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Universal Health Insurance Coverage

I love your unstated assumptions. The first obvious one is that universal coverage will be deemed successful by the using public.

It could be perceived as successful but I doubt it for the following reasons:

1) Insufficient health care providers to handle the increased demand for services. We already have too few general practioners because the reward system (not just $$) is stacked against GP. "Gatekeeper" GP appointment times will grow absurdly long in many parts of the country.

2) Under-resourcing. Having been in a universal health care system - US military - when the system is under-resourced, ain't nobody happy, including providers. Doctors and nurses don't like rationing care any more than patients do. With cost containment already one of the biggest promises of the new health care, getting adequate funding is going to be a real trick. Look at the Veteran's Administration for the likely outcome.

3) Culture and morale of the system. In the military, this varied widely. Where a culture of excellence and adequate resources prevailed, morale was great and patient care was outstanding. Conversely, where the culture did not reward and push excellence, adequate resources were usually not sought or fought for. Doctors tended to be mediocre or negligent, and the facility became one to evade or avoid rather than use for medical treatment. If you really needed treatment, and your facility wasn't perceived as good, a referral to the civilian sector was the gold ring. Or having money to go see a civilian on your own. Which is how our Canadian and British friends often feel about their health care.

But my guess is any actual experiences that conflict with the Politically Correct agenda will be ignored until we are trying to fix what went wrong.

Posted by: thinking about consequences   Posted on: 05/11/09 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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