Here’s an excerpt from John Boyle’s opinion column in the Asheville Citizen-Times:
I just can’t imagine why we need to change a single thing about our health insurance system.
Are you crazy? Of course, the Supreme Court should throw out health reform in its entirety and let us rely on this wonderfully humane and efficient system that’s totally driven by patient-satisfying profit.
Sorry if I just busted the sarcasm meter.
I’m a little testy these days, what with a herniated disc in my neck and an insurance company, United Healthcare, that dragged its feet in approving the surgery my highly experienced surgeon recommended to relieve the constant pain and numbness.
Oh, and I did I mention I get to cover $6,000 or $7,000 in out-of-pocket costs, in addition to my premiums, while United Healthcare rakes in an annual profit of $5.1 billion and pays its CEO, Stephen Hemsley, $10.8 million annually?
Gee, must be some kind of Commie. I mean, just because this country spends more per capita on health care than any other place on Earth, yet is #13 in outcomes, just because this country’s infant mortality rate is worse than many third-world countries, and just because 1/3 of the average health-care premium dollar spent by consumers goes to cover the costs of “overhead, marketing and executive salaries” doesn’t mean it should be made easy for the masses to use.
Hurmph.
You too with the delayed reaction?