OPINION:
During his confirmation hearing, Health and Human Service Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, “We should be moving to value-based care, which includes prevention.”
I understand the concept of pooled risk, where we need healthy people to offset the costs of those with unpreventable medical issues. I also know our economy is based on incentives. What good is a health care system if there’s no incentive to be healthy?
After my mile run in the Florida heat at age 60, it occurred to me that maybe we wouldn’t have such a health care crisis if every insurance company offered a financial incentive for being healthy. If I can get a 30% discount for driving safely, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t get a 30% discount for doing what’s recommended by my insurance company to stay healthy. Cholesterol level and body mass index could be used as determining factors.
It’s not that I mind working hard every day to stay healthy, but I am helping to pay for those that don’t care to do the same, and a discount would be nice. Walking out of your company’s benefit meeting with a pamphlet full of recommendations on how to lower your risks and then passing people on their breaks gobbling down Twinkies and paying exactly the same premium as you do can be disheartening.
An executive order forcing insurance companies to offer a health discount and Congress codifying it into law would go far toward addressing our health crisis. At least now with RFK Jr. at the helm of HHS, we have someone who walks the walk.
BEN FURLEIGH
Port Charlotte, Florida
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