Healthcare Costs, not Health Insurance Costs could be the Problem.
We are facing a healthcare crisis in America. But it may not be the one that everyone's talking about. Much has been said in the news lately and in political campaigns about the health insurance crisis in America, and the problems of the 47 million and growing Americans without access to affordable health insurance coverage. Now these things are a problem to be sure. But let us take a minute to look at the problem another way. It is not really the costs of health insurance that is the main problem in the country's health system; it is the cost of healthcare itself. The cost of healthcare in this country is ridiculously high and skyrocketing. If medical insurance fees are also astronomical it is only a reflection of the actual high costs of healthcare. True healthcare reform should be targeted at reducing the cost of healthcare, and not necessarily the costs of health insurance.
Consider this. What is the purpose of insurance, any insurance? Forget about health insurance for the moment. Think about other insurance you have in your life, such as auto and homeowners. Those insurances have been designed to protect us from financial ruin in the event of an unforeseen crisis like a car accident or a major windstorm. Similarly that was the intended original purpose of medical insurance, but somewhere along the line that got skewed. Some states have recently enacted plans the require persons to purchase medical insurance, much like all states require you to purchase car insurance ? so that is a good thing. However once again do you expect your car insurance to pay for the gasoline you put in your car or the routine maintenance you do like oil changes? Do you expect to have your homeowner's insurance pay for every time you re-paint your walls, or replace a light bulb in your home? No of course not. And why? Because those everyday expenses are affordable, we expect our insurance to cover only the catastrophic expenses ? except when it comes to medical insurance ? we expect it to pay for everything ? and why is that? Because the cost of everything in healthcare even what should be reasonable and affordable expenses like doctors visits and medicine are astronomically high. And why is that?
There are many reasons, and they go well beyond a simple article like this one. However here are a few of the tops according to economists. In other industrialized nations, healthcare costs are kept under control through government regulation. But here because of the influence of powerful lobbying groups for the insurance and drug industries the government has done very little to regulate or place any ceilings on the costs of healthcare. We also live in one of the most litigious societies on the planet. Lawsuits against doctors and healthcare organizations filed by class-action attorneys looking for million dollar payouts terribly drain the system. In many states, high malpractice insurance costs cause physicians to raise and raise fees, and have driven doctors out of practices all together, causing shortages in certain specialties. Supply and demand ? less practitioners in a given specialty drives up costs. Fear of lawsuits has also encouraged the practice of "defensive" medicine, where doctors will often order additional tests or procedures to avoid litigation. And it goes on and on. If we really want to solve the affordable health insurance crisis here in America we must first make healthcare in general more "affordable."
Didier Moujaes is a Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Consultant. Together with his partner created InsuranceBuddget.com, an insurance marketing company which represents several top rated medical insurance carriers offering affordable health insurance plans in all 50 states.
Related Articles:
How To Select Affordable Health Insurance For Low Income Families
Possibly the best option for low income families searching for affordable health insurance is a subsidy. When it comes to health insurance, subsidies are federal- or state-sponsored health care programs for individuals who meet certain criteria. The federal or state government provides financial assistance to health care providers to begin and continue low cost or free health care to low income families.
Find Very Affordable Health Insurance In Alabama
In 2002, the Trade Act created the Health Coverage Tax Credit, also referred to as the HCTC. The HCTC became effective in 2003, and offers a federal tax credit of 65% to be paid back to eligible individuals for the qualified health plan premiums they paid each year. This works one of two ways: the eligible individual can either file their federal tax returns each year claiming the premiums, or by applying for an advance by paying 65% of the health plan premiums due. The way in which the individual receives the health tax credit is usually up to him or her.
Affordable Health Insurance For People Who Live In New York
If you are not eligible for COBRA, HIPAA, insurance policy conversion, state continuation, Medicaid, Medicare, or any type of state-sponsored health care program, but are in need of affordable health insurance in New York, you may have to purchase an individual health insurance plan.
Company Size, Enrollment, And Pricing in the California Group Health Insurance Market
Questions often arise in the California health insurance acquisition process concerning size of the company and available benefits for small businesses and the effect the size of a company may have on the premiums and the products available
Companies 2-5 employees
The minimum size required in California to qualify small for Small Business coverage is to show 2 eligible employees minimum
Auto Insurance High Risk
In most cases it is up to you, the driver, to ensure that your auto insurance company offers you the minimum required.
Health Insurance 101
We all understand the importance of health insurance; however, as the types of health insurance continue to increase it is becoming more and more difficult to select the type of coverage that is best for you and your family. To help you find out which type of policy might benefit you the most, let?s take a look at the most common types of policies.
Top Site For Affordable Health Insurance Offers State-Specific Pages for Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nev
The Health Insurance Resource Center at healthinsurance.org has added state-specific sections on its site for Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada and Tennessee consumers of affordable health insurance. Site partners with top Web quote engine to provide multiple, secure, online affordable health insurance quotes for individuals, families and the self-employed.
Up Close on Health Insurance Facts
Doctors are expected to vote on the issue whether a National Health Care system would be better than a state based one for them to be able to compete with private providers Preliminary information shows that 59% of all physicians prefer a National Health Care system opposed to state based care which has been plagued by many problems in recent times
Healthcare Debate ? Why Health Insurance In America Sucks Part 1
Almost every day someone calls me and I have to tell them that I can't help them, that the health care debate issue isn't resolved and that they will have to choose between losing their health and losing their money.
How To Get Affordable Health Insurance For Kids
If you?re looking for affordable health insurance for your kids, look no further. The National Association of Social Workers may have just the solutions you?re looking for.