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The rising cost of health
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Posted on Oct 11 2000
The Issue: The NMI government owes more than $5 million to health providers in Hawaii.
Our View: The Fund has paid off $1.7 million of this debt while it turns to the legislature for help.
The spiraling cost of health is a nightmarish issue no matter the level of government, territories, state or national. It is for this reason that it has become one of several major issues in the ongoing presidential debate.
The differing views between Bush and Gore on drugs for senior citizens or patient’s rights under the umbrella of health maintenance organizations is a healthy thing to listen to. And it’s worthy of serious analysis as we work on our own set of health care cost.
Through real life experiences in off-island health providers, our people have learned that nothing is free, even on health care delivery of critical medical cases. Yes, we feel for them and their mind numbing sense of helplessness when informed that their health insurance is exhausted for the year and medical attention will cease as of a certain date.
Some can’t afford to see their loved-ones denied critical medical care. Thus, they turn to the family for help through fund-raisers here on weekends to supplement additional cost. It’s a noble effort worthy of our accolades for their ultra-sense of compassion. But we know that despite their best efforts, the requisite amount would still fall way short of what’s needed.
The medical referral program may step-in, but anything over and above the value of a health insurance policy becomes the obligation of the family to settle afterwards. It is definitely very costly most people here can’t afford.
We hope that the establishment of the task force health insurance would hasten immediate review of this issue. Unless a middle ground is reached, most families here would go through life bankrupt especially those without health insurance policies.
It is for this reason that preventative health care must be viewed as a major form of investment in the health of our people. Si Yuus Maase`!
