US Healthcare musings ....

I find myself in the midst of studying for boards and class keep turning to the presidential candidates' talk about healthcare. It's very disconcerting to see how US is failing its healthcare system and how it's taking the citizens and the providers down with it. I truly wonder how long before the system collapses, leaving the people with nothing. I knew the system was bad in college, but these past 2 years have really open my eyes to see what is going on and how the people are hurting while the insurance companies are making the big bucks and the providers are having a really hard time in keeping quality care and keeping their own overhangs (paying their own bills).

PBS Frontline did an episode on different countries' healthcare system showcasing what's working and what's not. I find it very refreshing because T.R. Reid (the host) actually showcased the good and the bad and gave his own opinions whether it could work for the US or not. There's no perfect system but what I saw was the any changes towards universal system is a step forward in our nation. It will provide care for everyone that makes up a country. The health of the people is the health of a nation, no matter how good one's justice system or how capitalistic a nation is. It definitely worth the 1 hour of watching it so here's the link to PBS Healthcare Frontline.

I'm in the opinion that it's going to be super hard for US to change because the basis of US as a nation is not to have the government in complete control of anything. It's one reason why US broke away from Britain in the 1700s in the first place. So to have the government being in control more that it is in already is like betray the basis of US. Another point with US is the concept of being an asylum for the needy in the world. I'm all for US being an asylum but US is not really giving those people a helping hand beside giving them a country with promises of freedom. Sure, there's the welfare, Medicare and Medicaid systems in place, but those system and the capitalism in the nation make it really hard the the to stand on their feet after leaving the systems. The systems as they stand now are all or nothing. What they really need is a graduated process where people can be on it for a certain length for everything, then taper off on the benefits once the people find a job to support themselves. Right now there are too many abuses to the systems and they have strayed from the ideals that it started with in the 60s.

Upon reflection afterwards, I find that this is definitely God's work because it's definitely showing how incompetent people are no matter how smart we are in thinking that we can learn from others' mistakes. It's all in God's hands and whatever the outcome is, everything is happening according to His plans laid out in the Bible. We can only take comfort in knowing that God will not and will never forsake us and will always be there to carry us through. I can only take comfort in that as I'm getting closer and closer the beginning of my career in dealing with the crazy attempts in changing the healthcare system.

Needless to say, please pray the candidates for the upcoming election in doing the right thing for US and moving us forward in the appropriate direction.