In the bitter controversy (again) over health care reform I am constantly reminded of George Santayana’s observation that fanaticism consists in redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim.
Does anyone want health care insurance? Or is it, as I suppose, merely a means to an end? For that matter does anyone other than a few mentally ill people want health care?
I believe that what is wanted is more health not more care or more health care insurance and we’re failing miserably at that. That more insurance will lead to more health is an article of faith the rational basis for which is dwindling. And we haven’t even talked about iatrogenic death.
We are devoting enormous resources to health care. We should be getting a lot more for our money.
I always find breaking it down like this pretty useless. As a practical matter in the US, if you want health care you need insurance unless you are well off or healthy. What we need to do is make sure we are getting a good ROI on our health care dollars.
Steve
Right now we aren’t and I think it’s because we’ve lost sight of the objective. Focusing on insurance does nothing to ensure getting a good ROI. Neither does focusing on the sheer quantity of care.
I spend time trying to stay away from habits and choices that encourage disease or ill health – that includes weight management, exercise, not smoking, nutritional considerations etc. When I do seek medical attention, I do so with considerations that I will be paying for it out of pocket. Therefore, while insurance is a nice thing to have, depending on it is not always assured, nor something I count on.
Therefore, IMO, each and every individual should be invested in safeguarding their own body against attacks to their own health, the best they can. Healthcare, IOW, should be an adjunct to the efforts already being implemented by each individual. Having skin in the game, be it health care, education, financing the country’s social/entitlement programs, does make a difference in one’s responsible behavior.
Below is a quote that dovetails into my own philosophy of life:
“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt”