| Please feel free to use this article as long as | | | | companies 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 Group | | | | portion of the population. |
| © Copyright Arthur Levine 2007 | | | | The Democrats by and large favor some form of |
| Words: 843 | | | | Universal Health Care funded by the federal |
| There is now a substantial portion of the | | | | government. The good part is that everyone |
| population in the United States, which is unhappy | | | | would be covered. The drawback is that there is |
| with their health insurance coverage or lack | | | | no inducement by individuals to practice Disease |
| thereof. There are approximately 46 million | | | | Prevention 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 are | | | | federally funded program that over time cannot |
| particularly interested in their health insurance | | | | be adequately funded by the government as it |
| options because many of them lose health care | | | | grows in light of demands from our other |
| benefits upon retirement. Medicare, which is | | | | entitlement problems such as, Medicare, Medicaid |
| available at age 65, does not cover everything, | | | | and Prescription Drug Insurance. |
| and individual or family health care insurance | | | | Today we find ourselves at the crossroads of |
| policies are very expensive and for the most part | | | | escalating 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 in | | | | point of a collision. |
| most years health insurance premiums do too | | | | The 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 of | | | | Health Savings Accounts, which would be federally |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDC) accounts for | | | | funded to the extent needed to subsidize them |
| some 16% of the budget with only 4% spent on | | | | so that everyone could be covered including those |
| Disease Prevention while 50% of Diseases are | | | | with pre existing conditions either through a series |
| preventable. | | | | of federal corporate or individual tax credits, or |
| According to the Congressional Budget Office by | | | | with direct contributions in the individual's name to |
| the year 2020 health care spending which, is | | | | fund 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 eighth | | | | in practicing Disease Prevention nationally. |
| of the population and one third of health care | | | | The costs of funding this combined approach |
| spending. By 2030 older Americans could account | | | | might be substantially less than under a straight |
| for nearly half of health care spending according | | | | Universal 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 care | | | | once they understand that it is their money that |
| spending by Americans between 1970 and 2005 | | | | they are spending on their health care, which can |
| has increased on average 9.8% per year for | | | | be rolled over from year to year similar to an |
| private health insurance and 8.9% for Medicare | | | | IRA, 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 private | | | | inclusive small deductible type insurance program |
| insurance plan called Health Savings Accounts | | | | being offered. |
| (HSA) to solve the Health Care problem. An | | | | To this end, a Disease Prevention Program should |
| overview of this program is that it allows | | | | be made available to everyone that will help them |
| businesses or individuals to contribute a certain | | | | maintain a better state of health, and enable them |
| amount of money tax free to a HSA (Health | | | | to minimize their health care expenses in keeping |
| Savings Account) and take catastrophe or major | | | | with good medical practice and the utilization of |
| medical insurance for the balance. The good part | | | | best care options. |
| is that it encourages individuals to become Disease | | | | We have to show people how to practice Disease |
| Prevention conscious because most of their | | | | Prevention 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 rolled | | | | produce a program, which in the long run can be |
| over like savings from year to year. In major | | | | self-funding through medical cost savings. |