More on Insurance

Still praying, thinking, deliberating on insurance and the idea of making boatloads of cash while attempting to do no harm. Still no answers, although after a bit of browsing I am more encouraged that this debate is coming to the fore a bit. You should know that I was raised in a military family, which meant that I was provided with military insurance until I was 21 (I think), which covers pretty much everything and is a type of "universal care." In 1993-1994 health care reform was the debate topic for the National Forensics League so the questions have been on my radar for at least 13-14 years although I am no closer to a solution. Since turning 21 I have had I believe ten total doctor appointments, three of these were physicals and seven were either emergency or follow up appointments. I am married and have three children, all of whom have been to the doctors a number of times. I did my undergrad in Canada and participated in their universal health care by breaking my wrist and impregnating my wife. My wrist treatment, including the ER was great, and the birth of our first child went pretty well. On the whole the biggest difference between the systems was a general sense of entitlement that was lacking in the Canadian people. This is an overall trait, but speaks specifically to the way Americans consume health care (for an absolutely brilliant book on this, see Carl Elliot's Better Than Well : When American Medicine Meets the American Dream). There is a ton more here to develop and talk through, but one of the fun pieces is that Michael Moore is releasing a new documentary entitled "Sicko," I do not know how to embed this, but here is a link to the official trailer, and an interview with Moore and Bill Maher (this one is a bit racy in places, but Moore comes across as a grown up who is a bit humbled). The discussion has been started, and I will be weighing in as I can.