Responsibility
A current management mantra is “it’s the system, not the individual.” However, sometimes people do screw up. Where’s the line? When do individuals accept responsibility for their own actions? A note in the Washington Post says that NJ governor Jon Corzine took responsibility for not wearing his seat belt and would forgo his health insurance and “spend hundreds of thousands of his own money for his medical care.” There’s an easy link between no seat belt and serious injuries. But how about those who carry around a few extra pounds and then want a total knee replacement? And you could go on down the list of personal habits that contribute significantly to healthcare costs today. Before you get self-righteous, remember there’s no end to the list. One of my risk factors is driving a small car. Are you going to deny coverage if I have an accident? Only if I wasn’t wearing a seat belt? If I had been drinking?
Society has an interest in providing some healthcare. That guy with the BMI of 40 can continue to work after his TKR and pay SS taxes. Otherwise, he’s sitting home collecting disability. But, he did make personal choices that contributed to his need for healthcare, so maybe he should shoulder part of the cost.
But what about conditions that are beyond personal control? Did the world promise to hold you harmless from the problems God visits upon you? Say you have diabetes or hypertension. Even if you do everything right, your healthcare costs are going to higher than mine in those categories. Sorry. Which brings up another question: should normal pregnancy be covered by health insurance? Give me a break here. Pregnancy is a preventable disease, and you have nine months to plan for most of the costs. On the other hand, if we want to improve infant mortality, we need to ensure that women get prenatal care. Nothing’s easy, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. There must be a way to introduce some personal responsibility into healthcare costs.
Society has an interest in providing some healthcare. That guy with the BMI of 40 can continue to work after his TKR and pay SS taxes. Otherwise, he’s sitting home collecting disability. But, he did make personal choices that contributed to his need for healthcare, so maybe he should shoulder part of the cost.
But what about conditions that are beyond personal control? Did the world promise to hold you harmless from the problems God visits upon you? Say you have diabetes or hypertension. Even if you do everything right, your healthcare costs are going to higher than mine in those categories. Sorry. Which brings up another question: should normal pregnancy be covered by health insurance? Give me a break here. Pregnancy is a preventable disease, and you have nine months to plan for most of the costs. On the other hand, if we want to improve infant mortality, we need to ensure that women get prenatal care. Nothing’s easy, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. There must be a way to introduce some personal responsibility into healthcare costs.
