Consumer Directed Healthcare

I was trying to decide on what to write about for my post here today and I was originally going to go through each presidential candidate’s plans for healthcare reform.  Well, as you might have expected, that became quite a colossal task to read through. 

One common concern among the candidates, which was mentioned over and over again, was the 47 million people that are un-insured.  I have a few questions that maybe you can help me answer…

1. Where did they get this number and who are these people that are not insured?

2. If they are un-insured, are they destined to die soon because they do not have health insurance?  I mean, both sides make it sound as if it is a life threatening situation.  Are we just waiting for these people to kick the bucket?

3. Do all these people need health insurance? 
 

There were many years I myself, did not have health insurance, simply because I did not need it.  We all have that fear that if something were to happen we would not get care.  That is an out and out lie.  The federal law states that no one can be turned away from health care – whether they have insurance, money or not.   So the problem is, according to the politicians, we have 47 million people without health insurance.  Does that mean they cannot receive health care?  The answer is no.  They are able to still get health care.  So now the question becomes how?  How does one get health care if they do not have health insurance?  Here is a website that may help:  http://ask.hrsa.gov/pc

In my own past experience, I have found a lot of these places will help with payment plans or sometimes they might even write off a situation.  The fact is most organizations will help in some way shape or form.  You may have to do some foot work, but is possible to get help.

There are also organizations out there that will help finance or pay for surgery or life threatening operations.  This is mostly taken care of through donations.  I also think there are avenues that have not been pursued fully to have to resort to a universal system. 
 

Think about the money raised during 9/11, or even during Hurricane Katrina.   Hospitals, before they were taken over by private business, were once run by religious organizations and funded through donations.

The fact is we do not have a perfect health care system, but it is one of the best in the world.   We think a free system may solve the problems, but there are many problems that arise by trying to have a government run universal health care system.