Caesareans Cause Insurance Problems

The vast majority of Caesarean sections are unnecessary, invasive surgeries. To add insult to injury, many women are finding themselves un-insurable after a Caesarean. Insurance companies don't want to cover women of child-bearing age. Period. It's expensive and the insurance company's goal is to make money. The insurance company's goal is not to make sure you get well. That is your job. The doctor's job is to help you.

It is helpful to remember these roles when you're making health care decisions.

Thadeus McCotter on Fixing Health Care in America

Who is Thaddeus McCotter? He's the House Republican Policy Committee Chairman. Here's what he said to John Hawkins (read the whole interview, lots of good stuff):

We need to get a patient centered -- not a bureaucrat centered -- version of modern medicine that allows a patient/provider relationship to be the key and to build upon that. That, to me, is going to allow the supply to meet the demand to the point where costs start to come down and adequate safeguards are there for those that cannot help themselves.

I think this is key, too. And to get a patient-centered relationship, you need to return power to the people in the relationship.

Imagine for a moment, that you are in a relationship with a guy, but that all dating times, conversation topics and every other part of your relationship was managed by a company who didn't know you, didn't particularly care if the relationship works or not, and actually hoped the relationship ended. That's what insurance companies are like. The government is even worse.

The energy exchanged while dating is love, or the potential for love. The energy exchanged in a doctor-patient relationship is knowledge and expertise for money. When a third party enters this relationship, the dynamics change. The patient takes things they don't need. The doctor gives things they don't need, or maybe that are inferior because the third party demands it.

A cash-driven relationship keeps the exchange more honest. George Bush was actually on the right track when he wanted to expand Medical Savings Accounts. It put the power back in the hands of those in the relationship. Of course, insurance companies do NOT want this. And the government itself loses power when people have more power.

Right now, the relationship is bureaucrat-centered and the bureaucrats would like it to stay that way.

Self-Reliance & Government Run Health Care

The need for universal health care seems to have concentrated like the head of a zit. Congressmen have the urge to pop the pressure and will cause a mess and scarring if they fulfill their urge to "do something". But do American citizens really want managed care?

It seems some people do, but I have to imagine that they really have no comprehension of what that would mean in practical fact. The populace has certainly moved more interventionist domestically if the majority of people truly do want their health care paid for by someone else, and by someone else, they mean themselves and other tax payers.

The notion of self-reliance seems quaint these days. People are tired of boot-straps and scrimping, maybe. They dislike the uneasiness of being one health crisis away from ruin. The economy shows signs of slowing. They have debt. Their retirement accounts are dwindling thanks to the stock market taking a nose-dive. They're not quite desperate. Yet.

It is times like these that something for nothing looks mighty good. We all want to avoid pain. And if we can receive a benefit with no possible down-side then why not? But a big government program that takes over health care is a trade. We trade individual power for government power--yet again. And the more individuals cede to the government, the less likely the individual has control of his own life.

Americans have been schooled in passivity and compliance. From day care to public schools to college to grad school to jobs, the key to succeed is complying with the rules of whatever organization one is belongs to. There is something to be said to be a part of something bigger, more universal than oneself, but there is no great mission or value in relying on the government for health care. There is only more passive acceptance.

And really, it's accepting less than there is now. A delusional belief in empty political promises must be traded for freedom and choice. It's disturbing how willing Americans are to make that trade.

England: Healthcare So Good You Get Do It Yourself Denistry

Socialized health care is the panacea for the common man, right? Well, Britain's brown teeth have a cause besides the lack of personal hygiene: there aren't enough dentists. Consider this:

Six per cent of patients questioned said they had resorted to DIY treatment to avoid expensive dental bills.

This can include anything from using over-the-counter painkillers and salty water to combat an abscess to plugging a broken crown with chewing gum.

Others have resorted to more extreme measures. One patient in Lancashire claimed he had to "remove 14 teeth using pliers".

Those in charge of nationalized medicine want it this way. They want people to wait, it cuts costs.

Brown teeth. It gets worse. Read the whole article. It's like Nationalized Health Care contraception.

Doctors Loaning Money To Patients

Lending to patients happens all sorts of ways in the medical profession. It looks like now the insurance companies are getting in on the act. I doubt they'll do it for no interest as most docs do, though. For most treatment, a doctor will offer no interest because they truly believe the patient needs the care--so much so they'll delay payment to themselves.

Insurers, on the other hand, are in it for one thing only: the money. And they are examining the "credit-worthiness" of the patient. So are some doctors and dentists:

The zero-interest plans are not for everyone. In fact, they are available only to the creditworthy — meaning they offer no help to those among the nation’s 47 million uninsured who are in difficult financial situations.

And creditworthiness is starting to be judged even more stringently, in light of the subprime mortgage crisis’s impact on the debt markets, according to David Robertson, publisher of The Nilson Report, a newsletter for the credit card industry.

Even for those who can get credit approval, the plans make sense only if users are able to make payments on time and close the loan on schedule, typically within 12 months. Otherwise, the loans after defaults can carry interest rates of 20 percent or more — similar to the default penalty on a typical credit card.

“We are very careful to tell patients upfront, ‘Be sure you can make your payments,’ ” said Dr. Richard J. Mercurio, a dentist in Lincroft, N.J. He arranges patient financing through the CareCredit unit of G.E., the leader in consumer medical financing.

Dr. Mercurio says he knows of at least two patients who missed payments and received monthly bills charging high interest rates. “They were not happy,” he said.

We have never done this with a patient. In fact, it strikes me as just wrong. What's to say the doctor isn't recommending care for purely financial reasons?

As for the 47 million who don't qualify? Sliding scale, free clinics, free health-care, they have it all. They might not be getting free Lasik surgery, boob jobs or laser-whitening, but those are rather elective procedures.

Back to loaning to patients. Should doctors be banks charging interest should a loan go unpaid?

Oh! Canada, How Your Health Care Blows--UPDATED

Mark Steyn asks if Michael Moore knows about this:

A Canadian woman has given birth to extremely rare identical quadruplets.

The four girls were born at a US hospital because there was no space available at Canadian neonatal intensive care units... Autumn, Brooke, Calissa and Dahlia are in good condition at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, Montana...

Health officials said they checked every other neonatal intensive care unit in Canada but none had space.

The Jepps, a nurse and a respiratory technician were flown 500km (310 miles) to the Montana hospital, the closest in the US, where the quadruplets were born on Sunday.

What strikes me about this is that Montana's little local hospital served this woman. She didn't even go to a major regional health care center.

Yup, Canada is like so totally awesome for health care. Totally.

UPDATED:
A doctor friend emailed me and said this:

actually GF is one of our largest cities and the regional hosp. between No. D.

and Spokane Wash. That is about 900+ miles. Also it is a major, lesser-

known SAC, US Air Force base. I would expect it to have the best

service in the state. Another interesting note about MT. It is the best place for

heart conditions. Even though we don't have a medical school, the Univ

of Mt is one of the leading heart parts researchers and developers. Kind

of odd for a state at is 33 sq miles smaller than TX and only about 900,000

people. Cardio surgeons come from all over the world to learn the new

techs for valves and hypertrophy. Visiting Docs teach at the University in

every department from engineering to laser or pharmacology and PT.

As for Canadian Med. It sucks. I see a lot of people who have come

here for surgery or other kinds of care. Their U of Ontario at St

Catherine, however is one of the best for brain injury.