Health Care: Let The Consumer Decide

By Steve Barlotta, CPA

On June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to uphold most of the components of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010; President Obama’s reconstruction of our nation’s health care system. This controversial decision by the Supreme Court has renewed the heated debate as to the best course of action as to how best fix our fractured health care system.

As you may recall, after this legislation was passed it was met with disapproval by a majority of Americans. Many political pundits and pollsters believe that the President’s health care law helped the Republicans to an overwhelming victory in the 2010 midterm elections. Shortly thereafter, Republican Rep. Paul Ryan introduced his own health care plan which was met with displeasure by a majority of Americans, as well. So it’s pretty safe to conclude that Obamacare is unpopular, and most want to see it repealed. And Ryan’s plan is also unpopular, and most don’t want to see it enacted.

The one common theme in both plans is that neither puts the consumer in charge of their own health care decisions. Polls have indicated that most Americans want to have control of their health care choices. They feel these are important decisions that the individual should make; not the government, insurance companies or their employer. I believe this inability of the consumer to decide their own options is the main cause of the health care dilemma in our country.

I realize that allowing the consumer to control their health care options would be a major change from today’s system. But, I believe it’s a change that most Americans want. In a poll conducted last year by Rasmussen Reports, 82% of the respondents believe that workers should be allowed to choose their own insurance in company sponsored plans.They would like to see increased competition among insurance companies and believe this will result in a greater reduction of health care costs than increased government regulation. In order for this to happen, the antitrust exemption granted to health insurance companies must be eliminated.

From what we know of President Obama’s plan, the health insurance plan of the future will be more or less a government defined one-size-fits-all plan. I believe this is precisely what most Americans do not want. Recent Rasmussen polls indicate that over 75% think the consumer should have the right to choose between plans with high or low deductibles or be able to decide whether they want a more expensive plan that covers many medical procedures or a plan that’s lower cost but covers only major medical procedures.

Also, a majority of Americans would like to see incentive-based insurance policies offered that rewards the consumer with discounts for exercising, eating well and not smoking. As a fitness enthusiast, I think it’s extremely important to reward people for living healthy lifestyles rather than placing them in the same insurance pool with individuals who may have not taken care of themselves properly.

I realize all these changes to our health care system would be a major departure from where we are heading, but believe it offers us the best solution for a flexible, sustainable and lower cost system of medical care.

Source: To Fix Health Care System, Put Consumers in Charge, Scott Rasmussen, Rasmussen Reports, July 6, 2012