On the Side| Brad Hicks

The unfortunate part of the health care debate is no one listens to one another. Every talking head, columnist, political hack, Joe Blow or Jane Doe interviewed seems to have an agenda – financial or political. So, we are treated to displays of pride, prejudice, hypocrisy and defensiveness.

For a moment, let’s consider what health care is, what it isn’t, and what we want it to be. From what I hear, most Americans want health care to be affordable, less complicated, available, portable, and personal.

Obamacare has resulted in tremendous increases in deductibles, co-pays, and premiums; a lack of access; and less personal care. Ironically, those three things were happening prior to Obamacare. We have to remember the reason we have Obamacare – people were tired of insurance companies taking more of their money and providing less service.

Sound familiar?

So let’s get off the argument of whose fault it is. Let’s set about problem-solving. For just one instance, consider Medicaid. There is concern that the current Republican proposal negatively impacts a lot of people on Medicaid. Dropping people from Medicaid results in people going to emergency rooms and seeking care without payment. That results in costs being shifted to people who can pay through their insurance. This cost-shifting is one reason that private insurance became so much more expensive. A tenet of Obamacare was to force everyone to have to pay for some type of coverage, which was very unpopular. Thus, the question is, what is the third alternative?

We need problem-solvers, not political talk.

I don’t hear much from the medical community in all of this discussion, and that’s a voice we need desperately to hear. Access to health care is not just about insurance – it’s about facilities, staff and equipment. Patients drive costs by requesting services.

I’ve been the guy who ran the company’s health insurance program, and I’ve been on Obamacare. What I hear out there has much more to do with power and staying in office than it does solving problems. Democrats and Republicans need to start listening to people beyond their circle, or at some point, there will be calls for another Independence Day.

Contact Brad Hicks at publisher@redoakexpress.com.

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