Health insurance. It’s on everyone’s mind. Especially seniors who are only months away from graduating and getting kicked off of their parents’ health insurance plans. So, what to do?
Of course, there has been lots of talk about Obama’s proposed plan for Universal Health Care. In fact, Harvard has recently released research claiming that lack of health insurance is associated with 45,000 deaths per year. While this comes as no surprise to many, it is possible that the study was released with ulterior motives, let’s say … politics? While the study’s conclusion that “uninsurance is associated with mortality,” I disagree with the undertones of such a statement.
Let’s get back to basics. The word “association” is synonymous with “correlation,” which by definition, does not prove cause and effect. So please, do not confuse the two words. Therefore, let’s explore the many other reasons why uninsurance and mortality are correlated.
Let’s start with the top cause of death in the country, heart disease. The biggest risk factors for heart disease are tobacco smoke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity and obesity. Go figure that all of these risk factors can be adequately controlled with diet and exercise. Go figure that Americans’ lifestyle choices are really what’s killing them. In essence, apathy and laziness are equally as fatal as cancer and strokes.
What really bothers me are the finances behind health care. While I’ve never taken a business class, I still find it appalling that 75 percent of the 2.1 trillion dollars spent on health care was spent on patient care of preventable disease and illness. Can you imagine what a change it would make to spend that money on early health screenings, physicals and other preventative measures? Why is it that doctors can write prescriptions for medication, but not for a gym membership? I bet you the gym membership would be of greater benefit in the long-term, and certainly much more cost-effective.
Don’t get me wrong. As a nursing major, I’m automatically a huge advocate for health care reform, but only if done the proper way. It’s morally and ethically irresponsible for 46 million Americans to go another day without health care. If it were up to me, preventative health care practices would be a huge priority. In addition, the causes of disease would be addressed, rather than simply always doing damage control once a problem arises. Therefore, lifestyle choices must be addressed at doctor visits.
To further prove this claim, a recent study found that “not smoking, exercising 3.5 hours a week, eating a healthy diet, and keeping a healthy weight” would prevent 93 percent of diabetes, 81 percent of heart attacks, 50 percent of strokes and 36 percent of all cancers. Yes, health care is expensive. Yes, everyone deserves to be insured. Yes, there is a correlation between uninsurance and death. However, there is a much stronger correlation between preventive care and a healthy life.
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