Well, it's interesting to read about Walmart in today's WSJ online and its "turnaround" regarding employer contributions to health insurance for employees...they now support it. (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124640564559176649.html#mod=testMod)
But like a bad relationship, avoiding the sticking points of health policy doesn't fix anything though there's something to be said for keeping the topic in the forefront. So why Walmart's turnaround?
First off, acknowledged within the article is the fact that Walmart has a point in saying that if they provide health insurance options, all businesses should. Not necessarily a CHARITABLE approach, but true. This argument is the same as this blog's argument that "REFORM" that burdens one segment of people...in this case the middle class because they are the only disorganized group of individuals instead of representing a GROUP and in obtaining health insurance being part of a group can't be beat. Look at our governmental workers...you've been encouraged to do so before. After all this time we still don't hear any of the governmental talking heads addressing the unbelievably GOOD benefits available to civil servants vs the benefits available to the average citizen.
Second, Walmart emphasizes the need to control costs. Duh. But the only way that we've attempted to control costs is to penalize the sick, those with bad habits, or those with a history of less than perfect health...charging more in premiums. This is a doomed policy because as Americans get "healthier" for insurance purposes, health insurers and service providers like doctors do NOT lower their charges. Quite the contrary, these have gone up for people who have never used their insurance coverage for anything but "preventive" care. So what gives? Until the amount charged is controlled and until there is a mandate of return of percentage of premium for every benefits year that is UNDER utilized, there is NO incentive for providers and insurers to control what they charge.
The "FREE" market is a myth and I for one will not listen to any sadly misinformed individual spout ideas of the free market. In this blog we've gone over the endless legislation (you know laws) passed after pressure from lobbyists ranging from insurer lobbyist like AHIP to physician lobbies like the AMA. And if you still want to argue that this heavily legislated benefit for these segments is "free", think of your own bill...how's that free market working for you? The only way a person gets cheaper health insurance is to buy less coverage. So give it up. And regarding the STATES RIGHTS issue, have you actually LOOKED at where your health insurers are located? They are already NATIONAL.
So, in the spirit of being upbeat, what good is going on? The discussion is good because the issue is upfront. Unfortunately right now, however, President Obama wants reform without hurting big business's feelings. He wants reform without physicians threatening people that they will stop practicing. He wants reform without pointing out that all the die hard "capitalists?" in Washington who are using Federal health plans while they tell their constituents tough luck need to opt out of the bloated federal benefits program. Until Obama man's up and acknowledges that continuous squeezing of the middle class, or the mere expansion of government programs without applying pressure to the endless greed and unmonitored overcharging of the American people by insurers and providers, this "reform" will go nowhere and Obama risks a legacy of "attempted health care reform" that was the lethal blow to Hilary Clinton's attempts. And regarding Walmart...no specific mention of covering PART TIME workers...interesting.
Basically we're spinning our wheels. Health insurers don't HAVE to charge more because there are actually sick people using their product. Their product is only VIABLE if it covers the sick. Physicians aren't being crushed by their costs...look up their income levels, go ahead, I dare you! Right now we're talking about moving money around, not reform because CONTROLLING COSTS FROM OVERPRICED INSURANCE AND OVERPRICED SERVICES is being omitted.
