Admittedly an "out of the box" and radical idea that I entertain occasionally.
Back in the day, before insurance was prevalent, medical service administration and bills were far lower. Basically you walked into an office, sat down in the waiting room and the doctor came out when he was ready to see you. My pediatrician bill, in 1963 was around $6. So even adjusting for inflation (and prices have not gone up six-fold) that would be $36 or less. As for reaching the doctor you would call and he would return calls between 5PM and 7PM except for emergencies.
Adult matters may be a bit more complex. However, I can't believe that the armies of paper-pushers are free, or needed. I wonder if we'd be better off eliminating employer-paid insurance, and perhaps recasting Medicare as insurance, for all people, against true catastrophes, such as complex cancer or heart disease, or muscular dystrophy. Much of the GDP is now going towards "health care" or more likely overhead. Insurance also distorts employment relationships. Since employer-paid premiums are deductible and the employees' share is paid in pre-tax dollars, too much money is allocated to insurance.
Insurance if for the spreading of unaffordable risk. For example most auto drives end safely but some are a catastrophe. Most people cannot afford to replace their cars if something happens. Health insurance should cover only truly unaffordable catastrophes. Anything else just inflates its cost and is redistribution of wealth, whether intended or unintended.
The net result of this is that no one is satisfied. Doctors are unhappy and not doing well. Patients are often stuck in "voice mail jail" dealing with insurers or medical care groups. And life spans have been expanded well beyond the ability of many people to work. Even if I can continue working (I'm a lawyer) can a pipe-fitter who goes into sewers or construction workers who go onto scaffolding often work into their 80's? Maybe some can. But not many. All and all I think we'd be better off with far less insurance.
Back in the day, before insurance was prevalent, medical service administration and bills were far lower. Basically you walked into an office, sat down in the waiting room and the doctor came out when he was ready to see you. My pediatrician bill, in 1963 was around $6. So even adjusting for inflation (and prices have not gone up six-fold) that would be $36 or less. As for reaching the doctor you would call and he would return calls between 5PM and 7PM except for emergencies.
Adult matters may be a bit more complex. However, I can't believe that the armies of paper-pushers are free, or needed. I wonder if we'd be better off eliminating employer-paid insurance, and perhaps recasting Medicare as insurance, for all people, against true catastrophes, such as complex cancer or heart disease, or muscular dystrophy. Much of the GDP is now going towards "health care" or more likely overhead. Insurance also distorts employment relationships. Since employer-paid premiums are deductible and the employees' share is paid in pre-tax dollars, too much money is allocated to insurance.
Insurance if for the spreading of unaffordable risk. For example most auto drives end safely but some are a catastrophe. Most people cannot afford to replace their cars if something happens. Health insurance should cover only truly unaffordable catastrophes. Anything else just inflates its cost and is redistribution of wealth, whether intended or unintended.
The net result of this is that no one is satisfied. Doctors are unhappy and not doing well. Patients are often stuck in "voice mail jail" dealing with insurers or medical care groups. And life spans have been expanded well beyond the ability of many people to work. Even if I can continue working (I'm a lawyer) can a pipe-fitter who goes into sewers or construction workers who go onto scaffolding often work into their 80's? Maybe some can. But not many. All and all I think we'd be better off with far less insurance.