Everyday Blog

It seems that 2009 did little to unite the country as far as political issues are concerned. It is just as divided and opposed as it ever was, and the current healthcare debate is a perfect example. Polls show differing opinions, so it is hard to understand reality. Furthermore, polls rarely go into detail about people’s beliefs aside from the immediate issue, and they never allow people to explain their opinion. For instance, a person may state they support healthcare reform, but not the current form of reform. The poll results would show a supportive vote, when it is actually opposition. On the other hand, a person may not know exactly where the current bill stands, and they may state they do not support the reform and go on to explain what they want to change. There is a chance those preferred changes are exactly what the bill currently states. The point is, most people are unsure what the country wants, and people are unsure what they would be supporting or opposing because they are being misled about the bill. The bottom line is, people are demanding affordable healthcare. They want to be protected should something catastrophic happen and they want physicians billing and Medical services billing to be simple and understandable. If you have concerns about the potential changes to the healthcare system, it is best to do research and speak with your friends and family about their opinions.

It is a major concern when it comes to healthcare is cost. Few people understand how the system works now, and that makes it difficult to say exactly what should be changed. People do know that, whether they are currently insured or not, medical care is expensive. Chances are people would be willing to accept paying doctors a fair amount for services rendered. If you learn you or your kid has a life threatening illness, finding a qualified physician is an investment you are willing to make. If the medical professional has invested the time and money into learning their craft, they deserve to be compensated. The process gets dicey when insurance companies and trial lawyers join the mix.

There is no telling what procedures would cost if doctors were better protected from frivolous malpractice suits. However, there need to be protective measures in place for patients who are injured by medical mistakes. How can balance be established? Are insurance companies valuable or are they driving up the cost of medical procedures and no longer necessary? The system has become so confusing, people are unable to determine for themselves how they would like it to run. As consumers, people should maintain control. They should also be free to choice what should and should not happen to their bodies. However, profits are involved and everything is out of control. Unfortunately, the debate seems to have no end. Years from now people may still be trying to figure out how to fix the healthcare system.