Caring About Health Care

Many of us have little to no knowledge of healthcare in countries outside of the US. We don’t watch independent documentaries on PBS, LinkTV or premium channels. We don’t research the Swiss, German or Japanese healthcare system in our spare time to compare it to our own. Yet we should all take the time to research healthcare across the globe to gain insight into the failing system that we have here today. At this time I encourage you to look at your own health policy if you have one, and find out just what health coverage you actually have.

Do you know what your deductible is? Do you know what coinsurance actually means? Do you know what your annual “maximum out of pocket” is and how it could affect you in the future? Ask questions if you are unsure. In my limited experience of actually selling health insurance in America, I can tell you that 100% of the people who came to me wanting to take out a plan, knew little to nothing about what is available. They are so confused that they would rather ignore it all and take a chance and hope that they won’t need it.

Most people “think” they know what it’s all about but in this country, it’s extremely complicated. Take it from someone who has been hospitalized in the USA both with and without health care coverage. From someone, who has also been hospitalized in the United Kingdom under the National Health Service. Here in America they don’t want you to understand your plan or your options because if you did, you might actually start questioning it.

Even though I strongly dislike the current system in America, it’s what we have right now. At this point in time, the risk is too high to take if you have no coverage at all. Any assets you have today might be lost if you are hospitalized tomorrow. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person in America who cares about our health system and I wonder, why doesn’t America as a whole care more about Americans and demand that this ridiculous system be fixed?

The media has so far done a good job of scaring citizens into thinking that our way is the only way. Everything else is socialist. Universal health and socialized medicine are not necessarily bad words. Which drug companies are backing what newspapers and TV programs I wonder? A fix is easier to achieve than we are being lead to believe but the drug and insurance companies will do anything to stop an overhaul. Stop. Think. Care. Understand that this is you and your health and the health and wellbeing of your family that is at stake.

Is it not a basic human right to have access to decent healthcare no matter your income, race, sex or pre-existing conditions? Does it make sense that we see doctors and surgeons who are paid ridiculous amounts of money for treating us? The monetary incentive should be for keeping us well and healthy so we don’t need treatment surely? Prevention is far better than a cure but clearly not in the minds of US citizens for if it was, they would surely make their voices heard.