The Politics Of Health Care

CBS News and The New York Times just released the results of a joint poll. They're not surprising. Nine out of 10 say the U.S. health care system needs major repairs and just one in five claim general satisfaction with what they pay for health care.

It's easy to complain, of course. Before I do, I'll admit health care research, delivery and management are incredibly complex challenges. Paying for it all (whether as the patient or the health care provider trying to cover expenses) is an even more formidable battle.

The question is what to do about it. Some 8 percent of respondents said minor changes are required. Fifty-four percent voted for fundamental changes, while 36 percent feel the system must be completely rebuilt.

Put me in the last group. The amount I'm paying for "catastrophic" health insurance is stupendous. And I mean "catastrophic" insurance. I receive little for my thousands in premiums. When I need coverage, I'm basically on my own. Like many I'm liable for personally covering the first $5K or $10K I spend in any given year. That's a lot, and it's pushing me to join the universal health insurance bandwagon.

We've got to find a way to maintain medical advancement, deliver quality care and maintain costs. But, the more I think about it, the more I feel that's a hopeless combination. And I'm an optimist.