08.15.09
My Ramblings on Health Care Reform
The other night I dreamed I was trying to figure out what was going on with the national health care proposals. The funny thing was that I knew it was a dream while I was dreaming it. I was going over points and thinking, “Well, that part seems okay. Or, I can see a problem with that part. . . “ And at the same time I was telling myself, “Marla, you have to wake up and do a proper search and read what the actual proposals are instead of trying to weigh the value of the health care proposals from your head/imagination.” Then I woke up and realized I’m likely being bombarded with so much news that I’m now dreaming about it, while at the same time finding it particularly difficult to figure out what’s true or not despite all the crazy news we’ve been getting.
I’ve been trying to listen to both sides of the health care reform argument. I can see pros and cons to both sides, and while the big issue these days seems to be “rationing” health care, I’m concerned about being “over treated.” I can appreciate that people want and need health care coverage, but at the same time, there are a few of us out here who don’t want to be forced to take vaccines or mammograms, or other so-called “preventive” measures (because I personally don’t believe in them), nor do I want any social service “visits.” It’s one thing to say that you’ll have medical coverage “if” you need it, but another thing to insist on “well-doctor check ups” or enforce “mandatory” health care coverage. It would be nice if there was an option for levels of treatment like for accidents vs. disease care. If I were to contract a disease, I want to have the option of going to a naturopath or other alternative doctors and practitioners even if it means paying out-of-pocket. What I haven’t heard discussed so far is whether any of this health reform will affect our ability to seek out alternative practitioners. Will our “choices” of health care be limited? And can people who choose not be be insured continue to be uninsured if they so choose without being penalized for it?
One thing that seems unnerving to me is that the health care reform bill is 1000 pages long. What that seems to indicate is that there is much more involved than just who flips the bill. And while I cringe at the “death panel” debate (because I do think that it’s a good idea to have end-of-life “discussions to know what the patient and family want, and not as intent to pull the plug on grandma), there obviously will have to be some decisions regarding what is covered and what is not. If I want a filling, will is be a mercury amalgam or another material? Do I have a choice?
Another angle being discussed is reforming the actual health care, not just the availability of drugs. Easier access to doctors doesn’t necessarily translate to better health, but rather just makes it easier access to drugs and medical procedures. If we are truly interested in “health,” then we need to reform our understanding of what health is, how to maintain good health, and how to naturally regain health if it starts to fail. We need better access to better quality foods, cleaner environment, better working conditions.
I’m not completely against “some” government intervention because I realize that there are people out there who really do need some help, and what is government for but to help advocate for the needy. There are situations wherein some people need real help such as accident victims who become disabled by paralysis or children born with handicaps such as mental retardation or other physical disabilities. I do feel that it would be good to have some government assistance in those respects, “if” needed (some people have enough funds to take care of their own). However, I like Ronald Reagan’s suggestion about government assistance for health care. That is, he suggested that the federal government could allot a certain amount of money for each state, and then from there let each state decide how to distribute the funds. That way there would be more options for people. More heads getting together to make these decisions and if one state decision is not acceptable, then a person can appeal to another state. This would give more opportunity for checks and balances. I dislike the way people are screaming socialism because it’s so much more complicated than that. Our fire department, library services, police force, and even military are social programs. Our roads and dams are a result of social programs. It’s the infringements into our personal lives that are where lines need to be drawn on social programs, not just all social programs.
I know there’s so much more to consider about this new health care bill, so may add more of my 2 cents later on. There was portion on the bill that mentioned all doctors were to be paid the same. . . wow, that sounds a bit too communistic to me. . . although it might help to ensure that those who seek work in the medical profession really are interested in helping with health care and not just going into the field for money. Still, that just doesn’t sit right with me at the moment.
Marlakins
