"Health Care Reform" – Making it Meaningful
“Health Care” and “Health Care Reform” is a debate that will affect all of our lives as Americans and one that can provide life changing opportunities for us as fitness professionals. I have a personal story that has me convinced and serves as a reference for all of us.
Tostart, I want to state that I believe the best solution to the current health care finance debate is to have a free market competitive system with apublic option. As a business owner raised in the American system of free and open competition, I believe this is better than a single payer system.
I believe in the public option because if and when I’m in the position of needing insurance, I’ll have providers competing for my business.
Currently,when someone in my situation (Type 2 diabetic) applies for insurance coverage,I answer the diabetic question “yes”, and they raise the cost of the program. No further questions. I'm grouped into a very high risk group that companies view as expensive to care for. In a competitive environment with a public option, the screening question is asked and answered the same; but there is a next question. "Do you check your sugar levels on a regular basis?" Well Yes, I do! “Do you exercise?” Well Yes, I do! “Can you document these things?” Well Yes, I can! My genetics may put me in one group, but my documentable behaviors really mean something far more important.
Regardless of whether diabetes or another chronic or potentially costly personal health issue is part of your equation, we all know the effect of exercise. This is the where our opportunity to make a difference and benefit professionally from doing so comes in. With the ability for us to provide evidence of exercise compliance, the ability to document meaningful evidence of"healthier" clients, and the ability to keep them committed to a beneficial fitness “prescription”, we as fitness professionals can be elevated to Wellness Professionals and Preventive Care allies to a growing universe of needy parties – from Uncle Sam to our next door neighbor.
So how’s it feel to be at the center of the solution that represents TRUE "health care reform"?
Don,
Very well said. Meaningful documentation may well be one the most important links to finally get the industry to start attaching incentives (i.e. lower premiums) to more and more lifestyle choices - beyond "Are you a smoker? Not willing to wait for insurance industry reform, fitness professionals must continue to find creative ways to build the case for PREVENTION of disease states (when possible) in real dollar language. If the topic is 'health care reform', this discussion will ultimately always be about economics.
Keep up the good work.
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Thanks for weighing in on this subject. As a Canadian now living in the US I am amused and appalled at the level of deception put forward on the subject of health care. Ask any Canadian, British, German or French citizen if they would prefer the American health care system and the answer would be a resounding NO!!
On the world market the cost of American Health Care puts their industries at a huge competitive disadvantage.
The argument put forward that "you don't want a government bureaucrat between you and your doctor" is a joke considering you currently have a for profit system trying to find a reason NOT to cover you.
Everything from pre-existing conditions to ridiculous co-pays are based on company profitability not on their customer's healthcare.
Changing the current system is difficult and will probably come in stages. I personally doubt that
congress will include the public option in the current healthcare reform or that Americans will ever embrace a so called single payer system as they are ingrained in the belief that the "free market" is the best way to deliver healthcare.
Obama is trying a middle-way approach, much like the Swiss system, which I believe will greatly improve the current system. However, if they do not take control of the message and sell the changes agressively they run the risk of alienating their liberal base.
The progressive base may percieve the lack of a government option as capitulation to industry lobbyists and dimish their enthusiasm for Obama and the Democrats resulting in significant losses in 2010.
The Rebublicans will spin it as a victory, embolding them in their battle against climate change legislation and any other progressive ideas put forward by the left.
As Don mentioned is his blog, true health care reform will happen when the focus is placed on prevention. Individuals taking control of their heatlh by choosing healthy foods, maintaining a healthy weight and getting enough exercise will have the largest impact on the costs of healthcare.
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