Problems with Our Health Care System

On the eve of the presidential election here, more and more articles regarding health insurance are taking a political bent, so much so that it's difficult to find interesting articles on health care and health insurance that aren't politically motivated, as politics is something I'm trying to avoid here. Luckily I was able to find a few articles with a common thread...just how messed up our health insurance and health care system is.

Our first article actually comes to us from the UK's SkyNews and is entitled, "US Health System 'Doesn't Work'." In this article, author Michelle Clifford narrows her focus to examples in New Mexico, looking at how even those making money still can't afford the high cost of insurance. According to the article, many people -- both uninsured and underinsured -- aren't getting the care they need.

Dr. Roberto Gomez, a local clinic doctor, says, "The system here is broken. Some of these people haven't had medical attention in over a decade and many of them have chronic metabolic and cardiovascular illness." The article says that due to the high cost of health care and emergency room visits, these costs are in turn driving up the costs of insurance, making it less accessible to everyone. While no one is sure exactly who to turn to in order to fix the problem, the article says it'll be a major headache for whoever our next president happens to be.

Our next article comes to us from the Los Angeles Times and is entitled, "Health insurers erect barriers to coverage." In this article, authors Lisa Girion and Michael A. Hiltzik look at specific examples of how people were denied health insurance coverage due to pre-existing conditions, or dropped from current health insurance policies, how health care and insurance is becoming so expensive that it's inaccessible and becoming more and more of a problem for consumers, even those who can afford insurance. With babies being denied health insurance coverage for minor ailments and people being removed from coverage for providing "misinformation," even people at insurance companies themselves admit that change is needed.

For example, Bruce Bodaken -- chief executive of Blue Shield of California -- advocates that universal and mandated health insurance is the answer to our broken system. By covering everyone equally, whether young or old, sick or healthy, helps manages costs because everyone draws from the same risk pool. Sadly, the current system means health insurance companies "cherry pick" the healthiest customers so they could turn a profit. Under a universal system, having everyone contribute would offset the costs of those who are ill or infirm. The article is very detailed and fascinating, and while I usually don't link to the actual articles, I'm making an exception in this case. "Health insurers erect barriers to coverage," by authors Lisa Girion and Michael A. Hiltzik.

Our final article comes to us from the Miami Herald and is entitled, "Women trapped in insurance market." In this article, author Marcia D. Greenberger looks at the problem for many women regarding getting or keeping health insurance. While the problem of being denied health insurance for pre-existing conditions affects both men and women, the article suggests that over seventeen million women go without coverage each year because of what the author calls a "double bind:" they either can't afford insurance, or they can't afford not to have it. It's a sad state of affairs when single mothers like those cited in this article can't get the health insurance they need, essentially putting two people at risk.

This concludes this installment of the Weekly Health Insurance News Roundup. While I know this installment was somewhat depressing, there's really not much of a rosy picture to look at in terms of our health insurance and health care systems. One of the few things we can actually do about it is vote. I encourage you to vote for your presidential candidate, regardless of which one. Both want health insurance and health care reform, so whomever wins hopefully knows that something must be done to fix our broken system.