Cutting Costs

        A major concern about health care is how we can cut costs. Health expenditure reach 2.5 trillion in 2009 according to the Department of Health and Human Services, and is only projected to increase. When talking about reducing health expenditures we cannot sacrifice the quality of health care, so where can we cut expenses that won't compromise our health?

       According to doctor David Ludwig,who says that, "Society could spend on thousand dollars now for comprehensive medical care for an obese child, or it could spend one hundred thousand dollars later for that patient's coronary artery bypass surgery." Doctor Ludwig, in basic terms, is saying that we could spend some money now for an obese child to become healthier, or we could spend lots of money on the medical conditions that could occur if nothing is done. I don't necessarily think this is a complete solution to reducing health care expenditures, but according to Dr. Richard Carmona, the Surgeon General of the United States, says that obesity is the fastest growing cause of disease and death in America and nearly two out of every three Americans are overweight or obese. With that being said a healthier and less obese America could surprisingly cut down health expenditures.

       Another way we could reduce costs recommended by Doctor Jacques Moritz, would be for insurance to only cover serious medical concerns. Doctor Moritz goes on to say that our current insurance model does not encourage patients to take care of themselves, it rewards patients for being sick rather than for being healthy. This could be a great way to reduce expenditures and relates with Dr. Ludwigs idea, by trying to encourage healthier lifestyles for Americans. There are many ideas and theories about reducing health care costs but these are just a few that I believe could be simple and beneficial.