Why Can't My Health Insurance Be Like My Car Insurance?

American Thinker ^ | 02/09/2011 | Jon George, MD

[SeekAndFind]

I have been driving a car since I was 16 years old, which was also when I got my auto insurance under my parents' plan. It was expensive when I first started out, but as I demonstrated good driving behavior -- avoiding accidents and speeding tickets, I was encouraged by cumulative discounts including safe driver, good student, and multiple car deductions.

But when it came to my health insurance, I first started making payments on it with my first job after college. Of course, I took the cheapest plan with the fewest bells and whistles and the highest deductibles, but it provided cost containment in the setting of an emergency. But despite practicing a healthy lifestyle -- watching my diet, exercising, avoiding substance abuse, and maintaining regular physical check ups with my primary care physician, I noticed that I paid the same health insurance premiums as my colleague who consumed large amounts of junk food with a sedentary lifestyle, feeding addictions to cigarettes and alcohol, and non-compliance with his prescribed medications.

So what is the real reason for mounting health care costs in this country? Is it poor management by physicians or a poor health care system? Why are there no incentives to encourage healthy practices and fines to discourage bad behavior? Why do healthy responsible patients pay inflated premiums to cover the consequences of unhealthy lifestyles of their neighbors?

What if my health insurance were like my car insurance? To begin with, I would be required to have health insurance just as any driver is mandated to have auto insurance to drive an automobile. Sure, it's expensive at the age of 16 due to heightened risk of accidents and careless behavior but with maturity comes gradual decline in premiums with demonstration of safe driving and responsibility. In addition, various incentive programs exist for a good driving record and scholastic performance which lower the premiums significantly. Similarly, health insurance would be expensive at the onset, but with healthy lifestyle practices, responsible behavior, and physician endorsement of compliance would come discounts in health insurance premiums.

If health insurance were like car insurance, I would be responsible for obtaining it as opposed to having my employer supply it for me. After all, it's my body and my health-why do I expect someone else to be responsible for it?

If health insurance were like car insurance, I would be able to shop around for the cheapest insurance with competitive rates from multiple vendors to find a plan best suited for my lifestyle. If health insurance were like car insurance, I would not be denied insurance unless I demonstrated repeatedly offensive and ill-advised behavior.

On the other hand, what if my car insurance were like my health insurance? My employer would be required to obtain my car insurance, which means I couldn't drive if I didn't have a job. Everyone would pay the same for auto insurance regardless of driving history. The system would breed lack of accountability since there would be no incentives for good driving behavior and no repercussions for accidents or speeding. Sure it would be economical for the irresponsible driver, but only at an exorbitant cost to the safe driver and society as a whole.

There is an urgent need for major overhaul of the health care system in the United States. While the debated health care reform bill addresses some issues that warrant change, it continues to penalize the delivery of care by cutting reimbursements without providing incentives for healthy lifestyles and quality of care.

[Lou L]

I think there are elements behind the premise of this commentary that make sense. One that immediately occurred to me--if my body is struck with the equivalent of a small fender-bender; e.g, I get a cold requiring anti-biotics, or I need some pain reliver after I hurt my back, I can pay for inexpensive repair out of pocket. I can keep insurance only for the catastrophic things like cancer treatment, a transplant, or an injury requiring major hospitalization.

As to who should pay, the employer or the employee, I'm up in the air about. Good healthcare of their employees is something desireable to employers, so I think it's in the best interest for everyone if the payor can be the individual or a third party.

[bigbob]

now that’s funny right there!

[atomic_dog]

liability insurance is required by law

Actually, most states allow for alternative evidence of financial responsibility, these sort of things include a cash deposit with the DMV, A DMV issued self-insurance certificate or a surety bond of some type. Why are these not allowed with Obamacare? Because they do not provide them with the cash flow they need to pay for such things as abortions and health care for illegal immigrants.

[CharacterCounts]

Let's look at it from the other side, Doc.

IF car insurance was like "health insurance" it would cover car washes, tire changes, new mufflers, once a year detailing, tire rotations and myriad other routine maintenance items.

In a nutshell that is what is wrong with the "health insurance" system - it's not insurance.

If car insurance was like "health insurance", every driver would be required to cover a multitude of items the car owner has no need or desire to cover. For example, by state law my "health insurance" mandates that the coverage offered cover alcohol treatment programs even though I have no need for any such coverage. It would be like my auto insurance carrier requiring me to purchase auto racing coverage.

One more thing. The auto insurance coverage mandated by states requires coverage for damage you do to another because of your negligence. At least in my state, and I guess most others, collision insurance (covering your own vehicle)is never required.

I wish Doctors would stick to what they know - medicine.

[trubolotta]

To answer the doctor's question: Why Can't My Health Insurance Be Like My Car Insurance?

First, underwriters are not idiots and know the difference between people and automobiles.

Second, insurance and warranties have different purposes and risk factors. Try buying a warranty on a 20 year old car and see the difference.

Third, how do ridiculous articles like this manage to get published? It could well have asked "Why Can't My Health Insurance Be Like My Mortgage Payment?" Disconnect? Why not!

[Hang'emAll]

Beyond that, he makes good points. Why shouldn’t those who voluntarily increase the risk to the insurance company pay more for health insurance?...

I started talking to a former Canadian about their healthcare while standing in a long Post Office line. I wonder what caused that discussion to come up.

Oh well, she said that when she was younger she had leukemia of some sort and was taken care of free and what she thought was good care.

I told her of my Canadian friend who raved about his healthcare. Just recently he had an illness and needs an operation. Seems there is a 90 day wait.

I told her the and she said yes if people smoke or overweight or have otherwise lived an un-healthy life style the go to the end of the line.

A lot of people in the US would be real unhappy with that scenario. Is it fair? I don’t know, have not thought about it to much.

[SoftballMominVA]

In VA, drivers are not required to have car insurance. However if you choose to go without car insurance, you are required to pay $400 into the Uninsured Motorist Fun.

There’s not really an equivalent in health insurance.

[SoftballMominVA]

In VA, drivers are not required to have car insurance. However if you choose to go without car insurance, you are required to pay $400 into the Uninsured Motorist Fun.

There’s not really an equivalent in health insurance.

[IamConservative]

Here’s the rub, have one claim that’s not even your fault and watch your premiums zoom skyward.

There is a common element between health insurance and auto insurance that drive costs, lawyers..

[AppyPappy]

“I would be required to have health insurance just as any driver is mandated to have auto insurance to drive an automobile.”

Not true. People drive all the time without car insurance. Most illegals don’t have car insurance.

[BrandtMichaels]

On the other hand ‘Star Trek’ type of physical health evaluation is nearly within our reach. DNA defects can be repaired. All we need is another gadget to sample our bloodstreams to determine what level of vitamins and minerals we have and then adjust accordingly.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080602214135.htm

I also think it is only a matter of time before science determines regular chiropractic adjustments are as beneficial as good dental hygiene and can also play a major part in repairing DNA defects. The only current limitation maybe w/ hereditary defects

[Realism]

Auto ins. isn’t based upon how well you take care of your car, maitainance, wash,wax, etc.. It’s based upon your driving record and use of the insurance. So if you go to the doctor often, have regular testing or require perscriptions, YOU should be paying the higher premiums for your insurance.

[OldDeckHand]

"If health insurance were like car insurance, I would not be denied insurance unless I demonstrated repeatedly offensive and ill-advised behavior. "

The good doctor doesn't understand automobile insurance. Car insurance covers two separate things - it covers your vehicle, and it covers you as a driver.. He's right, you will be able to find coverage for yourself (as it relates to your liability exposure to others) if you have a reasonably clean driving record. BUT, there is no way that you can insure a totaled vehicle, or expect your new insurance provider to repair damage to the vehicle that existed prior to the issuance of the policy.

But, that is apparently what he expects to have happen in health insurance, and that is where is analogy falls down, entirely.

[ken5050]

Apologies in advance, as I'm going to somewhat hijack the thread for a question..

One of the long standing GOP ideas that are offered as an alternative to Obamacare is to allow people to purchase medical insurance across state lines..IOW to buy whichever plan is best for them, at the best cost.

While that sounds fine in theory, I'm not quite sire that it would actually be a viable solution, for two reasons.

1. Cost. A plan with identical benefits and features cannot cost the same for an insured in Los Angeles vs. one in, say, Little Rock. So companies would need to price for all 50 states.

2. Administration: Just because these plans could be available, in theory, I, in Florida, could buy a plan from Mutual of Alasks, assumign that they were willing to market in Alaska, I doubt that the majority of doctors and hospitals would want to have to deal with several hundred diffeent insurers. They would most likely refuse to accept them, for obvious reasons.

Again, I'm not opposed to the idea..it sounds great, but I do think there are major problems in implementing this idea. Thoughts?

[Jewbacca]

“The good doctor lost me at that point.”

And he’s wrong. The only required car insurance is LIABILITY insurance -— i.e., to protect others, not yourself.

Casualty insurance (to protect yourself) is not required by law.

[wbill]

You could buy a rusted out shell of a 69 gto and take it to the car hospital for free restoration to like new condition.

You wouldn't be able to drive for 6 years while you waited. But otherwise, an excellent analogy. :-)

[Jackie]

Does anyone have an idea about how much the insurance companies’ Customer Service Reps are paid?

I think the high pemium costs can be attributed to the astronomical cost to administer the claims handled by the thousands upon thousands of CSRs.

That’s where the money goes.

[screaminsunshine]

Then you could spend the time complaining it is not free enough. Like Medicaid recipients.

[raisetheroof]

The only kind of car insurance that's required is liability insurance. It does not pay for oil changes, new tires, brake repair,... Its only function is to protect innocent bystanders against the driver's driving habits.

Health insurance is not liability insurance; it doesn't protect innocent bystanders at all. It's only function is to insure that the medical bills get paid.

[slowhandluke]

The author attributes entirely too much to lifestyle and not nearly enough to genetics.

Or to chronic infection. Once the doctors believed that cancers were never caused by infection, then it was 1%, then 10% - and I'm not sure what it's up to now, but a good number of cancers have been tied to infections.

But I do agree, such a plan will lead to just about all illness being blamed on lifestyle.