Government-based overhaul has completely monopolized the debate on healthcare.

Here are seven examples of successful market-based healthcare alternatives that you should know about.

Government healthcare reform sure gets a lot of media attention. In just the last month alone there have been about 13,000 new stories containing the word “government” and the phrase “healthcare reform.” In contrast, there have been fewer than 300 news reports during the last month with both of the terms “market based” and “healthcare reform.”

That’s a ratio of 43 stories on government healthcare for every one story about market-based healthcare—government-based “reform” has completely monopolized the debate.

Given the momentum in Congress for some kind of government healthcare overhaul, the media attention is understandable. But at the same time that Congress debates different versions of Obamacare and considers various public options, some market-based healthcare solutions have gone largely unnoticed, despite the fact that they have successfully lowered medical costs and improved both access and quality of service. (more…)

A study by Families USA found that health insurance premiums grew 3.7 times faster than personal incomes for most of the past decade.

The nonprofit organization released the report Thursday in its efforts to drum up support for the health care reform bills pending in Congress. U.S. Reps. Kendrick Meek and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, both Florida Democrats, said health care reform would make health insurance more affordable for Floridians.

According to the Families USA study, the average total family health insurance premium in Florida increased from $6,812 in 2000 to $13,497 in 2009 – a 98.1 percent growth rate. Employees felt much of that increase, as the workers’ portion of the insurance premium increased 138.6 percent, compared to 81.7 percent for the employers’ portion.

At the same time, the average earnings of Florida workers increased 26.7 percent, to $28,836 from $22,753.

(more…)

Christmas is all about the year just past. You look around, gather in your family and friends, and celebrate the strength of your friendships by giving and receiving presents. Then comes New Year and, in a gesture to taking some responsibility for what happens in the next twelve months, people traditionally make resolutions. Most commonly, these are to diet and exercise to lose weight and, if you have not already done so, to quit smoking. For the majority, these best intentions last all of twenty-four hours before being forgotten. Yet, this year, there are good reasons for taking New Year’s resolutions a little more seriously. As you will have noticed, there’s a recession. People are losing their jobs and homes. Debts are being caught up in credit crunching and the cost of health care is going ballistic. So, losing weight is good because, if you shed 10% of your body weight, this reduces the chances of you getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Why should this matter? Have you seen the cost of the medications you would need to keep reasonably healthy if you are diagnosed with diabetes or your heart starts giving you trouble? It’s better to stay healthy by losing weight and save your bank account from being hit with co-payments. And, if you are still smoking, quitting now can reduce the risk of cancers later in life. Fear of pain should encourage you to quit now. But since we are talking about your health, there are other things to consider. Since jobs are at risk, now is the time to think about what would happen to your health plans if unemployment comes. Could you afford to pay for the COBRA cover? The reason for asking is that a recent survey found most families could not. So, if you cannot start a savings plan to provide enough cash, what would you do? Well, now is the time to do some research. (more…)

A recent study shows that 62.1% of personal bankruptcy cases in 2007 were linked to medical expenses. Given our countries financial crisis it’s safe to say that this is an even bigger problem today in 2009. In this study released by Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren it showed that most medical debtors were middle class families that owned homes, were employed, and 75% had health insurance.

So what does this study reveal about our current health care situation? One serious illness can cause unaffordable medical expenses or a decrease in or lack of income which results in bankruptcy. Most families have nothing to fall back on if they become ill and lose their job, which consequently causes the loss of health insurance.

(more…)

President Barack Obama’s welcome home from his latest successful overseas trip is clouded by the growing doubts about his most important domestic initiative, the overhaul of the dysfunctional U.S. health care system.

Texas health insurance

On the surface, things went well for the No. 1 project on his list while he was away. Hospitals pledged to find $150 billion in savings that could be applied to expanding coverage to more of the uninsured.

The chairmen of three House committees that share jurisdiction over health care prepared to unveil a single, common proposal. Insurers, doctors and other key interest groups continued to negotiate with the administration, rather than launching broadsides against its plans.

(more…)

A recent study shows that 62.1% of personal bankruptcy cases in 2007 were linked to medical expenses. Given our countries financial crisis it’s safe to say that this is an even bigger problem today in 2009. In this study released by Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren it showed that most medical debtors were middle class families that owned homes, were employed, and 75% had health insurance.

So what does this study reveal about our current health care situation? One serious illness can cause unaffordable medical expenses or a decrease in or lack of income which results in bankruptcy. Most families have nothing to fall back on if they become ill and lose their job, which consequently causes the loss of health insurance.

(more…)

A recent study shows that 62.1% of personal bankruptcy cases in 2007 were linked to medical expenses. Given our countries financial crisis it’s safe to say that this is an even bigger problem today in 2009. In this study released by Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren it showed that most medical debtors were middle class families that owned homes, were employed, and 75% had health insurance.

So what does this study reveal about our current health care situation? One serious illness can cause unaffordable medical expenses or a decrease in or lack of income which results in bankruptcy. Most families have nothing to fall back on if they become ill and lose their job, which consequently causes the loss of health insurance.

(more…)

The medical bills are piling up in the mail box. You can’t afford to pay them even with health insurance. Let alone without any insurance at all. So now you are considering bankruptcy as the only way out. Filing bankruptcy in the long run wont really solve the problem. What if you get sick again, and the bills start piling up again? You can always file again in 7 years but you may end up with two bankruptcies on your credit report. What is the solution to this stressful problem?

You can get someone else to pay for them. Especially if you are unemployed, and have large amounts of medical debt. Apply for the medicaid program through your state government. Whether you are a man or a woman you may qualify for aid. Although women, & pregnant women usually have a somewhat higher approval rate. You may even qualify if you have a mental disability like depression. Submit all of your bills along with the application.

(more…)

The medical bills are piling up in the mail box. You can’t afford to pay them even with health insurance. Let alone without any insurance at all. So now you are considering bankruptcy as the only way out. Filing bankruptcy in the long run wont really solve the problem. What if you get sick again, and the bills start piling up again? You can always file again in 7 years but you may end up with two bankruptcies on your credit report. What is the solution to this stressful problem?

You can get someone else to pay for them. Especially if you are unemployed, and have large amounts of medical debt. Apply for the medicaid program through your state government. Whether you are a man or a woman you may qualify for aid. Although women, & pregnant women usually have a somewhat higher approval rate. You may even qualify if you have a mental disability like depression. Submit all of your bills along with the application.

(more…)

The health care system in the United States is broken. About half of all bankruptcies are declared because of insurmountable medical bills, and of that huge number, about 75% of them had health insurance when the problems began.

Medical bankruptcy is not a problem of the poor or the upper middle or upper class. It is a problem for the middle class and the lower middle class – people who work hard, do their best to pay their bills, and raise their families.

(more…)