I just read Death Be Not Proud (But It Is Cost-Effective) by Chez Pazienza. In his story, Chez talks about his stay in the hospital to have a marble-sized brain tumor removed. Across the room during his stay in neuro ICU, he saw a person far worse off than himself: staples all around his head, barely able to stay conscious, unable to speak. After a few days of this, Chez asked the nurse what had happened to the other person.
It was the same thing.
The difference? Chez had good insurance, and the other person didn’t. So Chez got the modern surgery with the latest technology, and the other guy got the Neolithic version. The other patient’s family came to visit, clearly heartbroken at his condition, not knowing whether he’d ever be the same. And knowing that even if he’d survive, he’d have years of physical therapy ahead of him.
Then there was the story of the girl whose insurance company denied a liver transplant, calling it “experimental”, sending her to her death. He says:
Regardless of what Fox business-creature Neil Cavuto may have to say on the subject, healthcare and profit are two thoroughly antithetical concepts. Giving CEOs the authority to stand on the edge of the arena and issue a final thumbs-up or down while we lay incapacitated or dying is like charging a lion with protecting the Christians.
I entirely agree.
Go and see Sicko, from michael moore…
At the same time, you can’t solve this problem by entirely ignoring economic concerns either. Insurance cannot coexist with uninsured people in the same market, because insurance can pay much more. Without insurance, prices would have to adjust to accommodate what uninsured people could pay. Getting the government involved would make matters worse as well, because then you don’t even have another insurance company to go to when your government insurance screws you over.
Anonymous, go and watch Sicko you too… you need it more