly a year, so watching the President on CNN instead of YouTube was definitely a change (I loved how there were three tickers simultaneously giving us unnecessary news.... can anyone say 'information overload'?).  As I was watching President Obama, I was struck, once again, by his unrivaled oratory skills and ability to work a crowd.  He was cracking jokes (mostly at his own expense) and consoling people in the crowd, all while peddling his vision for the future of health care.

The speech itself was fairly straightforward.  Obama hit all of the same points he's made countless times now:

  • There are 46 million uninsured individuals in the United States
  • Entitlement costs will soon be the federal government's greatest expense
  • Insurance companies are already adding to premiums to cover the costs of accidents involving uninsured parties
  • The solution must be deficit neutral and it must happen in the next year

The solution President Obama proposes (a public option provided by the federal government to compete with the insurance companies) was also laid out: 

  • Hospitals should digitize medical records to reduce medical errors and confusion
  • Preventative medicine must be a focus
  • There must be a change of incentives for the medical community.  Expensive tests are not always necessary to ensure the best care.
  • A public option would force insurance companies to offer competitive prices while keeping a majority of our current insurance/medical system in place

A large part of the President's focus was on the most important part of health care reform, at least in many American citizens' eyes: $$$$$.  How does the administration propose to afford this sweeping reform?  President Obama's response? Two-thirds of the costs will covered by reallocating money that will become unnecessary as our health care system evolves.  Already, $950 billion over the next 10 years has been found using this method.  The other one-third?  President Obama proposed to cap the itemized deductions available to individuals making more than $250,000/year.  That sound you hear?  Wealthy Americans everywhere calling their congressmen.

There was so much more in this speech that I want to cover and discuss, but it's drawing close to the Fourth of July weekend, and my ability to provide a concise analysis of all these topics while popping off pithy comments is about nil at the moment.  Next week, however, I'll be focusing on this topic in depth, and what it means for the future of medicine. 


 

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