California Health Care & Big Business

Yesterday's LA Times published and article about how big business is jumping into the discussion about US Health Care and how Gov. Arnie is trying to get more people in the state of California covered under health insurance plans. This is another example that politics make strange bed-fellows. The article, in its entirety is at http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-health7may07,0,4141456.story?coll=la-home-headlines
I applaud the 30 or so companies trying to make improvements to their employees lives by getting better insurance coverage, however, it also appears to be a little disingenuous considering how management typically and "normally" acts regarding overhead expenses, the largest being personnel and affiliated personnel expenses like benefits (insurance being the largest of that component).

The biggest way to improve health care in the US, is for each and every individual to take responsibility for their health. From being a wise and informed consumer of health care options to wise and aware consumer of food and lifestyles which keep one healthy and not endangered due to "fast living" or poor life decision-making. As a country, we have to teach our citizens such practices. (One can always tell the US citizens on international cruise ships -- they are the ones who habitually pig-out at the open buffet lines of food. Europeans show much greater restraint and moderate eating behavior).

The other part, is to make sure the medical/health care market place really is open. If we are allowed to make informed decisions based upon our wallets, I think we will do fine. Unfortunately, we as a nation don't see health care that way and think it is someone else's responsibility to pay. Wrong answer. I am healthy and don't want to pay for the hypochondriac. Let that person use most of their disposable income to chase phantom boo-boos. I don't want to pay for someone who enjoys their vacation time in medical waiting rooms. Not me!

But there is plenty of blame to go around for making the US a bunch of pill-popping wimps. Medical light-weights who are abdicating our ability to make our own decisions. Force it back to my wallet and I will be as cheap as I can be. Wait. I already do that with insurance! Then, I challenge the rest of my citizen cohort to do the same. Be brave. You can do it!