The U.S. health care system continues to lead the way in research and
medical technology, discovering treatment breakthroughs that benefit
Americans and people around the globe.
It is not uncommon for individuals to
travel to the U.S. to take advantage of
our first-rate physicians, hospitals, drugs
and treatments.
While our health care system is more
sophisticated than most, our nation continues to struggle with the issue of the
uninsured. According to the United
States Census Bureau, there were 47 million uninsured Americans in 2006, a
number that continues to grow, making
one thing certain — the problem of the
uninsured has reached critical mass.
“Access to health care is one of the
most important issues facing the nation,”
says Bill Berenson, senior vice president
of Aetna’s Small and Middle Market
Business for the North Central Region.
“With the number of uninsured expected
to increase, now is the time to take
action against this growing problem;
however, the onus should not rest with
any one group. Transforming the U.S.
health care system, including its financing, is a shared responsibility that
requires public and private sector leadership and collaboration.”
Smart Business spoke with Berenson
about the uninsured and the opportunities
for employers, health plans, health care
providers and government to work
together to address this growing problem.
Who are the uninsured?
The uninsured are not a homogeneous
group but, in fact, a diverse population
composed of individuals from a wide
range of ages, household incomes, professions and work statuses. Such diversity creates the need for different solutions for the various segments of the
uninsured population.
What impact do the uninsured have on
society?
The impact of the uninsured on society
is enormous. Research shows that the uninsured generally obtain less care, use
fewer preventive services and fail to
adhere to recommended treatments.
Because they do not receive early treatment and regular preventive care, treating the uninsured can be difficult, and
the cost of care is significant.
When medical bills go unpaid, this cost
is shifted to the government, medical
professionals and the insured population. Tens of billions of dollars are spent
each year treating those without health
insurance, which places enormous
strains on federal and state budgets,
hampers the economy, and results in
higher premiums for employers and
those with insurance.
How can public and private sector collaboration solve the problem of the uninsured?
Addressing the problem of the uninsured requires public and private sector
leadership and collaboration. A strong
public-private partnership would allow
the business community and employers
to bring real-world experience in innovation and marketplace expertise to the table, while the government can encourage personal responsibility and create
legislation that supports expanded
access and the development of innovative marketplace solutions.
Because the uninsured are such a
diverse group, a comprehensive variety
of solutions — both public and private
— are necessary to bring low-cost, high-quality health care to this growing population. Some common-sense approaches
include:
- Requiring all Americans to have
health insurance coverage and pairing
this individual coverage requirement
with government assistance for low-income Americans who cannot afford
coverage - Creating a legislative and regulatory
environment that fosters the development and availability of affordable
health insurance options - Using the tax system to expand
access and increase affordability - Promoting greater portability of
health insurance - Strengthening public programs to
ensure that vulnerable populations have
access to quality health care - Promoting preventive care and wellness
While the goal of expanding access to
health care is clear, the path to achieving
that goal is uncertain, which is why it is
both important and necessary that government and the business community
continue to work together to solve the
problem of the uninsured. By working
together, employers, health plans, health
care providers and the government can
forge solutions to build a stronger,
healthier America.
BILL BERENSON is senior vice president of Aetna’s Small and Middle Market Business for the North Central Region. Reach him at
(312) 928-3323 or [email protected].