Important Question in Health Care Reform

One of the most important questions in the current health care reform debate is this: How should we, the richest, most technologically advanced and well-educated society in the world, respond to the silent cries of the Uninsured?  

We have allowed thousands of our fellow citizens to die unnecessarily.  Studies show a 25% higher risk of death among the uninsured compared to those with health insurance.  That may be as many as 45,000 uninsured US citizens dying each year from preventable conditions. (Health Insurance and Mortality in US Adults , 2009) 

We have allowed thousands to face financial ruin when they experience unexpected health care cost.  Reports show 62.1% of bankruptcies in 2007 (500,000 individuals or families) were due to unexpected medical expenses.  (David U. Himmelstein, 2009).  

This past doesn’t have to be our future.  Working together we can find ways to get proper health care to everyone without big tax increases.  Here are two places to start:

Unlink health insurance from employment.  About 180 million US citizens have their health insurance tied directly to their employment. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009) Each one is just one pink slip away from losing their health insurance.

 Simplify and Reduce administrative and insurance costs.  Other industrialized countries provide quality health care to all their citizens at much lower total costs and much lower administrative costs than here in the US.  We have the most complex health care and insurance systems in the world.  Let’s learn from other countries where the health of the population is better than ours and health care is simpler, more effective, and cost less.

Working together we can solve this!  We can’t let politics and egos get in the way of changes.  Contact elected officials and demand they get real reform passed.