What was the question?

The YouTube debate turned out to be a huge disappointment

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Why is the Press apprehensive about pushing the limits on health care reform? Where is their passion for change? Americans are obviously distrustful about health insurance companies and the Universal Health Care puzzle. The YouTube debate turned out to be a huge disappointment. Our Presidential candidates are weak on accountability and details about health care reform. Their ambiguity is meant to confuse as opposed to enlighten. Employers and their employees have been feeling the burden of growing health insurance premiums and out of pocket expenses for over a decade. Americans cannot afford cost shifting in its most abusive form called Health Savings Account’s. What will bring down health care costs, now?

Americans are unable to afford out of pocket expenses associated with medically necessary health care. Does keeping Americans from accessing the healthcare that they need impacts demand for the right reasons? I can’t think of a more important topic other than defending the freedom of United States citizens from rogue governments and extremists. Can America afford to ignore the current problems within the health care and insurance industry? Can we fix them?

Job satisfaction and productivity are directly correlated to benefits

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Most Americans are covered by group health plans offered by their employer. As health plan benefits continue to deteriorate and health care costs climb, U.S. corporations should prepare for significant drops in productivity. Not a good move in the light of global competition. Job satisfaction and productivity are directly correlated to benefits. Many Americans are trapped in a job that they don’t like or would prefer to retire from, but need the job for the health insurance benefits. While increasing health care costs outpace the rate of inflation and salaries increases, the squeeze on the entire middle class becomes even more striking. Fortune 500 CEO’s whose companies provide health insurance policies to their employees know that a 1965 Mustang does not drive like a 2007 Mustang.

The climate for change is upon us. The same old ideas and rhetoric are not working. The evidence presented to us in Michael Moore’s “Sicko” may be inconclusive, but there is little doubt that America is ready for a transition plan to a government run U.S. health care system. My estimate is that it will take 20 years to accomplish, if we start making changes during the next administration. The press cannot let the 2008 Presidential candidates off the hook. During the 1973 oil embargo, almost 35 years ago, it was said that we should not be dependent on foreign oil. Look at the situation we are in now. Isn’t anyone listening? We already know that Health Savings Accounts do not work. We are running out of band-aids.

Where are the 2008 Presidential candidates on health care reform?

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The “problem” behavior created by low co pays is over-utilization of medical services. However, it is still cost that is the real problem. If we abandon the importance of health care reform now, when will we address it? Where are the 2008 Presidential candidates on health care reform? Far away from reality…another recipe for failure is just cooking. The media has a responsibility to the American people to expose the weaknesses of the 2008 Presidential candidates’ health care proposals. The U.S. health care system is an albatross around our necks. Based upon our current savings rate as a nation, health care continues to be an obstacle to financial stability in the lives of Americans.

The transition to a government run health care system will provide tremendous relief to the majority of Americans. I agree with Michael Moore who stated that we don’t have to inherit the negatives of current socialized medical programs. America can adopt the best practices of those systems and eliminate their weaknesses. A gridlocked Congress is a waste of American taxpayer dollars and time. Achieve and we will believe. With the ability to influence public opinion so easily, there is no excuse for the American media to overlook the urgency of health care reform during the Presidential debates.

The Congress that could?

Silence is the best policy when you have little ammunition…

How will the Insurance Companies possibly defend themselves from the facts with which Mr. Moore confronts them in his film “Sicko”? Insurance Companies could lie and say that these atrocities are not happening or accuse Mr. Moore of lying. We are talking about health…the very essence of human life and existence. Silence is the best policy when you have little ammunition to defend yourself with.

Health Insurance is a sinking ship in very rough seas. When there is such high demand for medical services, why not profit from the sick? Because it is immoral…that is why. Whether or not the United States of America accomplishes a Universal Health Care System, free for all Americans, remains to be seen. Now the question is what can be done to stabilize the U.S. health care system and keep the coming financial storm from wiping it out completely? We have to do something. This fragmented system needs a change agent and the people of the US, insured or not, can and will be the change agent.

Is it too much too late?

Insurers are scrambling to finally try to do the right thing. A touch of preventive care and a ton of ephemeral profit-driven marketing propaganda can not redeem the damage that is done. Is it too much too late? What we Americans realize is that we have been taken advantage of. It is a rare moment in the life of a business that presents itself now to the health insurance industry. Sweeping regulation is around the corner just to keep the floodgates of their horrific failures from being lethal. It is not about lobbying. It is about being American. Americans are about to step up and show the rest of the world why they have always respected us. We take care of our own business at home with dignity. America needs to refocus itself on our own issues.

…where is the Congress that could?

Defense of freedom comes at a very high cost, but so does not being healthy enough to fight for our rights. Every American deserves health insurance as a public service. Let’s regroup and defend our own people’s needs first. Then, we can redefine our role as a world leader. Reality is we have to increase taxes, anyway. That is where the money will come from. We are living on borrowed time. We need fiscal responsibility in the midst of this health insurance crisis. We need these programs to realize our potential as the giving, generous people of America that we are. Stop electing politicians who can’t get the job done. Immigration, health care, social security and defense…where is the Congress that could?

Michael Moore has done it again

Is this news to anyone out there?

Mr. Michael Moore’s movie “Sicko” is a one-sided story written, directed and produced by a creative and intelligent man trying to make the point that the U.S. Health Care System is badly broken and needs to be fixed. Moore states an excellent case for a broad based Universal Health Care System for all U.S. citizens. Is this news to anyone out there? Aren’t the problems associated with the U.S. Health Care system in the news on a daily basis? Well, here the movie “Sicko” is bashing of the American freedoms that our health care system and citizens have enjoyed for decades. Once revered as the most sophisticated medical delivery system in the world, the current state of affairs with the U.S. Health Care System is akin to levees about to break from the perfect storms of over utilization, greed and dozens of other factors. There are many wonderful stories to tell about the U.S. Health Care System, too. Mr. Moore did not include the wonderful attributes of the U.S. Health Care System…only the atrocities. Well, reality is that there are many atrocities associated with Socialized Medicine, too.

The metamorphosis of our U.S. Health Care System will effect tens of thousands maybe hundreds of thousands of employees that work in the health insurance industry

Maybe the time has come. The U.S. Government, acting on behalf of all Americans, could flip the switch on public programs like the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan or Medicare or Medicaid. Cover everyone the way our current socialized programs cover members. Apply all of the same rules, cutting out huge administrative costs. Now all Americans will be covered. However, we are still ignoring the huge medical delivery cost problem, the “Sicko” claim notwithstanding, which seems to be that Universal Care is the right thing to do for American citizens and our country. I agree! Let’s do it! Universal Care may not a bad move for this country. Universal Care needs to be phased in over a timeline that must be strictly adhered to. Tens of millions of Americans could benefit. Maybe we all will benefit. The metamorphosis of our U.S. Health Care System will effect tens of thousands maybe hundreds of thousands of employees that work in the health insurance industry. Most will start over again in hopefully some other productive career or have to be retrained. Employees of the industry are victims of insurance company greed just like those depicted in Mr. Moore’s film. Perhaps Americans are ready for such a change.

There will be private insurance gap plans in a Universal Health Care environment that permit citizens to purchase extra protection should they feel that they can afford and need it. Now the rest of the story is not so easy. Many laws need to be repealed. Our medical services reimbursement system needs to be overhauled. Technology needs to be embraced and “incentivized”. Preventive Care needs to be emphasized. Confidentiality needs to be protected. A whole host of other extremely important issues need to be addressed. We have to start somewhere and there is no better time than the present.

Not only do I embrace the concept of Universal Care, but I fully endorse it

I am an employee benefits broker and consultant. Not only do I embrace the concept of Universal Care, but I fully endorse it. I have worked as a broker, executive and consultant in the health care industry for twenty years. In 1999, I founded Longevity Benefits, Inc., an insurance agency specializing in health insurance. My other company is called the Pro Active Health Care Association. We use our expertise to help and defend insured Americans who are getting ripped off by their health insurance carrier. Please email us your story to les@longevitybenefits.com and we will be happy to help you. We understand your rights and responsibilities under your insurance policy guidelines and provisions and can help you navigate when you are in need. Let the “Pro Active Health Care Association” help you fight for your rights with regard to any denials that you may be encountering with your insurance company. Please email any miracles that you or your family have experienced as a result of the U.S. Health Care system, too.

Finally, stay tuned, listen and learn how the U.S. Health Care System can migrate to Universal Care within our unique economy and absorb the challenges facing our medical costs and system. For achievable solutions to the growing U.S. Health Care Crisis, stayed tuned in to this Blog or email us directly at les@longevitybenefits.com.