Making Sense of the Health Insurance Wars

As a small business owner I find myself very interested in the health insurance debate. The discussions between those individuals that favor one form of reform versus another can be quite intense at times. The perspectives often reflect polar opposite world views and often leave the individual somewhat bewildered as to what the best solutions is. These are often influenced by the political persuasions of the presenters in question. Other times they can simply reflect the real experiences of certain individuals.

As a struggling business owner who does not have insurance and has struggled to make a living even before the current economic downturn, I can very much support the view that states that some type of drastic reform must be done. When I visit a doctor I have to pay the entire amount out of pocket expense which can easily range anywhere from sixty to one hundred and fifty dollars, and that's with a purported no-insurance discount!

Unlike a large corporation, my medical expenditures are not typically deductable in the same manner that the health insurance payments made by a corporation on behalf of employees are. The fundamental question I always ask and no one can answer is why are costs so high! I have yet to understand this issue though high liability insurance for doctors has been suggested by many

The answer to this problem by one side of the debate has been to argue for a "public option" to compete with private insurance and reduce the cost. In addition, some favor completely public sponsored plans which as far as I can decipher would essentially expand Medicare. The rational for this is that removing profit motives will reduce the overall cost of healthcare.

In theory and in practicality, I had no problem with this until I considered one issue. As a small business owner I am quite involved in shipping products to my customers. Because of weight and size, I often use the Postal Service. The logistical challenges faced by the Postal Service are real and are often out of their control. But standing in lines for half an hour or more on average plus the often less than stellar performance and service of the personnel that work there raises the question as to what kind of service a government health care option might offer. This is the perhaps the greatest challenge faced by those who argue for the public option.

In the end, a better solution must be available especially for those of us who remain in the middle truly striving to understand the health insurance issue and what now seem to be the health insurance wars.

Jacob Lumbroso is a world traveler and an enthusiast for foreign languages, history, and foreign cultures. He writes articles on history and languages and also has a website on Cheap Electric Guitars providing information on how to Buy Electric Guitar.

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By Jacob Lumbroso