Understanding the Health Care Debate Part 1
Posted on August 26, 2009 - Filed Under Medical Business | Leave a Comment
Any serious discussion of health care reform must begin with serious data. The often pronounced number of the uninsured being at 47 million in the United States just doesn't measure up in any serious way. When you start with the Census Bureau's latest statistics from their Current Population Survey of 2007, we find that 45.7 million people were without health insurance. A small correction, but hold on for the rest. Of that 45.7 million, 18 million have incomes over $50,000 a year and presumably can afford a policy providing at the least, catastrophic protection. $50,000 is 226% above the Health and Human Service's 2009 poverty guidelines for a family of four. For those individuals or families with incomes of at least $50,000 who chooses to buy health insurance may at best be considered underinsured, however, that is a theoretical argument.
Understanding the Health Care Debate Part 2
Posted on August 24, 2009 - Filed Under Medical Business | Leave a Comment
One possible solution to respond to the problems would be a proposal by The Hamilton Project. The Hamilton Project details sound solutions for evolving beyond traditional employer-sponsored health insurance. The main tenants of their proposal include:
A. State established "insurance exchanges"
B. Shift employers traditional role as sponsor to facilitator of coverage
C. Reform of the tax laws to more fairly handle the needs of our needy
A. A state insurance exchange can be thought of as a stock exchange on Wall Street. Although the insurance exchange would not exist to make money, it would serve to bring together the major players in health care; insurance companies, regulators, and consumers. A series of state determined minimums could be established as the ground rules and those insurance carriers wanting participation can sign on to compete with their various products. Care must be taken not to create any new regulation, enlarging the already oversized bureaucracy and costs. A simple mandate that ERISA approved health plans would also meet exchange minimums should be enough.
Are You Having Problems Seeing Things Clearly?
Posted on August 2, 2009 - Filed Under Medical Business | Leave a Comment
Are you having problems seeing things clearly? Presbyopia or the "short arm syndrome" is a condition of the eye that affects most people in their mid life. People can find it difficult to read fine print, especially in low light situations, have trouble reading for long periods of time or even face discomfort when changing focus from near to distant objects.
The problem lies with lens in the eye. It becomes thicker with time and loses its flexibility resulting in the inability to focus on objects in close proximity.
This, of course, is an advantage for near sighted people. They simply need to take off their glasses to view objects at close hand. But those who are not, can rely on reading glasses, available in both half and full frames or use contact lenses.
