Stating that our current health care system is horrid may be a cliché, but some personal experiences may help illustrate the magnitude of the problem. Several years ago, I accidentally cut open part of my hand bad enough that I decided to go to the Ohio State hospital’s emergency room. Although the cut was deep, it only required a thorough cleaning and a few stitches, a procedure that cost several hundred dollars and a couple of hours of my life. I gave the entire ordeal little thought after leaving the hospital that day.
Several weeks later I received a letter from the hospital stating that my insurance had rejected the bill and that I was liable for the full amount. I was thoroughly confused. After numerous calls I discovered that although OSU’s hospital was in my coverage area, my insurance did not cover all of the doctors. The one who had specifically treated me that night was not covered. With much chagrin, I sent in the remaining balance and tried to forget about the entire hassle.
A couple weeks later I received my first collection notice. My unpaid hospital bill had been sent to a collections agency. Several days of frantic phone calls proved fruitless as the hospital claimed that my check that had been received and cashed had not actually been received and cashed, at least according to their records. OSU finally admitted that it had received my payment but not recorded it in the correct system. Frustrated and angry, I was happy just to be done with the entire hassle.
What’s most depressing is that my story does not appear to be unique. The uninsured or underinsured usually have to go through worse, making me feel “fortunate” that at least I have insurance. So what’s the solution? A range of answers has been proposed from an entirely private, market-based system to universal government-run health care; however, any viable solution will have to be simple, comprehensive and preventative.
A Canadian friend commented on the futility of our American healthcare system. I probably created more stress-related health problems dealing with insurance companies and collection agencies than I prevented with the hospital visit. The Canadian health care system may not be ideal, but at least it is simple. Canadians can get treated at any certified medical facility simply by showing their identification. No concerns about insurance coverage area or rejected claims. They may have more up front waiting time, but we seem to make up for it with increased bureaucratic hassle. The ease of the Canadian health care system provides an incentive for people to see a health professional on a regular basis. This encourages more people toward preventative healthcare.
One of the most perverse parts of our current system is its tendency to discourage early detection. High deductibles or co-pays cause people to delay action on potential problems. This is especially true for the poor and uninsured who generally forgo routine check-ups due to their cost and inconvenience, only seeing a doctor once their pain has become debilitating. The result is predictable: crowded emergency rooms and higher costs. The cost of those who cannot pay is passed on to the rest of us through pricier medical care.
My high school took a novel approach to dealing with this problem. At the beginning of every school year they would “rent” a local doctor’s office for a couple hours on the weekend to provide the physical check-ups required for athletes. The program was widely successful because it was much more convenient for athletes than trying to schedule an appointment with their family doctor. A similar approach could be used for all K-12 students where time is allotted for students to get regular physical and dental check-ups. Serious illnesses or problems could be caught early when it is much cheaper and effective to treat.
Fixing our dysfunctional health care system is not an enviable task. Any viable solution would have to accommodate the concerns of numerous interests pulling in different directions. However, many Americans have begun the process to effectively talk and solve the challenges facing our health care. It’s time we demand that our leaders do the same.
Mike Noon is a senior in chemical engineering. He can be reached at [email protected].