Seeing health care from a business perspective
It was bound to happen — sooner or later. Finally one genuine writer to the editor has the emotional character to discuss a national political issue without boring us with their obnoxious partisan slant. Thank you, Mr. Joseph D. Coco, for your refreshing thoughts, neither Democrat nor Republican, but American. This should be reprinted often for benefit of those who raise or teach children to show the kids that to have an open mind and their own ideas, their thoughts cannot be clouded by political party lines. You are what America used to be, Mr. Coco.
I would like to put an exclamation point on one special note Mr. Coco made. The concept of pooling dollars, whether it be for health insurance or homeowners association dues, is to set money aside for a rainy day hopefully to save any one individual from an unexpected catastrophe that could result in financial ruin. This goal has been misguided to include all of the “kitchen sink” coverages Mr. Coco eloquently spelled out.
He also touched on one point that has been totally missed by all of the politicians and the news media as they ponder the solutions and consequences of health-care programs. Thank you for recognizing the impact that skyrocketing insurance premiums have on local businesses. I have spent nearly 100 percent of my time over the last six years visiting Flathead business leaders, owners, and managers. I spend about two hours with each business and have now met with over 500 businesses discussing their challenges to keep the doors open. I directly ask, “What keeps you up at night?” Not surprisingly, it always comes down to ... a) controlling expenses and b) finding and keeping talented employees.
Employers large and small honestly want to offer health insurance as a benefit! It is one of their “tools” to recruit and to retain talent. But more so, they sincerely want to look out for the well-being of their trusted and valued staff members. After visiting 500 businesses, it is not surprising that not one single business owner has asked for insurance to be expanded to include 26-year-old children or covering individuals who want to avoid purchasing insurance until they get sick and practice unhealthy lifestyles.
Perhaps you have heard the simple solution to bring down insurance pricing is by allowing you to purchase insurance across state lines. Do not believe it. They allowed banks to move across state lines years ago. You decide how much you have saved in financial services with this expanded competition.
Insurance will go down by accepting less coverage, increasing co-pays just as I have done personally with my auto insurance, reducing government regulations of doctors and hospitals. Stop allowing multimillion dollar settlements that make rich attorneys and requiring unaffordable malpractice insurance for doctors (perhaps you have noticed your doctor taking early retirement or selling to the hospital). Put a cap on lawsuits, and find out why our prescription drugs are totally unreasonable. Do all this in addition to requiring individuals to be enrolled in a program to be already covered when they get sick.
Just in case you are in favor of a national health-care program to get everyone involved, ask some of our Canadian friends you see at Costco how that is going for them. They will tell you it is working just about like our VA program works (which is also being run by the government), which is why Canadians that can afford it come to Flathead for medical treatment at their own expense.
On TV just last night one station showed two clips. One with President Trump and the other with President Obama (therefore non-partisan). As though they were reading each other’s notes, both said ‘if young adults up to 26” can afford an iPhone, iPad, iPod and the data plan required, they do not need help with insurance and can certainly pay for their own birth-control pills. On another note, if they are not employed to help with the expense, I suggest parents strap them in the back seat of the car and drive them by Taco Bell, Applebee’s, ShopKo, and TeleTech to look at the signs begging for help in “all positions.”
Finally in support of business owners. The idea of “paid maternity leave” for both parents is one of the real fascinating new ideas for an employer to offer their faithful staff. What could that possibly cost the business owner? Let’s assume you have worked for the company for 10 years. How much would it cost a business to train a temporary employee to obtain skills you acquired over 10 years? How much business will be lost? What if both parents are out on same maternity leave? I still haven’t heard who will foot the bill for the paid leave? Are we just going to continue bleeding our businesses that support our kids’ programs and schools from birth to 26, until we force them all out of business and completely empty the malls, and then buy all of our insurance and all products “across state lines” — or in China?
They have earned and deserve your support. But then again, it may be too late.
Have we forgotten? “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” —John F. Kennedy
Jackson is a resident of Kalispell.