Health Insurance Is Not Healthcare
Wonks Anonymous hesitates to belabor the obvious but his years of training as a professional economist sometimes overcome his concern for the gentle readers of this blog. Besides, most of the debate about health care so far has been just a bit deceptive. We talk about Universal Health Care and Health Care Reform when the real proposals on the table are Universal Health Insurance and Health Insurance Reform. In any debate we must be careful to be clear on our terms lest we be convinced to do something foolish and unproductive.
Health Care is what you get when you visit a doctor, acupuncturist, clinic or any other health care provider. It consists of treatments, prescriptions and advice designed to help you to stay healthy and fight of disease. Health Insurance is a contract with an insurance company that promises to pay for some forms of health care under certain circumstance and after certain conditions have been met. You or your employer make monthly payments to the insurance and get a more or less binding promise to pay for health care, should you need it and should you meet all of the other conditions of the contract.
Health Insurance is, in fact, a promise that gives you a sense of security. It enables you to worry about one less thing and may make you feel better about the employer who pays for it. What it actually delivers, should you need health care, is another story. You could be quite satisfied. On the other hand you could be like some friends of mine whose child was diagnosed with diabetes. You could be shocked to discover that you cannot obtain need care or are required to pay a substantial part of your income, say $8,000, before you health plan starts paying for care.
Someplace in your personal papers or, if you are like me, in the recycling bin you should have a detailed explanation of your health insurance coverage. Your employer should send you one every year. Wonks Anonymous suggests that you find this document and try to read it. If you do not understand it see your lawyer or accountant or some other wonkish professional for help. This may prevent unpleasant surprises in the future.
After you have read and understand your policy take the time to ask yourself this. If everyone had a policy like this would most of the problems Americans have getting good timely health care be solved? If you can say yes to this then you, along with Wonks Anonymous, can consider yourself lucky.
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