Why is the Sales Dept. Choosing My Insurance Coverage?

Among the many activities I must engage in every January is meeting with medical specialists to change my medications. Most people don’t know that I’m a disabled person with more than 25 chronic illnesses requiring me to take more than 15 medications daily. It’s not a statistic I enjoy sharing. But my insurance provider’s actions force me to expose a practice that goes on at too many companies. Rewarding your employees’ insurance coverage to the company that bought the most products/services is a poor HR practice. Because my insurance comes from a company that employs this practice, my insurance changes every year. As any person with more than a few chronic illnesses can attest, changing medications can cause various health problems ranging from more significant pain to poor sleep to increased anxiety. And none of these issues result in happier or healthier employees.

If you think I’m going to raise the fundamental problem in the US of tying healthcare to employment, get ready. It’s a flawed, capitalistic idea. Why should a business deal determine the medication I take? Removing all control from the doctor and the patient isn’t in anyone’s best interest and, in my case, has put me in life-threatening situations.

American healthcare is growing more expensive at the same time as physical and mental illness (as evidenced by suicide rates) rises. We must stop focusing on healthcare for profit. If Americans can’t understand the benefit of universal healthcare, I suggest we start by offering care in two vital areas: mental and reproductive health. Mental illness directly relates to the growing homeless problem. It’s difficult for a person with a mental illness to hold a full-time job. Government is already heavily involved in these services. Placing reproductive healthcare under federal management will ensure that all women, no matter where they live or work, get the same high level of care. This approach will reduce the high cost and problems associated with the entire aspect of natal care. It’s what doctors and patients want.

While my suggestions won’t fix my annual medical visits and medication changes, at least they will deal with problems that most affect our female and future employees.