Enough Already About Socialized Medicine!

Once again I find myself writing about the term "Socialized Medicine". I hear it every single day on television, on the radio and from people in the breakroom at the medical practice where I am employed. I doubt most people know what the term really means. Yet it has become a catch all phrase for what President Obama wants to do to improve our present day health care system. Let's face it. Our present system is in dire straits and needs change. The term Socialized Medicine is used to describe a system of publicly administered national health care.

Of all the major industrialized nations, the United States ofAmerica is the only one whose citizens do not enjoy the benefits and security of a universal comprehensive health care system.

Yet long before there was Medicare and Medicaid, many people of modest and low income received decent medical care through fraternal organizations. Lodges would sign contracts with doctors, in effect buying services in bulk that, throughout the year, would be distributed to members and their families at affordable prices. The system made medical care accessible while maintaining self-responsibility and cost-consciousness. However that has gone by the wayside or now is know as Coinceirge Medicine and practiced today by the wealthy. But we are not concerned with the wealthy at the moment this whole thing got started because the high cost of insurance has become prohibitive to not just the poor but the middle class as well.

Some of us do not understand the implications of a national health plan and are alarmed when we hear the words socialized medicine or national health plan, some out of ignorance and others on the grounds that the program will be costly and will lessen the quality of patient care not to mention the number of physicians who may find new ways to make a living. These same sentiments were especially visible during the Clinton Administration's failed attempt to implement a national health care plan. And now with the Obama administration we find ourselves hearing the same complaints.

I have heard people complaining about the extra cost and added taxes it would place on the people. Well and I am not saying I agree or disagree but wouldn't the added taxes that would be collected, replace insurance premiums, deductibles, co pays, and balanced billings? Could it be that on average, the amount of tax paid would be less than what individuals and families now pay for their health coverage? Is this true or not? I guess that would take a little investigative research on my part.

A large segment of our population worry about how it would affect their current coverage if President Obama has his way and we go with a type of universal health plan. What will happen to my Medicaid? Why nothing as far as I can tell since the system covers everyone, Medicaid would be unnecessary. What will happen to my Medicare ? Again Medicare would be unnecessary since everyone will be covered. It would definitely (I think now I haven't done a whole lot of research) be a life saver for the Self Employed since all citizens are covered. As it stands at present, small businesses would not suffer with large premiums because they have a small number of employees and it would no longer be a concern. As far as the big businesses are concerned it is my understanding that they will not be allowed to just arbitrarily drop their plans. Also, if you are happy with your present coverage you can keep it as well as the physician of your choice.

Of the top twenty four industrialized (modern)nations, the U. S. ranks twenty-first in infant mortality and sixteenthin life expectancy. Yet we spend more than 40 percent more per capita on health care than any other nation. And over 45.7 million Americans today are without any health care insurance, which means, of course, that many of us go without routine health care and so must frequent emergency rooms to obtain any help, a treatment which is much more costly than it would otherwise be. The other day I read that 60% of Bankruptcies filed in the United States are because of Medical bills. Ridiculous system, unfair system; there is no excuse for such a system in this day and age.

Some politicians say the system will end up like present day Medicare with a shortage of funds and then we will really be in trouble. How could our government run such a system just look at the trouble Medicare is in now with rampant fraud? Well I think fraud is something that goes on all the time in every program until we learn to put in better risk management systems. The truth is less than 3% of Medicaid or Medicare costs goes for administration. This low level of cost for the administration of two very large programs shows that the government can efficiently manage large programs.

In "socialized medicine," as in Sweden and Great Britain, doctors are salaried civil servants and the government itself (that is,the citizens) owns and operates most of the hospitals, with some others being run by non-profit organizations. With a "single-payer," or national health insurance plan, doctors are in private practice and most hospitals are not government owned and operated. Doctors and hospitals,as well as pharmaceutical and medical device companies, must negotiate their fees and charges with the government agency in charge of financing the plan and articulating its organization. In regard to the costs of drugs especially, this centralization is one of the reasons health carecosts are lower in single-payer systems, and it also explains why drug companies fight so hard against any single-payer plans. Does that really sound that bad a deal?

I know it will probably hurt the Pharmaceutical and health insurance industry but right now it seems the insurance industry is the only industry that is not hurting in our economy. Where is the justice in an industry in which the insurance companies are allowed to raise premiums, lower benefits and make obscene profits and bonuses in the millions to their CEO's. Yes, large numbers will lose their jobs in the insurance industry and also many assistants and lobbyists necessary to the administration of insurance industries' interests. However I am sure new jobs and industries will emerge to handle the change in the industry on this you can count on. Of course Physicians for a National Health Program say that by streamlining payment through a single nonprofit payer would save more than $400 billion per year, enough to provide comprehensive, high-quality coverage for all Americans. So I say enough already about socialized medicine let's do our research and pay attention and try and come up with what is best for all of us!