Presidential Health Plans - Same As Yours, Please

Health Care Plan Talk: Show Me the Plan
By J.L. Richardson, M.D.

Why are the candidates continuing to talk about health care plans? They along with their colleagues in Congress have repeatedly proposed the insurance they have is what the American public should have. So why are they failing to move in that direction. Congress has been talking about it for years. Is this another political re-election tactic?

Senator Obama reiterated this in the debate - again. He explained in more detail the cost savings from being in a purchasing pool such as Congress. I applaud his vigor in this matter. I feel like he really wants us to have the best affordable health care like the lawmakers of the land. I want to see a plan, some details. I believe it will work.

He also wants us to be able to keep our same doctors and health plans no matter who we work for if we are working. That was part of HIPPA law passed some years ago. Okay, let's reinforce that. Somehow the pre-existing condition part got overlooked. It would be nice for our insurance companies to do the same. Medicare does. So that must become effective immediately. If not, in spite of the patient privacy part of HIPPA, one may be asked - actually "grilled" - about your current health problems and unhealthy habits by a total stranger over the phone. Ten, more like twenty, years ago you could get insurance without telling your pre-existing health conditions.

Senator McCain wants to tax insurance premiums, and pay that to the insurance companies. Where is one going to get that extra money when their premium has almost doubled over three years and are currently unemployed? Maybe that will be from the tax cut refund check he is promising. He’s looking out for us, too. Even if is to be paid for by the savings from the continuing health disparities - by age, gender, disability, chronic medical diseases, job and so on. Healthy people would be exempt, that is, until they became sick.

Both senators think health care should be run by the government which already funds almost 50% of the American health system. That must be good. Medicare seems to be working. The premiums have been rising. Payments to doctors are less. Private insurers usually charge more, but get paid the Medicare rate. That must count for something. Medicare is the gold standard for health insurance. Coverage is provided for all over 65. If totally disabled beyond employment at poverty level, you might qualify after the rigorous application and approval process.

They saved the best for last. After months of remaining generically redundant on America’s health care, they finally talked in more generic detail about their health care platforms. This was pretty much what they have already said and put on their websites.

I vote for caps on insurance premiums, retroactive to at least five years ago when insurance premiums started going through the roof. This fits better than a tax credit. There are wage caps in effect. This makes good sense. It is time for shareholders and company executives to put patients on the forefront.

I vote for the omission of pre-existing conditions immediately. Prevention, wellness and health maintenance would be a primary focus. Management of pre-existing conditions and chronic disease are prevention in action. Baseline body scans sound like a good idea for looking into your health (pun intended). Early detection may save your life, and some money. The American health system teaches doctors to treat you after you get sick. Which costs more? Which is better for you? Would you like to know what you have and decide how to manage it?

I vote for and agree with the senators on downsizing the US Department of Health and Human Services. There are agencies that appear to overlap. They could be combined with new initials. Talk about alphabet soup. Put ODPHP with NCCDPHP and USPSTF under OIG monitored by AHRQ and CDC. Mmm…mmm…good.

All in all, it appears that the presidential candidates want what they would want for themselves and their families. That remains to be seen instead of heard. After all they have shared their medical history with us through the media – Senator Obama’s one page note from his doctor, and Senator McCain’s thousands of pages in three hours. Senator McCain allowed questions to his doctors for about an hour, while Senator Obama is sticking with his note. Speaking as an expert, both are unacceptable and unrealistic medical record reviews for health assessment. Remember HIPPA.

Actions do speak louder than words. Show me the plan.

Dr. Richardson is author of the award winning reference book, Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, and Building an American Health System health care proposal.

http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
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