The U.S. Healthcare "Problem" is a Myth!

I was speaking with someone a few weeks ago, who was telling me about a few health issues that she was having. She went on to tell me she thinks she may have a serious, possibly even deadly, disease.

I asked her what the doctor said and she said "I haven't been able to see one. My employer doesn't provide health insurance."

Being self-employed I know for a fact that you can get a decent health insurance plan for about $160/month. It won't be excellent, but it will allow you to see a doctor when needed, have tests run etc.

Now, for those who honestly can't afford that, I can see an issue. But how many uninsured people honestly can't afford that? Before you answer that, think of this.

Of the millions of uninsured Americans out there, how many of them would you say smoke a pack of cigarettes a day? How many of them drink regularly? How many of them use illegal drugs regularly?

Let's just take the most common, which would be smoking cigarettes. I know a pack of cigarettes goes for about $4 these days. One pack a day for a month is about $120. Guess what? If these people quit smoking and save only an additional $40 a month they can afford health insurance!!

And that's only counting cigerettes. If they drink alcohol or do drugs regularly that needs to be added in as well.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm sure there are quite a few hard-working Americans who don't smoke, don't drink and don't do drugs and still can't afford health insurance, but if you remove all who do, you have a VERY small number and if that number were a reality healthcare wouldn't even be considered a problem in this Country.

So to make a long story short, we don't have a healthcare problem in this Country, we have a responsibility problem!

1 Comments on The U.S. Healthcare "Problem" is a Myth!

1. JwGinn says:
   Dec 19, 2009 pm31 21:23:00

   Josh,
   
   Excellent points raised.
   
   I do believe that there is a working poor in America who have a legitimate need but cannot afford quality care.
   
   However, as you pointed out there are many who spend habitually in other areas (out of choice) but whine about the cost of health care. My brother is an example. He says he cannot afford health care, but drives a $40,000 car. Priorities matter!
   
   While I think some reform is necessary to control costs, free health care is not the answer. Otherwise you'll see people running to the doc for every little problem which time, over the counter meds, and a little tlc will resolve.
   
   Biggest worry for me is from a personal family experience. My wife is from here in the U.S. Her great aunt was diagnosed with Cancer last summer. My own aunt in Canada was diagnosed three weeks earlier. In America, treatment was given within two weeks. In Canada, it was about four months later. I do not want that for my family here!
   
   Finally, my thought is if the government cannot properly administer the post office, education and other high quality concerns, why do we expect they'll be any better at regulating/operating health care!

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