Op-Ed: In Medical Reform, Government Not the Problem

Americans worry about government medical care but what about the broken, inadequate, fraudulent medical system in the U.S. right now?

I have been watching the debate, with disbelief, on health care reform from Mexico, where I retired 20 years ago. I can not believe that so many Americas have such fear of the government, yet have such confidence in the “shown” many fraudulent insurance companies, doctors, and hospitals. I know of that fraud first hand, for I have been charge by hospital for treatments I did not receive at double the cost. I say “I” but really the insurance companies I had subscribed to, including Medicare. I also have been misdiagnosed by hospital doctors, where a small town Mexican doctor diagnosed me correctly. There are over 30,000 patients die each year form mistakes made in the hospital, so, I am not impressed by the claimed superior medical services in the US, especially when you also consider that twice as much is spent in the US for medical care than most other countries (that have government insurance) and is rated 37th in in the world for quality of care. When I came to Mexico I bought the government medical insurance, that cost me about $200.00 dollars a year, the insurance includes doctor's services, medication, and hospital services. In the last three years I have had two successful major surgeries at no cost to me. I received excellent care and experienced no government interference (I am an American) and no excessive bureaucratic red-tape. In addition, in Mexico there are numerous private hospitals and doctors. I would like to also mention that medication is about 75% less in Mexico than in the US. And if you want an affordable private physician, there is one pharmacy chain that provides doctor's services for two dollars and laboratory services for 75% discount. As you can see the government does not have a monopoly on medical service; you might say that everyone is covered by medical, private and government. There is no large tax imposed on the people for this government medical service, it is normally paid for by the companies they work for. I think Americans need to really think more about the terrible,broken, fraudulent, and inadequate medical care system and the well being of their neighbors, than the government will take over their life. The American government system has enough checks and balances that this would be difficult. Remember what Eisenhower warned us as he left office, our real fear of losing our freedom, is not the government, but “the military-industrial complex.”