This is a disaster waiting to happen for most all of us. The employed with insurance that has limits, and when you pass them, you're on your own, and the uninsured, where even the smallest accident or injury will ruin you and your family and your life.
Is socialized medicine the answer. It has some credible issues.
Malpractice award limits ?
Malpractice insurance premium limits?
Retirees of all kinds worry more about health issues than even their lifestyles.
I've thought about state oriented scholarship programs, for medicine especially. I've heard some programs are out there, but don't know the details. Pay for an in state student to go to one of our medical schools, all expenses paid. They sign a contract to practice in a medically depressed area for 10 years. Yes, 10 years. Their education is worth 10 times that. If you don't like it, don't sign up. This is only one idea. It has been done before, or so I've been told. Do it again. Do it better.
Rember the TV show Northern Exposure?????? The town paid for the doctor's medical school, all of it, and he had to come there and practice to pay them back. Not a bad idea. With all our local money coming in, award a "Doctor NIBROC" scholarship program. Some local corbin student goes to school, and to medical school. They agree to come back to practice here. How do we get our money back, we don't. It's a scholarship. They just agree to practice here for 15 years. They still make money. They still live their lives. In 20 years, we would have more local doctors here. Just a thought, I know it has holes in it, but you get the idea.
I've heard of medicad forcing physicians to lump patients into groups, give them a set amount f.or their fees, and that's it. We, the working, pay the rest. That's no program. Not for either side.
I've hears state elected officials have a heck of a medical plan, paid for through the state. Anyone know for sure.
The self-employed need more help too. What is the use of being a plumber, heat and air person, landscaper, electrician, or truck driver if you know one little thing can ruin you. A broken arm or leg, a cut, a bad virus. No work, no pay.
Self insurance plans is one area to explore.
A state run insurance plan, for residents only, for wage earners only, or include the non-wage earners as well. But, even the fixed income or people receiving govt. checks have to pay something. That's the problem now.
The medical insurance crisis is going to keep getting worse as time goes on. Several years ago 40 Million Americans did not have health insurance. Now it is 50 Million. And more of the programs employers offer are being reduced with a higher copay system.
This will be even more serious in the next ten years.
Many college graduates coming out into the work force are benefit shopping more than salary shopping. I have talked to many in the last year, both graduates and those that will be graduating, that has expressed those issues with finding a job.
Retirement and health insurance, seem to be the two topics that come up the most with those that I've talked to.
