I agree with this idea for all of the reasons that you stated. Health care costs would dramatically decrease if patients paid out-of-pocket for most medical care and saved insurance for major illness and injury. Using health insurance for check-ups and colds, etc. is like using auto insurance for oil changes and tune-ups. It doesn’t make financial sense. And, individuals and companies would prosper from not having to pay for high health insurance premiums.

I think many Americans are afraid of this idea because the responsibility shifts to the individual where, in my opinion, it should be. We are ultimately responsible for our own health, after all. Our choices and behavior largely affect our health (which is where adequate education comes in). If Americans want to help the poor and unfortunate with their health care costs, then we can do so voluntarily through a charity. Those receiving charity will be more grateful, and those giving charitably will benefit emotionally instead of feeling resentment.

We are not entitled to health care. Health care is a privilege, not a right. Yes, if there were no insurance for less significant health care needs, doctors would have to deal with the burden of collections. But, so does every business in America.

I understand where you are coming, no insurance is an extreme example of solving this so called healthcare crisis. The problem is that many diseases and conditions do not always present with signs or symptoms until late stages. Diabetes is a prime example. Without consistent and proper medical care and high patient compliance, a diabetic may never learn to take better care of themselves. Heart disease and other internal issues are just as bad (and by your most recent post after your son declaring your weight problem, it sounds like your dietary and exercise regime will help reduce your diabetes, and heart disease risk). It can be hard enough to get these patient to return as instructed, let alone getting them in the office. Patient pay individuals only go when a problem either exists long enough that they can no longer take the pain or discomfort, or someone like a spouse or their job or the DMV requires them.

Patient pay is not the route to preventative medical care. Patient pay might work for certain therapy programs, like physical/occupational/speech and help keep costs down. And don’t get started on the biggest insurance scam called Dental. You might as well be patient pay if you need any, and i mean any, work done. Vision insurance generally does very well for the patient especially when half of a family is blind, but can also be just as bad as dental (discount % plans).

I will attempt to follow this up with some Office finance/economics decisions that make insurance difficult for the health-care service industry.

Last time I checked, it was the pursuit of happiness.

Get a better dictionary.

Insurance is a mechanism to pool the cost of unpredictable and unavoidable happenstance. The finger of God if you will.

The point to having health care is actually two fold:

- You speak of catastrophic health issues, if you have regular health checks in many cases the catastrophy can be prevented or moderated to a condsiderable degree. Both in impact on the individual as well as to the total costs of the treatment.

- The second deals with a more abstract concept related to life, liberty, and happiness which our government and social institutions have a fundamental -requirement- to take into consideration. If a person is not healthy then their life and happiness are effected.

Business is nothing but a social institution created to enrich all of society, not just the officers and investors. Despite what many self-interested would suggest.

The old world view of ‘greed is good’ and let the little man catch as catch can is defunct once we accept basic human rights coupled with democratic representation based on the equality of those rights, despite wealth or social standing.

Blaming physicians for the high cost of health care is tempting but wrong. Except for those few who practice purely elective specialties, individual doctors have absolutely no control over the price they receive for their services. Insurance companies and government agencies determine the reimbursement rates, and the only option the doctors have is to take it or leave it.

And you know, I don’t think it’s the doctors’ fault–they have incredible liability insurance bills plus school loans. Doctors aren’t rich anymore. Forget telling your daughters to marry a doctor–tell them to marry a lawyer or a CEO of an insurance or pharmaceutical company! lol

http://www.GreenerPastures–ACityGirlGoesCountry.blogspot.com

Chris is rather accurate in the observation that those with insurance are using it for everything, including those ‘routine visits’. It’s such an embedded part of our society that it’s become part of the process of going to an appointment: sign in, whip out the insurance card to make sure information is up to date, see your doctor and pay the miniscule co-pay. We’re accustomed to it… and, for most people, they believe that’s why they have the insurance. Certainly, it’s not what is intended, but it is the perspective most people have.

On the other hand, people at lower financial levels do not have the fiscal means to provide for a simple checkup visit. If it weren’t for Federal and State programs, I would have a difficult time paying for the multiple visits (doctor, optometrist, dentist, etc.) my two sons need as part of their ‘routine visits’. By difficult, I should elaborate by saying, I would be incapable of paying for all of them out of pocket, even with a payment plan… and I’m in the higher end of the poverty bracket. Honestly, I would prefer to have a more competitve insurance market where I can choose the plans I need and be able to afford them, instead of having to utilize the tax dollars of others to subsidize medical care.