I really don’t think that people realize that whether you like it or not you are paying for healthcare for everyone in the US. You can look at it anyway you want but those that purchase health insurance are paying for those that do not have insurance. When an insurance company goes to negotiate hospital or doctor charges the first thing the medical provider brings up is the fact that they didn’t get paid on percentage of patients the previous year. So, medical providers tell the private insurance companies that they must charge more for those that do pay. So maybe a hospital bed only costs $2000 for day but they must add an additional percentage on the hospital day charge to compensate for the patients that have no insurance. It is just common sense. So, if the federal government enabled each state to expand their healthcare systems through block grants, private insurance premiums will drop. What each state needs to do is fund the public and the non-for profit systems together to coordinate care with Medicaid patients. Non-for profits can work with public health systems and local hospitals to make certain that those who need care receive it. All major cities in the US have a public health system in addition to State Medicaid systems. The one thing they don’t do is coordinate with one another. If you think about it the Veterans Administration (VA) has medical centers and hospitals all over the country that are under utilized. Why not coordinate the healthcare system to serve those that need it the most? We always hear arguments well that is federal money or that is state money or that is county or city money. My statement to that is it is all taxpayer’s money! If taxpayers insisted on the government working for the people healthcare funding would not be an issue. We spend more money per person in this country than anywhere else in the world.
Tim Elenz
Principal
Benefitsage
“Medical insurance is our specialty”
Telenz@Benefitsage.com
800-317-0181 ext. 306
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