X-Message-Number: 31832
From: "Robert Newport" <>
References: <>
Subject: #31830:
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:59:45 -0700

Whatever evils maybe seen in the proposed health bill, the history of
"Corporate Medicine" has been one of tragedy, bankruptcy and death, for many
individuals, and financial disaster for doctors and for American Businesses
who bear an unwarranted albatross on their bottom line. The Governments
role, has not helped and has certainly complicated the financial aspects
despite our good intentions. In my opinion, it is the existence of and
popular acceptance of, the health care insurance industry which has been
behind these unintended consequences. Insurance, must exist to spread risk.
(it also has a function of forcing savings, but that is not relevant to this
debate) Risk, to be spread over many, has to be un-equal, and in the case of
our health care needs, measured over the course of an entire, birth-to-death
life time, it isn't. It may be un-equal, when measured against any one
period of life, say childhood versus elderhood, or when separating out,
known life-style, or genetic factors, but that (which is the practice of and
indeed the very business model for private insurance) then leaves the high
risk population, uninsurable (privately). If, and we may debate this issue
at length, we as a society, declare that medical care is a right of
citizenship, or a birthright, (which we seem to have done) then the private
insurance industry not only has no useful function, but also in
counter-productive, adding layers of cost and regulation to the system. I
am, after much experience as both a private and public physician, convinced
that a combination of socialized and private medicine can exist, can be
created to not thwart innovation and invention, as is threatened by those
who are invested in the corporate system, if the entire concept of private
health care insurance is eliminated.  People who can afford to do so, will
buy private care from doctors and hospitals, who wishing to take the risks,
sell it to them, and everyone else can use the system, that their taxes pay
for. This will truly spread the risk, and eliminate the draining of
corporate profits from the system.
A lot has been made of the "people will use more than they need if it is
free" idea. Namely, that it will drive up costs. This is as wrong as it can
get. It will drive down costs. Health care costs more, much more, when it is
delivered late in the course of illness rather than early. "An ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure" is the relevant wisdom. Thank you,
Robert Newport M.D. 

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