A ‘Third Way’ On Health Care That Works From the Netherlands
We have universal health care we don’t have universal insurance. Why do some people think that health care should be free from some segment of society. Food is essential, do we believe that food should be free for anyone under the age of 18? Why do we think we have to right to say that a service provider should be deprived of a profit? It’s the profit motive that encourages people to provide a service. What we need is a direct connection between the consumer and the service provider without the insurance middleman. The consumer needs help, the doctor can provide it – the insurance company only makes money if it pays less for services than it collects – the difference the profit is what the consumer pays to reduce personal risk. If you prefer to absorb the entire risk you can – you save money by not paying for insurance but you run the risk of a large payout to the doctor in an emergency. What’s the real problem- rising costs- that’s only a problem if it is unrelated to demand, quality and enhanced care. Uninsured – that’s only a problem if I want insurance and can’t get it. The government has exacerbated the problem of the uninsured by mandating that all pre-existing conditions must be covered. You could require everyone to buy insurance – like auto insurance – but that only overrides a personal choice. The conversation needs to focus on the specific problems that need to be addressed without interfering with the freedom of the consumer to make a choice and the medical professional to make a living.
