Disease Prevention - the Answer to Rising Health Insurance Costs

Please feel free to use this article as long ascompanies where the program has been instituted
credit is given to the resource box.savings have been substantial. The drawback is
Keywords: Disease Prevention, Health Insurance,that it tends to draw in young healthy people, and
Health Savings Accounts, Universal Coverage,does little to help the aging, sick or uncovered
Health Care, New Middle Aged Groupportion of the population.
© Copyright Arthur Levine 2007The Democrats by and large favor some form of
Words: 843Universal Health Care funded by the federal
There is now a substantial portion of thegovernment. The good part is that everyone
population in the United States, which is unhappywould be covered. The drawback is that there is
with their health insurance coverage or lackno inducement by individuals to practice Disease
thereof. There are approximately 46 millionPrevention because the government is picking up
uninsured in the US.the tab and this might result in a new massive
Members of the New Middle Aged Group arefederally funded program that over time cannot
particularly interested in their health insurancebe adequately funded by the government as it
options because many of them lose health caregrows in light of demands from our other
benefits upon retirement. Medicare, which isentitlement problems such as, Medicare, Medicaid
available at age 65, does not cover everything,and Prescription Drug Insurance.
and individual or family health care insuranceToday we find ourselves at the crossroads of
policies are very expensive and for the most partescalating Health Care Costs and Health Care
payable with pre tax dollars.funding requirements that have brought us to the
Health care costs in the US keep rising, and inpoint of a collision.
most years health insurance premiums do tooThe solution may lie in combining some form of
often at double-digit rates. .both of these programs utilizing the platform of
Disease Prevention expenses as a portion ofHealth Savings Accounts, which would be federally
Gross Domestic Product (GDC) accounts forfunded to the extent needed to subsidize them
some 16% of the budget with only 4% spent onso that everyone could be covered including those
Disease Prevention while 50% of Diseases arewith pre existing conditions either through a series
preventable.of federal corporate or individual tax credits, or
According to the Congressional Budget Office bywith direct contributions in the individual's name to
the year 2020 health care spending which, isfund the program, but it is not just about the
already more than $2 trillion dollars (16% of GDP),cost of health care. It's about finding a solution.
could easily exceed 25% of GDP.The solution to our health care needs may well lie
Americans 65 and older represent about an eighthin practicing Disease Prevention nationally.
of the population and one third of health careThe costs of funding this combined approach
spending. By 2030 older Americans could accountmight be substantially less than under a straight
for nearly half of health care spending accordingUniversal Health Care plan because people would
to a study by the Centers for Medicare Services.have the incentive to practice Disease Prevention
Government statistics indicate that health careonce they understand that it is their money that
spending by Americans between 1970 and 2005they are spending on their health care, which can
has increased on average 9.8% per year forbe rolled over from year to year similar to an
private health insurance and 8.9% for MedicareIRA, and because catastrophe insurance is
beneficiaries according to the New York Times.generally less expensive then the current all
The Republicans by and large favor a privateinclusive small deductible type insurance program
insurance plan called Health Savings Accountsbeing offered.
(HSA) to solve the Health Care problem. AnTo this end, a Disease Prevention Program should
overview of this program is that it allowsbe made available to everyone that will help them
businesses or individuals to contribute a certainmaintain a better state of health, and enable them
amount of money tax free to a HSA (Healthto minimize their health care expenses in keeping
Savings Account) and take catastrophe or majorwith good medical practice and the utilization of
medical insurance for the balance. The good partbest care options.
is that it encourages individuals to become DiseaseWe have to show people how to practice Disease
Prevention conscious because most of theirPrevention at the same time that we seek to
medical expenses are coming out of their HSA,cover them with Health Insurance if we want to
from which the balance of funds can re rolledproduce a program, which in the long run can be
over like savings from year to year. In majorself-funding through medical cost savings.