The cost of health care in this country is incredibly high. I believe one reason is the present system functions in a maintenance mode rather than a preventative one. Prevention of illness and disease is an important key to health promotion.
We need a health care system that will provide routine physical examinations, including laboratory examinations, mammograms and pap smears. It is difficult for me to understand why most health insurance policies will not cover preventative measures, like a $15 pap smear, but will cover a $50,000 hospital stay for radical surgery, plus chemotherapy treatments. This is an example of irresponsibility and adds to the soaring cost of health care. Dental insurance policies cover prophylactic measures such as cleaning and x- rays. This saves money and provides the consumer with a sense of well-being.
Consumers and health care providers should work together to develop a health care system that will benefit all the people of this country. The people need a health care system that is affordable and that will promote and maintain health by preventing illness and disease. I believe we want to be a healthy country and to provide the best health care now and in the future.
”An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
