Health Reform or Insurance Reform?

Based on polling information, it appears that most Americans oppose efforts by the President and Congress to reform healthcare. Why? Perhaps it is because most of us have health coverage that we are satisfied with. On the other hand, maybe Americans do not trust the President and Congress to do it right, for fear that they could make things worse rather than better.

A problem that I see in all of this is that the focus for reform is directed to the insurers. The health care industry encompasses a broad range of business and industry, all of which are making a profit. Yet, when the President and many members of Congress address the issue, they focus on insurance company profits. They leave the impression that it is okay for all entities tied in with the health industry to make a profit except for insurance companies. Increased costs among all of these health related entities can lead to more expensive medical claims for the insurance companies to pay. However, our leadership is trying to portray health insurers as the bad guys!

True health care reform should include all business entities associated with the health care industry, because they all contribute to the cost of health care. For example, in addition to insurance company scrutiny, perhaps Congress should also consider profits made by medical equipment manufacturers, hospitals, doctors, drug companies, and many others. Congress should also examine the profits that lawyers receive in addition to settlement amounts on malpractice lawsuits.

It has been implied that insurance company profits are excessive and their policies abusive.
In some cases this may be true, but probably not for the majority. Isn't it possible that there could be abuses in other parts of the industry?

It is okay for all of the businesses associated with health care to make a profit. It is not okay to focus on a single entity which in this case is insurance companies, and hold them accountable for the rest of the industry.

Americans are right to be skeptical and fearful of what Congress might do. While some health reform is needed, we would be better off for Congress to abandon the effort than to do it wrong!