2009: Happy New Premium!

by Timothy Foley · 2008-12-31 12:07:00 UTC
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It’s New Years Eve!  A time for hope, for romance, for gathering with friends old and new, for partying – and, for far too many people, a last chance for medical care before the 2009 health insurance premiums kick in or their deductibles reset.

Over on WallStreetJournal.com, Dr. Benjamin Brewer describes how many of his patients are rushing to get in their care before the ball drops in Times Square.  Some are motivated to get in costly procedures before their deductible resets, and they have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket.  Some are seeing their premiums rise, or facing a new set of rules for coverage in 2009 because their employer is switching plans (so much for preserving “choice” in the employer-based system).

But none of these stories are quite like the man who hasn’t yet developed a condition requiring intervention, but is getting care now over the risk that he might someday.  Dr. Brewer writes:

I had better luck recently removing a fatty lump from a 20 year-old man's arm.  He was changing insurance at the end of the year and the lump was a small pre-existing condition on his "pre-existing" arm. It wasn't bothering him at the time but we figured his new insurance wouldn't cover its removal in the future if the lump became a problem.

It may be necessary care someday, but it’s unnecessary care right now – at least as far as the patient’s health is concerned.  The fact that the procedure can be guaranteed when it’s unnecessary but may not be when it is necessary is undeniably backwards.  Providing timely, quality care is replaced by a system-wide game of “Beat the Clock.”

Here’s the truly scary part.  This end-of-the-year rush has been a reality of our health care system for years.  But this time, it’s not going to end when we count down to midnight.   As job losses increase, more people lose their coverage with their job.  They’re confronted with the same rush to get care in before going on COBRA or joining the ranks of the uninsured.

Unless we get serious about fixing our broken health care system, it’ll be “Auld Lang Syne” all year long.

Timothy Foley Tim has been an online organizer and blogger on health care policy for the Obama for America campaign and the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU Healthcare.
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