The health care debate just got personal. The StarTribune announced its top 100 income study. The top corporate salary earner isthe head of St. Jude Medical, Inc. and the highest profits in Minnesota were from UnitedHealth Group, Inc. I don't know much about UnitedHealth Group, Inc.but I do know that I am alive today with a St. Jude heart valve. (Medtronicmakes great ones, too). And I know that when I had that open heart surgery,almost ten years ago, it cost well over $100,000 all told. Worth it? I'm alive. But others aren't. The Christian Century magazine current issue (Aug.25, 2009) reports that, "The Urban Institute estimates that 22,000 Americans dieeach year for lack of health care." It goes on to say "15 percent of the [U.S.]population is uninsured, and 24 percent say they have gone without care becauseof cost." In the next paragraph it reports that "The U.S. spends twice as muchof its GNP on health care as do European countries, while getting worseresults…."
I don't quibble that the health insurance system needs some work. Yet, Iam grateful for what I have had. I'malive and it didn't bankrupt me. Butothers aren't. Therein lies the dilemma. I want a system that offers secure andstable coverage, with primary concern for the well-being of the patient and, inthe end, one that won't bankrupt the country. And at the top of the list, accessfor everyone to quality, affordable health care. Can we insure that?
How about these as goals to be achieved in health insurance reform:
- Banning practices that preclude folks from getting into insurance plans because of pre-existing conditions or excluding in their plans pre-existing conditions
- Banning practices that have dropped patients because of conditions that develop while on the plan
- Banning gender discrimination
- Including prevention benefits in coverage
- Putting caps on the amount of patient out-of-pocket costs, lifetime and/or annual, rather than having caps on insurance coverage
- Having a public option plan, which can promote competition, and keep costs lower (it works for Medicare)
- Making sure that there is an affordable plan for everyone including the expansion of Medicaid up to 130% of the poverty level
- Increase in costs go to those most able to pay (annual $250,000 salary, for instance)
- 10 year deficit neutral, that is over 10 years the savings of the program pays for the costs of the program
There are a number of bills out right now andthe Senate Finance Committee is expected to conclude with another.
This is OUR discussion and we all need to bepart of it. Here are a few places formore information.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/?e=11&ref=hicp
In addition, as people of faith we need to beinvolved. Join the phone call hosted by a number of national faith leadersalong with president Obama. To sign up for the call go to:
Then let your membersof congress know what you think.
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