Doctor Obama Will See You Now

As we all know, one of Barack Obama's top priorities (and the only campaign promise he intends to keep apparently) is to provide every American with government-funded healthcare. It is a very noble idea, as I believe everyone has a right to good health. I also believe everyone has a right to a car, but is it the government's job to make sure we all have one? I agree the healthcare system needs an overhaul. Believe it or not, it can be achieved at no cost to the taxpayer!

I was at a BBQ today (technically, it was yesterday since we're past midnight now) and there were a few Iraq vets there swapping horror stories about their VA care. One of them has a simple finger issue he's been dealing with since 2007 and he will get to see a VA doctor in March 2010 to get it taked care of. He offered to do the surgery himself if they give him a local anesthsia. I fear that is the future of American healthcare if the Obama plan passes.

My solution to solve the healthcare "crisis" is simple economics. The goal of every company is to provide a product or service as the best price that earns a profit. The goal of consumers is to pay the least amount for the best quality goods and services. Companies constantly compete to offer the best product or service at the lowest price. Except with health insurance in most cases. Most Americans with private insurance get it through payroll deductions.

My experience has been that my monthly deductions increase every year while the level of service declines. Most normal consumers would simply chose another company to business with if it were any other product or service. However, unless you purchase your own insurance, you don't have the option to shop around for the best insurance plan. My plan for health insurance reform would remove that problem by allowing consumers to select from any insurer they want to, while also allowing for them to get the group rates. The competition would bring down the costs of premiums while increasing the level of serivce.

The reasons for the skyrocketing cost of healthcare are also simple economics. Doctors are performing a service for which they expect to be compensated a certain amount. Insurance companies want to pay the least amount of money possible so they routinely pay doctors a lesser amount than the amount billed. To compensate, doctors charge a higher rate. Factor in that administrative costs average about 50% of an insurance comapany's expenses and it's plain to see that getting sick is bad for the wallet as well as the body.

The single-payer plan is a wonderfully generous idea. No one should have to chose between buying food or seeing a doctor. It's a very noble cause, but a very idealistic and foolish one. It's not the job of the government to provide for everyone. After learning that a friend whose job transferred him to England had to pay 60% in taxes, I was mortified to learn the REAL cost of free healthcare. That's change we can do without.