Presidential Candidates Miss the Mark on Health Insurance Debate

It all started with, then First Lady Hillary Clinton nearly twenty years ago. Critics and advocates alike have railed against the seemingly confusing policies to make available to American citizens the right to affordable health insurance. Other countries such as Canada, Germany, Sweden, Great Britain and others as those, have been successful in implementing some form of “socialized” medical treatment for their citizens. Since it is an election year, the promise of a universal John McCare, HillaryCare, or a BHO [Barack Health Organization] Plan doesn’t quite address the fundamental issue in all of this; and that is namely, ‘lifestyle choices.’

The prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control, the American Mental Health Association, American Association for Applied Psychology and others have no doubt pointed out the alarming rise in mental health issues and obesity among Americans of all ages. In the industrialized world, America ranks among those of Third World Developing Nations in the overall health of its citizens, which is obscene and a shame. Sadly, the truth of the matter is that the average person isn’t concerned about their health until they become hospitalized and diagnosed with some sort of incurable disease. Even traditional Western Medicine is based on treatment through surgical procedures or radiation therapy and not on a more holistic approach through prevention.

Due to the abundance of food resources it is much easier to adopt an “Epicurean” or “Bacchic” approach to life; and that is to eat, drink, and be merry; to live life to the fullest and then tomorrow we shall die. Advertisers appeal to our insatiable appetites to eat whatever is in front of our eyes and even natures most perfect food, “milk,” might be good for a baby calf but I am not so sure that the same can be said for human consumption. Grocery store shelves are teeming with all sorts of packaged delights with colorful labels listing the ingredients of nutrient-deficient high caloric foods in small print containing artificial colors, flavors, vegetable shortening, sugar including high fructose corn syrup, emulsifiers, and chemical symbols or names that would be found in a Chemist’s laboratory; which tempt the buyer like the Serpent in the Garden of Eden.

Another culprit in this mess is the company benefits packages that almost all employers offer. Even some of the cafeteria style or menu selection for different levels of Health Insurance is so technical that it seems the policies were written by an attorney only to be understood by one. It is a matter of unintended consequences where the more coverage an employee receives there will be a greater use or abuse leading to more medical services and of course, soaring costs to the insurer as a result of payments to the hospitals and clinics for treatment on health-related claims. Treatments for Obstetrical and Pediatric, Dental, Gynecological services, and routine trips to the Emergency Room are among some of the highest cost in the entire medical system, outside of major surgical procedures for life-threatening disease or injury.

So then, the issue isn’t to pass sweeping legislative reforms to provide an insurance umbrella under which every American can walk under, but rather to change the way we view and approach the issue of ‘Health’ in this country. Medical Insurance is not an entitlement, that is, something that is automatically conferred upon a person just because he or she breathes air. An individual has to take more responsibility for their own personal well being and make the best choices possible to maintain their body in the best mental and physical condition possible. The business community and the Federal Government is a stakeholder in this and should be a partner through offering some sort of incentives and requiring medical prescreening services and checkups on an annual basis; but the ultimate choice is left up to the individual to choose to be healthy or not.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
June 15, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com