By Charles Frock, President & CEO
FirstHealth of the Carolinas
(This is a condensed version of a column that originally appeared in Moore County’s The Pilot newspaper)
When you have something bold to say, the best thing to do is just say it. So here goes: I propose universal health coverage for residents of Moore County. To my knowledge, no other county in the United States has universal coverage. So why do I think it’s in our reach? Because all of the elements are already in place to turn this dream into reality.
Our physicians believe that all Moore County residents should have access to health care. Our Chamber of Commerce thinks so. So does FirstHealth of the Carolinas. We have the ear of legislators who can help make this happen, and we have the support of outside funding sources that believe—very strongly—that no one should go without access to care.
Before I go any farther, let me point out that universal coverage is not a synonym for socialized medicine, but a statement of prudent public policy that benefits all of us, operating within the private sector and without the need for new taxation.
The combination of public and private economic sectors in our society has, on balance, made our country the greatest in the world. Despite inequities and occasional inefficiencies in the free markets, we have over the years enjoyed consistent economic growth that is the envy of the world. But even in our society, one that values individuality and freedom of choice, we know that even good public policy must sometimes limit our economic freedoms.
Every state requires that everyone who drives a car must have it insured. No one can borrow money to buy a home without homeowners’ insurance. So why don’t we require all adults to have a minimum level of health insurance? The Swiss do it. For 10 years now, the Swiss government has mandated the purchase of insurance coverage from private companies.
The benefits of compulsory coverage would be considerable: lower costs for everyone, access to physicians and other practitioners in the right setting and the right time (as opposed to the emergency department, the most expensive site for care), and an emphasis on wellness and disease prevention.
As younger and younger individuals opt out of our employer-based health insurance system and do not plan for unexpected health problems, their expenses are borne by others as these problems inevitably occur. Put it this way: Those who are covered pay for those who choose not to participate, and hospitals charge so much for care because there are so few who pay.
Combine these factors with the current high costs associated with health insurance and you can see that we exist in a spiral of escalating premiums that will eventually create major disruptions in our current system of financing health care. The end point could be a nationalized system, something that no one finds acceptable.
How, then, does a system of universal coverage succeed? Think about this: Fewer than half of the employees of small businesses in Moore County have insurance. If that level of participation were to double, then everybody’s premium could be cut almost in half. As premiums now regularly approach $300 a month, this could mean an immediate reduction of $150.
To be successful, the assurance of universal coverage must come from a public-private effort: Government establishes the appropriate ground rules, and the private sector economically determines the best way to deliver goods and services. Don’t think this could happen in our contentious political environment? Well, last fall, Sen. Hilary Rodham Clinton, a Democrat, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Republican, jointly proposed a set of principles upon which universal health care coverage could be achieved.
There is also a personal angle to universal coverage, one that has each of us living a healthy lifestyle and making good choices. We must seek preventive care from our physicians and listen to their recommendations. We must act upon their advice and avoid smoking. We must eat properly, exercise regularly and take better care of ourselves generally.
Is my proposal outlandish? Perhaps. Is it unrealistic? Maybe. But what community is better prepared to voluntarily implement a program of universal health coverage than Moore County? None, I think.
Sure, there will be plenty of thorny issues. But our community is rich in resources, populated by compassionate people who care about one another, and blessed with leaders who want to see our area grow and thrive. All it takes is working together.