A look at ideas to “fix” the cost of medical insurance!

What might be a solution – wishful thinking? – work on the problem?

What about – wishful thinking – lots of ideas in this category regularly come from Washington DC. They are along the line of - Oh – the government can do it better. Guess what – they are also coming from Hartford CT. 

My response to these – really! Where has it been effective?

Let’s take a quick look at working on the problem. 

First: Some things being found in research: 

•  A recent article reported on a study by Brigham and Women's Hospital researchers. Its focus was heart health and found if people followed a proper diet could save about $50 billion a year! A couple interesting points from the article:

-> “That dwarfs the $8 billion we just allocated to battle a new virus, COVID-19,”  

-> “ Not surprisingly, eating too much processed meat is super expensive to your health. And not eating enough nuts, seeds, and omega-3 rich seafood also proved to be costly.”

•  An article from Harvard’s School of Public Health includes three lists of foods and their impact on blood sugar. Foods with low, medium, or high glycemic load. For good health work to use foods with a low load and stay away from food on the high load list. You can view the article here.

BTW – Working for good health does not mean just use less sugar. People do not realize flour can be worse than table sugar.

Second: Some things in the area of “Disruption”  Albert Einstein once made a point that really applies to medical treat/insurance today – “Can’t solve problems with the same thinking that created the problem”.

•  Steps are being taken by non-health insurance companies/organizations to change things. I have been watching this closely. One example:

Walmart is testing out a new health center. - - - may expand its initiative across the United States, potentially upending the way millions of Americans receive medical care. The articles about “Walmart Health” have indicated - Patients:

    ->  Have a separate entrance next door to a massive Walmart supercenter,

    -> Can see doctors for routine checkups and ongoing treatment of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease, even if they lack health insurance.

    -> Can also get lab work, x-rays, dental care, behavioral health counseling, eye and hearing exams, and access to other services.

   -> Will use physicians at its health centers to replace their current primary care providers,

The bill for an annual checkup for an adult is $30 without insurance, an eye exam is $45 and dental exams cost $25. Therapy sessions are $60.

John C Parker, RHU, LTCP

Niantic CT

Ideas to lower the cost of medical insurance.

Interesting ideas from a study by think tanks, policy folks, and others which found:

● Monthly cost can be lower.

● The number of people with private health insurance could be increased.

● The federal deficit could be reduced some.

The study can be found here.

Sharing some thoughts:

● These ideas would be much better than the “solutions” we hear from politicians in Wash DC and even some in CT’s General Assembly - “Uncle Sam” can do it better

● Another analysis brings out to much “Uncle Sam” has resulted in increased costs for employers and the amount individuals have to pay.

● Working to reduce the “controls” and regulation introduced by the Patience Protection & Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of a few years ago is important.

● Studies also find getting people involved in their medical treatment can lower costs quite a bit. So glad to hear this.

Politicians and the media continue to say any change to PPACA would mean a person’s pre-exciting conditions won’t be covered. Of course, that is not true. There is significant bi-parison support in Washington DC for the important no restrictions on pre-existing conditions. 

John C Parker, RHU, LTCP