Be Still My Beating Heart...

This morning I did something that thousands of other Americans will do today: I went to see a doctor. In this particular instance it was not my regular doctor, but an ear-nose-throat specialist I was referred to because of some problems I've been having in my right ear for more than a year. But my specific ailment really isn't the issue. The fact is I got to see the doctor of my choice in a relatively timely manner, and I know that my insurance will cover at least 90% of the cost of today's appointment. In short, I'm very happy with the health insurance my family has. And the last thing I want is to lose our current coverage.

My wife is fortunate enough to work at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and we've decided to carry our family health insurance through her because nothing else comes close to the coverage they offer at an unbeatable price. I'm not saying it's cheap because it still costs us several hundreds of dollars a month. But compared to the other plans we've had through different employers and the premiums we've had to pay, we're well aware of just how good we really have it. Yet I wonder if we will be able to keep it.

Because of my parental responsibilities, I was not able to watch the President's address to Congress and the nation last night regarding health care. So I acknowledge that I am not aware of all that he said. Nonetheless, I have had the opportunity to read some excerpts from his speech, and I honestly wish I could say that I don't have concerns. In fact, while I don't like to admit to this, I feel an overwhelming sense of fear building up within me in regard to this matter.

Part of what has triggered this fear is the subtle changes in what the President now says about whatever health plan he's supporting. In a review of his speech, Calvin Woodward and Erica Werner of the Associated Press point out that the President has backed away from his bold assertion he made throughout the summer that, "If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan, period." Instead in his address last night he said, "Nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have." While it is true that nothing will require you or your employer to change the coverage, nothing will prevent them from dumping their insurance plans in favor of a government-run nightmare (http://www.startribune.com/politics/58201107.html?page=2&c=y). As many experts (and not just critics) have pointed out, the proposed 8% payroll tax penalty on employers for failing to provide health insurance to employees will be cheaper for many than the actual cost of providing insurance, so it doesn't take much to connect the dots in that scenario.

Now in my case, I'd hope that Mayo Clinic would opt to continue to provide private coverage to it's employees, but obviously there is no guarantee they will. I know in the midst of the current economic downturn Mayo is looking to cut or control costs just like every other business as they should. And what would prevent them from considering reducing their own health care costs this way in future recessions? To the best of my knowledge absolutely nothing.

Admittedly, I realize when compared to the 30 million Americans who cannot afford health insurance I'm spoiled. I cannot deny that. But in some ways I can relate to them. There was a time in my life when I could not afford health insurance nor could my employer afford to offer it to me. For 3.5 years I hoped and prayed that nothing serious would happen to me, and thankfully, nothing did (amazing when you consider I worked as a carpet installer at the time--a profession prone to injury). But there were times when I probably should have gone to see a doctor but chose not to because I didn't want to have to fork out the money. And thinking back on that period, I remember all too well the constant low-level anxiety that I carried with me knowing one big medical bill could mess me up for years to come.

I can also sympathize with those who are concerned about the rising costs of health care. As I mentioned above, my wife and I pay hundreds of dollars each month for our coverage and I wish that were not so. At the same time considering the service we get in return, I am more than satisfied because we're fortunate enough to receive our care at a world-class facility that delivers some of the most cost-effective care in the world. Though I readily acknowledge not all are as fortunate as we are, and that is why I recognize that something must be done.

But I come back to a fundamental question: why should those who are more than happy with the health care provided by their employer face the possibility of losing that some day in favor a government-run, bureaucratic nightmare that virtually everyone outside of the President's entourage predicts will only increase costs and most likely result in lesser quality care? Are there not other alternatives that can reform costs and still provide quality care? There certainly seem to be a lot of other ideas floating around out there that would suggest so (e.g. http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/09/health-care-reform-insurance-opinions-contributors-doctors.html). I don't like to live in fear, but the more I listen to what is coming out of Washington D.C., the more I have to work to calm my beating heart.