As an American, watching the above video is both frustrating and infuriating. In light of what increasingly appears to be another botched attempt at providing a national health care program I find myself increasingly envious of our Canadian friends.
Listening to the comments of these Canadian citizens, what I am most struck by is the calm when they talk about there health care. There is no nervousness about losing a job, no trepidation that they may fall into bankruptcy because of a medical condition. Most of all there is calmness, because they do not even have to give their healthcare a second thought. Health care for these Canadians is something they do not even think about, because it is always there.
Thinking about this further, I realize that one of the bigger flaws in our system is that I should not have to think about shopping for healthcare. Some things should just not be an open market product.
Buying health care is not like shopping for a new refrigerator. I can’t simply plug a model number into Google, and instantly compare prices. If I find a price I like, I can provide my credit card, and just like that my new product is on the way to my door. Even if I could find a health insurance price quote, there would be an asterisk or two. If I indicated that yes I wanted to buy that policy, those asterisks would make the offer null and void as soon as family medical history is provided.
Recently I started shopping my home and auto insurance policy. Looking to save money wherever I can these days, I thought I would give the old open market competition a try. Realizing, that like most people I have stayed with the same insurance company for years simply because it is too much hassle to change. So what did the open market provide? Essentially the same price I had been paying. Sure I found a company that was a few dollars less annually, but nowhere near enough savings to bother switching. If there is such little real competition in this segment of the insurance industry, which is made up of individual consumers only, how can there be competition in health insurance that is driven by group coverage?
So when Republicans talk about open market and competition being best for health care, it is only best for the health care providers. Thanks in larger part to Republican de-regulation fervor there is no real competition for health care dollars in the US.
In many U.S. states, recent consolidation in the Health Insurance industry has left consumers with fewer choices. In all but 3 states, the top 2 health plans have over 50% market share.
For those of us not fortunate enough to be in a quality group health plan through an employer, the market will continue to be a stress filled nightmare. Next time I am in downtown Detroit, I may look longingly across the river at my friends in Windsor, and envy their equanimity about health care, even as my hair goes grayer by the day.
As a Canadian, I can agree with and believe most of what was said in the video. However, there are a couple of things to point out about it. One, it was made by an American group which is campaigning for better healthcare for Americans. That means it was, to some extent, scripted and edited to make a point. I believe, for instance, the woman who starts and ends the video is an actress. Not that anything she says is incorrect, just that I think (due to my years in film) I can pick out a performance when I see one. All sides of an issue are capable of propaganda.
ReplyDeleteAlso, all the people they spoke to, save one, were from Ontario, so this isn't representative of Canada, per se. Again, I think most Canadians are happy with our healthcare system, but given that it is administered provincially, it would have been good to get a better cross-section of the population. Some provinces (most, I believe) do require the payment of premiums, although they are determined on a sliding scale (Here in British Columbia, the current full rate is $52/month. However, most employers will pay premiums as a taxable benefit after three months.) We are also not without our budgetary issues. Here in BC, the province has just announced a major deficit, and called for audits of both the education and healthcare sectors -- to much protest and concern.
As for shopping for home and car insurance: It's the free market that keeps those quotes so close. Here in BC, we have a combination of compulsory, provincially administered and mandated basic auto insurance, and optional coverage provided by private entities. I've shopped around. I can't get a much better deal on my optional anywhere else, but I can save on both my optional auto and my tenant insurance by dealing with the same company -- my my case, the BC branch of AAA. (Maybe that's a way you can find a better deal; will your insurance company offer any sort of discount if you purchase both policies from them? Not sure how it works there.) The government agency responsible for basic auto insurance is under constant scrutiny by the media and the public; who knows how efficient it is. Things are -- I've said it before -- never black and white. Hopefully, however, we can find ways of creating systems that benefit the greatest number of people -- not companies.
I believe in our healthcare system; I'm just pointing out the realistic limitations. The money only goes so far. However, I still believe that, regardless of the system's flaws, every member of society can and will receive timely care, and no one has to worry about mortgaging their house in order to do so. And THAT, no matter how much scrutiny you subject it to, is the whole point of the exercise. Any nation, in order to call itself developed and civilized, has to find a way of looking after its citizens -- all of them.
Judy, certainly the film was made to promote a point of view. I do think, however, that most polling I have seen show substantial majorities of Canadians are happy with their system. We would be in heaven with a $52 a month premium. My wife's last job her contribution was roughly $400 a month (not including what the employer pays), for a plan which was mediocre at best.
ReplyDeleteAs to the home and car plans, it is the same here. You get offered discounts for buying multiple policies. I guess you can say the free market keeps those prices close, but I see it as that there is inherently not a free market in insurance of any type. Maybe it is because insurers have common costs and regulations which conspire to keep cost similar. It could also be that because many do not shop around after they initially choose a company there is no need to price aggressively. Either way, it seems to me that insurance is really not subject to open market competition. Perhaps, the profit motive needs to be taken out of all insurance, but it absolutely needs to be removed from the health insurance industry.
Your last sentence, however, says all that needs be said.
Sigh...you've misunderstood me again, Vince. And YOUR last sentence tells me you know what you want to hear. No need for comments from me or anyone else.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, what's with all the Google ads?