America’s healthcare system often feels like a game where the rules are made up and the points don’t matter—except the points are your dollars and the stakes are as high as your health.
At this point in history, everyone seems to have a problem with how healthcare works – or doesn’t work – in the United States. There is a plethora of valid reasons for this.
Healthcare prices have skyrocketed and it doesn’t appear that they are coming down anytime soon. Meanwhile, most of our healthcare decisions are made by a cabal of governmental and corporate interests.
Politicians on both sides of the political divide have proposed solutions to our healthcare crisis. Actually, scratch that.
Democrats have proposed polices that would expand the government’s presence in the healthcare industry. Republicans have pretended to oppose these policies but have done nothing to present alternatives to government-run healthcare.
But, there are ways to improve the quality and affordability of healthcare in the United States.
For starters, expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) is an excellent start. By expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) we can have a system where more people can set aside money tax-free for medical expenses.
Currently, HSAs are tied to high-deductible health plans, but why limit them? Let's broaden the eligibility and usage of HSAs to cover everything from prescription sunglasses to alternative therapies, giving individuals complete control over their health expenditures. This shift could revolutionize the way we think about and manage our health expenses, turning every citizen into a savvy healthcare shopper.
Secondly, the government must stop prohibiting health insurance companies from selling insurance across state lines. It’s about as silly as having a Netflix subscription that only works in your home state.
Allowing insurers to sell policies across state lines could unleash a wave of competition that lowers prices and broadens coverage options. Consumers would benefit from a diverse marketplace where they could shop for plans that best meet their unique health needs, much like they do with car insurance.
This could lead to better customer service and more tailored plans, not to mention the potential for significant reductions in premiums. Also, the government has no business telling companies where they can and cannot do business.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also a huge problem. It often acts as a gatekeeper that's lost the keys—drugs and treatments can languish in regulatory purgatory for years.
If I had it my way, there would be no FDA. But since there is, it would be better to streamline the approval processes, especially for medications already approved in other developed nations.
This approach could slash development costs and speed up the availability of life-saving drugs. Furthermore, fostering a competitive drug market could lead to lower prices and greater innovation, ultimately benefiting consumers who need access to new and effective treatments without bureaucratic delays.
Transparency in the industry would also help. Shedding some light on what people are actually paying for would give more power to consumers. Healthcare providers should disclose their prices clearly and publicly, just like any other industry. This could transform healthcare into a consumer-driven market where price comparisons are simple and encouraged.
Imagine being able to shop around for the best-priced MRI or hip replacement the way you compare prices for flights online. Such transparency would not only empower consumers but also drive down prices as providers compete openly for business.
We also need to say goodbye to scope-of-practice laws which limit the services that medical professionals are allowed to provide. Currently, many highly skilled nurse practitioners and physician assistants are only allowed to perform certain medical tasks under the watchful eye of a doctor. We must reduce or completely abolish these restrictive scope-of-practice laws, thus enabling these professionals to offer a wider range of services.
This could dramatically increase access to healthcare, particularly in underserved and rural areas, and potentially reduce overall healthcare costs by leveraging a broader base of healthcare providers. More autonomy for nurse practitioners and physician assistants could lead to more innovative care models and a more responsive healthcare system overall.
By advocating for these changes, America could create a healthcare environment that prioritizes personal choice, market competition, and true cost transparency.
This would usher in a future where healthcare is not only more affordable and accessible but also a better match for the unique needs of each individual—free from the heavy hand of government oversight. In this vision, healthcare is no longer a daunting challenge but a manageable part of life, like choosing the best route for a road trip or the tastiest recipe for dinner.
Increasing HSA’s only allows individuals to save for medical not reduce costs. A big portion of cost is buried in malpractice insurance. Reduce the need and cap limits and see if that does not reduce cost. Improve our nations health is the single largest thing we could do as a nation.