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What's Going On With Healthcare? 10/1/2006 12:05:10 PM
Less than 2/3 of all employers in America offered health care benefits to their employees this year.
It's estimated that 40 million Americans have no form of health care insurance.
Health care premiums have risen more than 80% within the last few years.
Due to advances in healthcare, it is estimated that life expectancy for the average American has risen by 10 years.
These are the headlines I saw today.
Hmmm...
Sounds like we might have a health care crisis in this country. And, for us working folk, sounds like it means that we can live longer--as long as we can afford it.
So what does that mean for those folk who can't?
I guess that means they'll die sooner. Or suffer longer.
Hmmm...
I think that there is either a great opportunity here, or a great tragedy looming. It is unconscionable that Americans will let fellow Americans suffer because they can't afford health insurance. On the other hand, it's obvious that extending life is a product of several factors including, but not limited to, good eating habits, genetics and healthy lifestyle choices.
Yet, most of us have always felt that we are connected to our fellow Americans via health insurance. Think about it. Cancer is cancer, no matter what racial, socio-economic, or lifestyle habits you have. It's the same with HIV, diabetes, etc. We grieve when we hear of someone we know, or the relative of someone we know who is suffering with disease.
We also fund research in high numbers.
But we can't seem to crack the health care puzzle.
What's the answer?
My guess is nationalized healthcare, or innovative options for alternate healthcare coverage.
In any case, it's something we should all watch. For those with wisdom know, the ladder of success goes up and down. Those of us lucky enough to have healthcare coverage, and a reasonable measure of health, are there by the grace of God. Tomorrow, that could all change.
