Why Do We Need Universal Healthcare?

By Rowan Wolf

Why do we need universal healthcare? Let me share a personal story.

First, I have health insurance through my employer. They chip in and I chip in, and both my partner and myself are covered by a major HMO. Like all insurance, each year for about the last 10 years, the premium and deductibles have gone up. Sometimes more than 10% in a year. This is pretty typical. However, folks should realize that 10% per year increase means that the cost of health insurance doubles in seven years.

As some of you know, I underwent radiation surgery for a tumor in my brain this June. (For those who have been concerned and sent good wishes and prayers, I am slowly recovering, but the trend is generally positive). My HMO split the procedure with another provider who had the equipment to perform the procedure. Let me share the procedure and then the big shocker.

Prior to the procedure it was required that I have an MRI and a CT scan. The CT scan had to be performed with the head harness installed on my skull. All of these procedures occurred at my HMO's facilities. My family then needed to load me in the car - head frame attached - to drive me to the partner facility where they did the procedure and then removed to head frame. I thn got to go home. This was an outpatient, day long, surgery.

Today I received the statement from the partnering facility for the surgery - just the surgery. That bill dropped my jaw. The radiation surgery cost ... $35,501. I have received other bills for the personnel involved and various office visits in preparation for and followup from the surgery. They have totaled in the vicinity of $2500.

My HMO has not informed me of the costs of the MRI and the CT scan. However, I would estimate that the MRI cost about $3000 and the CT scan about $800. I have no idea what the day surgery and head frame installation cost, but let's say a modest $1500.

That brings us to an estimated cost of $43,301.00. $43,301.00 for a DAY surgery. (And I will need to have another MRI this winter as a followup.)

If I had to pay this full bill, I would be filing bankruptcy. If I did not have insurance, I would not have had the tumor addressed. If I had not had insurance, I likely would not have had the tumor diagnosed because I could not have fronted the money for the first diagnostic MRI that was done.

Believe me, I feel incredibly lucky to have decent insurance with my employer. I know that my health would be far different if I did not have it. I feel for the 50 million people in our nation who do not have insurance, and for double that number whose insurance is poor (or craps out on them when they need it most). That should not happen.

We have treated healthcare in this country as a commodity. Something to be bought and sold and whatever cost the market will bear. Those without funds can't get it, those with modest funds can get a varying range of access, and those who are wealthy can get anything they want. Those who qualify may get access through state systems or medicaid. Those funds (and services) are limited.

Many people in the U.S. feel that the commodity approach to healthcare has failed. The pressure is that the people of the U.S. join the ranks of many other nations where healthcare is a right. We are willing to contribute to that effort. Many are willing to kick the private insurance companies out of their current role as middleman and gatekeeper - charging ever-increasing tolls to access a necessary service.

I had a totally unexpected condition that required treatment. This (or something like it) could happen to anyone. Should people's "choice" be to let the tumor in their brains grow because they can't afford either insurance or healthcare? Should people die because they can't afford healthcare? They do - every day - about 18,000 people a year. All so private insurance companies can see record profits year after year - as they did in both 2007 and 2008.

It is way past time that healthcare was a basic right within this country. The big money interests have had their run and sucked all the blood they are going to get. We need access, and we need to control costs. Healthcare reform should have two goals: 1) everyone gets access to quality care; 2) healthcare is not for profit any longer.