Health Care Perspective

I had a meeting with a client today who sent a letter to a rehabilitation hospital after her husband was released.  It was an example of something that we can do as citizens to make a difference in health care costs and how the system works.  This couple is retired military and they are on a Tricare health insurance plan, which is essentially government paid health care.  

When she and her husband were in Arizona recently, he experienced a heart attack and had to go to the hospital.  Upon arriving to the facilities and sharing that they had Tricare, they were basically given the royal treatment.  They had an improved billing situation, a painless check out procedure, the whole bit.  

When he transferred to a rehabilitation facility, there were several procedures being done that his wife questioned and indicated that they not be put on her bill.  At the end of the day, she was extremely angry because she felt like the facility was taking advantage of their government sponsored health plan.

I wonder how many times each of us are in situations similar to that of this couple.  I also wonder if we can fully comprehend the depths of the impact of somebody other than ourselves paying for these bills.

Just imagine if you went to a car dealership and they asked you what kind of car you wanted.  You say, “I'll take the fanciest one you've got and everything on it, since I'm not paying for it anyway, let's just get it all.”  The dealer, knowing that they're going to get paid and knowing they'll make more money the more cars they sell, they just load it up.  So you've got the fanciest car they've got with all the options available and they're happy and you're happy and all is good since you're not paying for it anyway.  That's sort of the state of our health care system as it stands right now.