What Americans Should Know About Health Insurance

Obama and Congress are trying to pass health care reform and it is the best that can be done in the near future, if it can be done.

However, this will not elevate the U.S. to the top of the World Health Organization's Health Care Ranking System. 

Our relationship with health insurance in the U.S. is arguably the largest contributer to high health care costs and inefficiencies in our health care system.

Here is what everyone should know about health insurance:

1. Health insurance companies are in the business of collection premiums (health insurance payments from you and your employer). 
2. Health insurance companies are in the business of paying as few claims as possible (or necessary to remain in business and attract new subscribers from whom to collect even more premiums)
3. Health insurance companies need to make a profit so that they will please their shareholders and attract new investment into their companies. 
4. Health insurance companies add huge administrative costs to the U.S. health care system which they use to operate their businesses. A portion of your health insurance payments pay for their buildings, executive and administrative salaries, sales commissions, utilization reviewers, claims processors, advertising, lobbying, travel, etc.
5. Health insurance has increased the costs of medical services and prescription drugs in the U.S. to such an extent that individuals who do not have health insurance often can't afford to pay for basic primary care services or medications. 
6. Each year people seek bankruptcy protection because of medical costs they incur which are beyond their ability to pay. This includes uninsured individuals and insured individuals who need services which are either denied or not covered by their insurance company.
7. Health insurance costs increase at an exponential rate on an annual basis. As a small business owner for the past 20+ years, health insurance premiums have increased by as much as 18% each year. Both businesses and employees bear this additional expense and frequently experience a reduction in coverage.

But what would we do if there were no health insurance in the U.S.? (Save a shit-load of money by not having to pay for health insurance? Never be denied services by your health insurance company? Go to a doctor of your choice? Get appointments quicker? The end of waiting rooms?)

How could we afford health care with out health insurance? (Maybe health care would become affordable because providers would need to be competitive to earn our business?)

Wouldn't quality of care decrease? (Maybe it would increase?)

What about medical advances?

I don't know, but it is something to think about. However, advances have been made in many other industries, like computer sciences for one example, without insurance. But, I may be wrong. Maybe we should have a "Computer Science" insurance industry.

In my attempt to be a logical, open minded person, I encourage you to send me your thoughts and comments on this post and I hope that my readers will enlighten me. As always, I reserve the option to modify my beliefs as new information becomes available to me.