Something Else I Need to Get Off My Chest

Let’s talk real quick about our medical system. I try to keep politics out of my writing, but in this case, I cannot help it. Our system is broken. It is geared toward people that have money and that can afford insurance (the more money you spend on insurance, the better doctors you have access to and the better care you typically receive). It is a system built around the almighty dollar. Physicians are encouraged to charge more by insurance companies that discount their prices. Patients chose to ignore problems because they cannot afford to get help, even when they have insurance because copays and deductibles are outrageous. Drug companies get away with holding patents and charging astronomical amounts because they are your only options. Who wins? Pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies…while patients are dying because they cannot afford care or while waiting for referrals or approvals from insurance companies that may never come.

I get the idea of a free market encouraging advancement and such, but this is ridiculous. I even argue that it is no longer a free market, rather a market held close to the breast by a very select group of greedy companies.

This is not a political issue. This is a human rights issue. One should not have to go into debt because of medical issues. Debt should come from buying too many clothes or shoes or something equally unnecessary and materialistic that you cannot afford. If care is available, care should be given. Plain and simple.

Are you about to argue the cost of a national healthcare system? Don’t bother. The biggest companies in this country pay next to nothing (and even $0) in taxes. If we simply made corporations pay the taxes they owed, we would solve this problem (and so many more) in a heartbeat.

Another issue I have with our current medical system is that you cannot order blood tests or other medical tests without an order from your doctor. It is very difficult to get a doctor (especially on an HMO using a PCP) to request tests for you that they don’t have experience with, or don’t know how to code correctly, or don’t believe that you need (even if it doesn’t cost them anything). I should be able to walk into any Quest Diagnostics and pay for a blood test (or other medical center for an x-ray, MRI, CT, etc.) that I determine is necessary. If they want to give me a list of doctors to speak to if certain results come up, that’s great. But I do not need a doctor just to get a test done.

I could go on and on it great detail about my feelings on our failed medical system, but it’s just a blog and I want to keep it somewhat short. Rant over.