Somebody is gonna pay!

Over the weekend, I went to a great outdoor concert in Sandpoint, Idaho. In front of me sat a very pleasant couple from Canada and as you would guess, we talked health care. They shared their perspective on Canadian and American approaches to medicine. They seemed well informed about both systems and I had no reason to doubt their opinions, especially since they have lived on each side of the border for some time. Our discussion centered upon, "Who pays when we get sick?"

This week's blog will not tackle the merits of American medicine versus our northern neighbors "evil" socialized medical care...eh? However, I will talk about money and health care. Specifically: Save your money and don't use health care! What's up with that, you ask? Simple: The healthier you are the more money you can keep. And this isn't one of those sales where you spend 20 bucks to save 16...like I did today! And as an added bonus, you don't have to fill out one single form!

Let me be more specific from a pharmacist perspective. You might think you are getting a great deal for that 5 dollar co-pay, but check those premiums, my friend. I am guessing that through a peanut butter costing scam, you are subsidizing other patients with terrible health and many times self inflicted. I am also guessing your premiums don't go down! And...your tax dollars are supporting a group of state assisted patients that often lack the concept that free medicine isn't free at all. You may not have quite thought through this oddity, but health care is one of the few industries where supply actually increases costs. In a way, we have only ourselves to blame. We are not exactly the poster child for health. Just look at the growing incidence of childhood obesity and diabetes. Overweight kids usually turn out to be overweight adults on many medicines.

As health care reform rolls our way, we will soon be asked to value the changes or in other words, how much should your doctor make? That wonderful surgeon that saved my daughter's life was worth every penny. Others during the ordeal, not so much! However, they all got paid based on a billing code and not on outcomes.

So whatever single pay plan congress throws at us, know this. A healthy diet, a lost TV remote, a low dose aspirin, and a brisk walk around the block thinking about fairness in health care, might just save you a few dollars. Maybe you can find a sweet mutual fund for the future....take as directed.
Blake