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Americans are not particularly enamored of the health care system as it stands. Three in 10 (29 percent) give it a "fair" rating, and an equal number (30 percent) say it's "poor." One-quarter say the system needs a complete overhaul, and roughly half say it requires major changes.
Misplaced trust
Employers are also fed up with the system. Most
Americans (86 percent) believe that employers
will continue to offer insurance coverage. But
it wouldn't take much to convince employers that
they should relinquish their role of health benefits
provider.
The chief human resources officers in the largest corporations in the U.S. are already issuing an ultimatum of sorts. The
HR Policy Association's "members are committed to maintaining the nation's system of employment-based health insurance
if and only if major reforms can be achieved," according to
"The future of employment-based health benefits," an EBRI report released in December. "Their commitment is contingent on near-term adoption of dramatic improvements that can help contain skyrocketing costs, improve efficiency and value, and improve overall quality."
Do you detect the rumblings of change here? Change can seem threatening. It can also bring about positive improvements.
Other employer groups are murmuring about change. A report by the Committee for Economic Development, an organization composed of business leaders and educators, suggests that the current employment-based health benefits system is "dragging down the entire health-care delivery system," and that it should be replaced by a universal health care plan.
In general, employers agree there's
a valid reason for offering health insurance to
workers -- it is a tool used to recruit and retain
quality employees. But what do you think would
happen if one major employer decided to drop this
coverage? Why, it would likely have a domino effect.
Companies would love to get rid of this expense.
In fact, they admit that if other employers decided
to drop the coverage, they would have to consider
doing so, too. No one has the nerve to be the
first, fortunately.
Companies also say they would likely drop the benefits if the employer tax deduction were eliminated, if a universal system were introduced, or if federal laws would facilitate that change, according to EBRI.
As a grand finale, that study concludes that employers were "nearly unanimous in thinking that the next generation of worker health benefits will have a much greater focus on shared responsibility and accountability." Quick translation: Workers will have to take on more responsibility in the way of costs.
I don't know about you, but I think access to quality health care is an inalienable right, and it shouldn't disrupt our personal finances. It should be available at a reasonable cost to everyone -- not just those who are lucky enough to be employed by a company that offers it.
In fact, if the founding fathers had any idea the extent to which health care costs would escalate in the 21st century, I'm sure they would have amended the Declaration of Independence to say, "life, liberty and the pursuit of affordable health care, not to mention happiness."
But since they didn't foresee this, it's up to us to fight for positive change. If we're not willing to take to the streets and chant slogans, then at the very least we should pay close attention to what the presidential candidates have to say on the matter of health care and vote accordingly.
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