I heard a conservative radio talk show host say health insurance should be like auto insurance. You pay for the oil changes, maintainence, etc., but are covered in serious addicidents. This would drmamatically lower cost in his opinion. He gave an eye surgery that sue to be covered as an example. The eye surgery while covered was abroud 5k an eye. After it was no longer covered, the price dropped to 1500/eye becuz no one was willing to pay 5k out of their pocket to enhance their vision. This may seem harsh but he may be on to something, not that we have to take it that far.
Also, prevention is key but insurance shouldn't pay it. We need to mandate healthy lunches in schools and change the old PE system that doesn't work. A firend of mine is a PE teacher and says the same thing, there needs to be more "fitness" classes rather than traditional PE classes that actually demotivates some that are less athletically declined. Oh, I almost forgot, we should tax the crap out of snacks like we do alcohol and tobacco (thismay be the only tax increasde I support).
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