Universal Health Care

One of the many discussions going on in the political world today that struck me today again was the strong resurgence of the left to introduce universal health care. I understand that this is a so-called "progressive" thing to do, but it is unimaginative and has been done and has been shown to be ineffective and fails to create an improved health care system for the poor. One thought that entered my brain is when I was talking with my aunt, who is now without health care because of losing her job. She has had some medical issues that has made it difficult for her to return to work and being a woman in her early 60s it is hard for her to find work. Now with this we could scream ageism and other "isms" I am sure, but my other thought is where would this get us in the discussion? Thinking about this it would be great to have some health network to help her and most when thinking of this would jump to universal health care (because that is such an original and effective solution).

When thinking on this I started to try and think of alternatives. I like what Mitt Romney has done in Massachusetts, which some are labeling universal health care (which I believe is a misnomer because it still doesn't provide automatic coverage which would be implied in "universal") because I do believe that there needs to be some personal responsibility, but offer some support for those that truly are struggling. But what other options could be done? The idea of President Bush to give a tax refund at the end of the year to more than cover health insurance is a good one, but automatically it is criticized because it comes from President Bush. I see the issue with that option is that it could create a system in which insurance companies may increase premiums to meet the tax refund which could create another issue of the government trying to help and in the end creating an economic crutch for health insurers and health care providers. I mean some of the stuff is ridiculous which most of us would agree ($10 for an aspirin, $15 for a box of Kleenex, etc.).

With that what could we do?

Well, early in our great country's history the Church was given the mantle to carry on education and health care. Since that has changed our education has become less and less competitive and our health care system is in a struggle fighting the rising cost of care for illegals (which is a whole other issue which I may discuss sometime from a perspective of one who has been a legal immigrant in another country and the bureaucracy that I faced) and those that have become reliant on social welfare it is a difficult for those hospitals that try to do the right thing to survive without some of those ridiculous charges. What can we do as churches to help? Some would say that it may be to far gone to do anything, but I don't believe that. One thing economics tells us that if something is not working well if someone were to come up with an alternative that works better or improves something it should succeed, but that means trying something that might be a risk. What I am saying is that we shouldn't rehash something that is failing in other countries, i.e. universal health care, and look at new concepts to try. What's the worst that can happen? We fail...so what? No one has made money without taking some risk, it is just how much of a risk is worth it?

Lower prescription costs...we could stop corporate welfare of pharmaceutical companies by giving an option - if you utilize public universities to help in research than as a business it is only right to offer those medicines a fair market price to the country which has helped to support your research or fully fund research without the help of the government and let the market determine the price and don't negotiate deals with other countries that are lower than what you are willing to charge in the United States, what that means is a "fair market price" should be what the market can bear in the world market place. That is a free market economy and if I can find the same product elsewhere cheaper I should be able to purchase it from that market without penalty because that is the market price. If we hold the pharmaceutical companies to the same standard that most businesses are held than pricing would be easier to control because if they can afford to sell the same product for $10 to one market they can afford it in all or they shouldn't enter into the deal. Some would say that this would make it impossible for some great medicines to make it into poorer markets, well to answer that question they can donate medicines to third world countries, they can partner with philanthropic organizations in raising funding to offset the cost to themselves to help get it to the market, or some other solution. Churches can be a voice in this movement also.

It is time that we, as churches, begin to work with businesses centered in our communities and negotiate deals to help the "least of these" that are in our world without demonizing business for making a profit, but be willing to be a conscious voice and a conscience for business leaders to support the same country that has supported them and to be of service to God in the world since the majority of business leaders in the United States say they believe in a god and of those the majority I would argue call themselves Christian.