Compassion v. Insurance

Historically, Americans have scrambled off to the Emergency Room when a severe medical condition, accidental or otherwise, suddenly occurred. The ER acted as its name implied to meet medical needs when the unforeseen medical emergency occurred. In the ER, at the moment of emergency, compassion for the needs of the injured or sick patient overrode any concern for payment. Treatment was delivered.

For all other medical conditions, we saw our personal physician or when there was no previous doctor-patient relationship, we asked a neighbor, a family member for a physician reference. Frequently, we consulted a phone book to find a doctor receptive to taking on a new patient. Other times, or in other circumstances, we may have walked into one of the publicly supported or privately owned clinics. Many went to the emergency room to see a doctor whatever the medical need.

Generally speaking, if medical attention was pursued, a source of service was found irrespective of one's having insurance coverage, sufficient personal wealth or other means of paying for the service requested. Because of some people's inability to pay (no money>, not infrequently the provider went unpaid by the party receiving the service leaving payment to be socialized, distributed to those who are capable of paying for their services. Oftentimes such visits are very costly.

So if it is true that the vast majority of sick or injured people find a source of medical attention when requested, then what is the need for the Affordable Care Act ...sometimes described as ObamaCare? One answer: A major obstacle to overcome in the operating practices in any reformed healthcare system is to convince the prospective patient that an early trip to the doctor will not escalate into financial ruin. Getting patients into preventive care will greatly reduce the implicit or explicit need for a trip to the Emergency Room. A process such as that afforded by the Affordable Care Act will go far in accomplishing this preventive care goal.

The concerns highlighted in the "practices to overcome" statement in the previous paragraph:

• People delay needed treatment. People with limited or no insurance or monetary resources are reluctant to request medical services prior to having what is perceived as a 'life-threatening' medical emergency. Human nature assumes that given time the condition will improve without professional intervention coupled with the fear of becoming indebted beyond an ability to pay causes many proud individuals to delay treatment. Some, while understanding the need for treatment, attempt to diagnose and treat themselves with medicines and remedies available to the lay public. Others, to their misfortune, tough-it out, reject treatment and endure the pain for a period well after initial symptoms occur.
• Delaying treatment, most importantly, costs lives, but it also adds to the costs of medical care in the United States. Treatment delayed is a formula for treating more severe and frequently more life threatening conditions. For the common good, America must join the ranks of the major industrialized countries of the world to provide the basic preventive services that early-on brings all citizens to a health care provider. Each of our people must have a receptive, welcoming physician or clinic available for preventive care and when illness strikes. No one should be reluctant to bring attention to personal or family needs based on the lack of funding, either insurance or personal wealth.

Thankfully, we are a compassionate society. When presented with the need to provide medical attention, doctors with their Hippocratic oath, the ethical standards of many private hospitals and the public responsibility of government provided hospitals, help, when requested, is made available.

The purpose of the Affordable Care Act is to deliver appropriate medical services at the appropriate time, to each of our citizens and at a more cost effective way than is currently accomplished.