I have not been politically active since the Vietnam War until last year’s presidential elections. I did vote for Jimmy Carter in 1976 if that counts? They say that as we age we get more conservative, or is it when we age we become more liberal, I can never remember which one it is… conservative or liberal. I remember, when everything in my career was going great, I was one happy conservative! I loved the supply side economics and the trickle down theories. They all worked fine for me and that’s all I cared about. Something happened last year to make me realize we are all on the same team and I guess as I am aging I am leaning left. Thank God I am going to the chiropractor this week to get straightened out.
I remember, when I first started my business career, we had pensions, full health and life insurance coverage at no cost to the employees as well as many other benefits, bennies and perks in our compensation package that were almost as good as AIG, Fanny and Freddie executives. With every one of my promotions in my career I always looked at those benefits, perks or bennies as an unavoidable cost of business –about 28% for the staff- and while we could not control these costs, we could share them with our fellow employees. If there was sound you would hear a sinister (Ha-ha). In many cases it was a well accepted fact that the employees were driving up the costs of health insurance and the only way to reduce the costs was to have the employee “share the pain” with the employer. I remember while working at Con Agra we had a town hall meeting in Omaha. One of the employees asked a question about the rising costs of health insurance and what could be done to lessen the burden placed on the employees. The CEO / Chairman responded to the question by stating in the booming voice of a 6’6” frame “If you want lower health costs, stop going to the doctor so much”. I guess most employers really feel this way but probably do not have the wherewithal to state it in today’s workplace. Basically the employees bear the responsibility, no one else.
One of my favorite topics during last year’s national presidential campaign was National Health Coverage and discussions and debates on ideas that could help those who want or need help from the government. I was probably motivated by some of my own personal health issues and concerns on coverage in my later years. Unlike Congress, I do not have guaranteed lifetime health care coverage.
Last year, I found out the hard way what the term “pre-existing condition” means and how it can affect your ability to purchase health insurance. Let’s face it, when you are over 50 years of age you probably have some pre-existing conditions somewhere and somehow.
I am often surprised to hear people on television who earn high salaries and receive great health care coverage at no cost condemn the notion that changes are needed in the current health care coverage in America. I guess if it isn’t broken don’t fix it! I would think they could have some better arguments by showing ads of the lines at the post office and suggesting “do you really want your doctor’s office to be run like the post office”. Now that would support that government should stay out of personal services. Wait a second, aren’t Medicare, MedicAid and Social Security Federal Programs?
There are two great things about getting older; first, you can gain wisdom with age if you want to and secondly you get to use your wisdom if you choose to.
I do not know if what the conservatives are saying is true about making changes in the current state. Do you think if we change our current health care system that most of the medical research will be greatly reduced by big pharmaceutical companies? Maybe if big pharmaceutical companies would just stop subsidizing breakfasts and lunches for my doctors’ staffs they could save enough money to pay for all the research to cure all known diseases and then some. I base this theory on observation during my numerous doctor visits. While patiently waiting my turn, I am often entertained by pharmaceutical sales representatives tripping over themselves to deliver coffee, doughnuts, pens, pads and lunches to the medical staff, then re-filling the free sample jars and then leaving, while never once thanking me for supporting their business or handing me a pen as they rush out to order the next round of lattes for their next stop.
While we cannot agree on all points of this health care debate maybe we can all agree on these points: first there are over 40 million people in America who have no health insurance; second many more do have insurance but pay higher premiums based on pre-existing conditions and finally we all wish we could have the same health care plans and premiums as top executives at AIG, Bank Of America and the US Congress.
As the debate continues this summer, I would very much like to see health care coverage be available to all consumers who want or need coverage and at the same market rate. A starting point may be to draft a bill of rights whereby health insurance carriers can’t discriminate based on your age and/or previous health conditions and where premiums are the same for all regardless of your employer. While some may argue that this is as a socialistic point of view, I would then challenge them to disclose the details of their own health plans and how much they pay for their coverage. They may feel –and rightly so as I did years ago- that the quality of benefits is commensurate with the contribution: “I do more, therefore I should get more”. I am not a socialist but in fact a free marketer. I just believe we need to take care of the rest of the team and I would argue that this is more about fairness than socialism. Or is it?
Mike