I’m not sure how I should feel, using a friend’s experience with government-provided healthcare as an example on a blog that pays me to do research.  Sure, Michael Moore has no problem tugging at people’s heartstrings with convenient anecdotes to get you to agree with him that socialism is great, but is that really a good example?

At any rate, today’s post is a continuation of a post I wrote a couple weeks ago about the type of care we can actually expect to receive when we sign on for “free” government healthcare.  In it, I cited the example of a friend of mine who is covered on her husband’s military plan.  Today, that friend returns with another tale that illustrates the inefficiencies of the military system.

She has been sick with what seemed like a common cold for nearly three weeks and decided that, finally, it was time to take the day off work required to see her doctor at Fort Meade.  So she woke up at 6 am to call out of work and try to make an appointment at the medical center.  They told her that because she had been sick for so long they couldn’t see her that day (same day scheduling, which is all they normally do, is reserved for those who have just gotten sick) but could potentially see her Friday.

Not wanting to wait two more days and call out of work again, she decided to call around to all the doctor’s offices in her area to see if any accepted military-issued insurance (known as Tri-care Prime).  None did, although one went so far as to schedule her for an appointment before they found out that they could not be reimbursed for seeing her.  Finally, she decided to pop over to the CVS “minute-clinic” where she was seen promptly and diagnosed with an ear infection and minor tonsillitis, both of which were a result of allergies.   They prescribed two medications (which, thankfully, her insurance did cover) and sent her on her way.

Maybe this is why we’ve all be hearing so much about how those on Medicaid actually fare worse than those without insurance (I can’t imagine Medicaid is much different from Tri-care Prime, although I do hope it’s better).  Sometimes forging your own path is better than being forced to walk down a treacherous one.  But that’s an aside, and one that others have already analyzed better than I could in 500 words.

But that’s just one anecdote.  Hardly a scientific study, I must admit.  And the argument could be made that she would have had no trouble if all the healthcare centers in the area were run by the government, for there would be no issue of who accepted what insurance.  The problem I have with this argument is two-fold.  First of all, the system proposed by Obama is not a “single-payer” (read: government-run) system.  It is a system where everyone is able to buy whatever insurance they want -- at least, so he claims.  The myriad of problems that will no-doubt arise from this awkward hybrid system of privatization and government regulation makes me cringe.

Second, I simply do not trust the government to run an efficient business, and as businesses go, healthcare is a pretty important one.  The MVA I can forgive.  It’s a pain in the behind every time I have to go there, but I only have to go there every once in a blue moon, and I’m usually in good health when that rolls around.  The idea of being forced into attending the government-provided healthcare equivalent of the MVA (and make no mistake, that is where this is leading) every time I need to see a doctor also makes me cringe.

I wonder, since I already included one piece of anecdotal evidence today, what is the harm of including another?  I’ll close with a comment left on my last post about a former soldier’s experience with military healthcare:

You hit the military healthcare nail right on the head. With that type of care also comes the risk of complacent doctors. In my first unit, a soldier went to see a doctor and most times the soldiers don't even get to see real doctors. They see PAs, physician assistants. This kid, six months out of basic, went to the PA because he was sick. PA told him he had bronchitis, gave him some meds and sent him off to soldier on. Not sure how much time elapsed between visits but he repeatedly went back to this same PA until the kid passed away. Turns out he had leukemia and the PA just didn't want to bother with dotting his I's and crossing his T's. I also had a similar experience where my chest was hurting and the PA told me I had a bruised rib. A couple weeks go by and he sends me to get an X-ray for a broken rib. Turns out I had pneumonia. If they drop the ball on these healthcare issues and it ends up coming out like military healthcare, it will be a sad day for diagnostic medicine and a dangerous future for really sick people. That type of healthcare is dangerous.