Comments on: Hope, Concern, Lies & Half-truths: What the Public Really Thinks About Health Reform http://www.ovationbenefits.com/blog/2009/07/hope-concern-lies-and-half-truths-what-the-public-really-thinks-about-health-reform/ We Are Trailblazers in the World of Employee Benefits Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:36:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Steve Baughman http://www.ovationbenefits.com/blog/2009/07/hope-concern-lies-and-half-truths-what-the-public-really-thinks-about-health-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Steve Baughman Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:36:45 +0000 http://www.ovationbenefits.com/blog/?p=47#comment-45 Very insightful article. I think simply, I'm afraid. I think of my youth and growing up in the country. When I got sick, I usually went to bed until I got well, but if that didn't work we balanced the cost of going to the doctor against the risk of not, knowing that the body has great means to heal itself. It seems to me that there are three changes that have exploded the costs of getting well. 1. Law suits have saturated the industry, adding not only costs/service, but so many unnecessary services, along with the facilities and resources they demand. 2. Treatment is paid for by some "insurer" based on coverage. Not for the unexpected and unlikely, like brain surgery, or kidney transplant, but for everything. So in reality we are prepaying and people want to "get their money's worth", Like going to an all-you-can eat restaurant, where we most eat more than they want, because they paid in advance. 3. And possibly the most sinister, is that medical treatment is an entitlement, or a right. That mindset carries with it multiples of cost when connected to an ambiguous and vague machine to distribute wealth. I've not heard these principles mentioned in relation to the proposed HR 3200. These principles, if addressed, have the potential for reducing health care cost. Very insightful article. I think simply, I’m afraid. I think of my youth and growing up in the country. When I got sick, I usually went to bed until I got well, but if that didn’t work we balanced the cost of going to the doctor against the risk of not, knowing that the body has great means to heal itself.

It seems to me that there are three changes that have exploded the costs of getting well.
1. Law suits have saturated the industry, adding not only costs/service, but so many unnecessary services, along with the facilities and resources they demand.
2. Treatment is paid for by some “insurer” based on coverage. Not for the unexpected and unlikely, like brain surgery, or kidney transplant, but for everything. So in reality we are prepaying and people want to “get their money’s worth”, Like going to an all-you-can eat restaurant, where we most eat more than they want, because they paid in advance.
3. And possibly the most sinister, is that medical treatment is an entitlement, or a right. That mindset carries with it multiples of cost when connected to an ambiguous and vague machine to distribute wealth.

I’ve not heard these principles mentioned in relation to the proposed HR 3200.

These principles, if addressed, have the potential for reducing health care cost.

]]> By: Joseh S. http://www.ovationbenefits.com/blog/2009/07/hope-concern-lies-and-half-truths-what-the-public-really-thinks-about-health-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Joseh S. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:19:56 +0000 http://www.ovationbenefits.com/blog/?p=47#comment-27 What is the old saying? If its broken FIX IT but mke sure you can and have the know how. If is not broken DON'T FIX IT. What is the old saying? If its broken FIX IT but mke sure you can and have the know how. If is not broken DON’T FIX IT.

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