Health care: Do something now

Next week, President Obama will address Congress and attempt to grab the reigns of health care reform. If you are like us, you know the U.S. health care system threatens our economy, our global competitiveness and, of course, our health. But, the rhetoric scares you and you're not sure our legislators can fix the problems.

They can. Enough studies and research have been done by experts to guide our elected officials to the right reforms. But they need a groundswell of public support for reform to get them to do the right thing.

If you have insurance through your employer or Medicare, let your senators and legislators know that you support reform.

Why? Because our current system is based on myths. And it's broken.

Myth: The U.S. has the best health care system in the world. Wrong. The U.S. operates the second most expensive system in the world (Monaco is No. 1) and for that investment, it delivers poor quality, ranking 31st or lower on life expectancy, infant mortality, and adult mortality (World Health Organization).

Myth: Private health insurance companies are more efficient and customer-focused than the government. Wrong. U.S. health insurance administrative costs are 30 to 70 percent higher than in countries with mixed private/public insurance systems and three times higher than those of countries with the lowest rates (The Commonwealth Fund).

Myth: Covering the uninsured isn't our problem. Wrong. The uninsured ultimately wind up in emergency rooms where they receive expensive treatments of last resort paid for with your tax dollars - over $40 billion in 2004 (Kaiser Family Foundation). The "hidden tax" of the uninsured results in eight percent higher insurance premiums for the insured (Families USA). Here in Oregon, private insurers announced last week that they will pass along to privately insured individuals the new one percent tax on premiums for children's health care (The Oregonian, August 30).

Myth: We don't need comprehensive reform now - we can wait. Wrong. Health care already consumes more than 15% of the U.S. GDP. Nearly all other countries are in the single digits (WHO). By 2035, health care will consume 31 percent of the U.S. GDP (Congressional Budget Office). Health insurance costs are bankrupting companies and public entities alike (think: America's automakers and local school districts).

Myth: I don't need to worry. I have good insurance through my job. Wrong. Since 2000, employer-based insurance has declined and employees with insurance have shouldered more and more of the costs (EBRI). Elizabeth's share of hospital costs for the births of her three children were $300 in 2002, $900 in 2004 and over $5,000 in 2008 - all while covered with employer-based insurance. We bet you've seen similar increases in your coverage.

How would we fix it? Scrap employer-based coverage (and all its problems). Cover all Americans with a core benefit package emphasizing prevention. Let the market run for everything else (such as vision and dental care, elective surgery, etc).

But we're pragmatic. Some reform is better than no reform. That's why we told our elected officials we want reform now and why we are asking you to do the same.

Elizabeth Whitworth is an MPH with over 10 years experience in health care policy; Vanessa Wilkins holds a Harvard MBA with for-profit and non-profit experience. Wilkins is a part-time resident of Black Butte Ranch.