Healthcare Thenardier

Hello Everyone!

Today I'm going to write about what's wrong with our health system. Part of the problem is certainly that we are the only industrial nation that doesn't have a "public option" in terms of health coverage. But perhaps the larger issue, is the fact that Americans increasingly pay more and get less when ti comes to health care-as opposed to just health insurance. And many pundits have tried to blame it on things such as malpractice lawsuits, bad health habits, or even higher life expectancies than existed 200 years ago. (So much for saying it's the Obama administration that wants "death panels".) But the sad truth is that the Insurance Industry has just gotten greedier, greedier, and greedier.

Since I have been dealing with my insurance company lately, a certain tune from the musical "Les Miserables" keeps coming into my head.

That's right the health insurance industry is beginning to remind me of Master Thenardier: The greedy inn-keeper in Les Miserables.

The fact, of the matter is that not only are Americans on the whole paying more and getting less, but they are doing so largely as the result of unbriddled greed on the part of an insurance industry and HMO industry that has completely foresaken what's fair and honest, in favor of what fattens their profit margins.

I'm sure M. Thenardier would be impressed with the devious imaginations of certain insurance companies. That is the reason they come up with to limit coverage, to not count certain medical costs towards a deductible, and above all deny coverage. And that's before one even deals with something called copays. The main reason is that insurance companies want to maximize the amount of money they receive in return for having people on their policy, and minimize how much they have to spend on actually paying medical bills for their customers. And it's not just the patients that are getting squeezed, but the doctors are also experiencing pressure from insurance companies that are constantly seeking their reimbursements. And in contrast to the administration's desire to give the public more choices in terms of both public and private insurance while bringing down prices, the status quo has involved drastic increases in the profit margins of health insurance companies, as the industry has become more and more monopoly oriented. And as history shows, monopolies have always gotten to set whatever prices and terms they want without any fear of competition.

Another issue of course, has been the dramatic increases in hospital costs. While hospitals may not have gone as far to add surcharges for mice, looking in the mirror, or sleeping with the windows shut, they do come up with exorbitant charges for some very basic things. For example there was the case of a hospital charging $791 for a $12 pair of stockings. With no comprehensive plan to make hospital care more affordable the dominant solution has become for hospital stays to become shorter. But often that just defers the cost to other portions of society. For example if somebody is discharged from the hospital days or weeks early than they would have been 20 years ago, than often a friend or relation has to take care of them. And often at least one of those people ends up taking time off work for it. Thus, deferring the cost not only to friends and family, but often to the businesses, employers, and coworkers. Other non-monetary sacrifices end up being made by various members of society, be it the 3rd class who gets a substitute teacher because their teacher is taking care of somebody, the coworkers who have to take on extra hours, or the business that has to extend a deadline to the displeasure of a customer.

Furthermore, when medical bills have become the most common reason for bankruptcy, the economic burden gets spread around to every sector of society in both direct and indirect ways.

While most of the debate has focused on the number of people in the US, who have no insurance and no way of paying for any major health problems. But perhaps equally important is the loss of more intangible things.


One loss than many people lament is actual attention from their doctor. One amazing commentary on our current society is how what was once taken for granted by many people, including one Depression era coal miner's daughter is now regarded as a sort of privilege for the very wealthy.


For this reason we need reform. Or else Healthcare Thenardier is likely to only get worse, and worse, and worse over time.

Say Goodnight Readers!