Healthcare laments

To the editor:

In the early 20th century, American healthcare primarily operated as a fee-for-service model.  Hospitals and physicians set charges. 

During the 1920s, individual hospitals began offering services to individuals on a prepaid basis, eventually leading to the development of Blue Cross organizations in the 1930s. 

In 1929, The first modern employer-sponsored hospitalization plan was created for local schoolteachers by Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

Insurance spreads the costs over the population to alleviate undue burdens on those who have higher than average costs. The healthier must contribute to the costs of those who are more in need.

By the early 1960’s, younger and healthier and the poorest did not (or could not) voluntarily purchase insurance. 

In 1964, the government established Medicare (funded by payroll deductions) and Medicaid.

People aged 55 and over account for over half of national health spending. Not everyone is healthy and suddenly dies. Some suffer multiple ills which cost the insurer and the healthy population more. 

The young do not appreciate their responsibility to fund their elders who become weak and ill. They treat us as though we have become feeble and lost our ability to reason. 

They resent the existence of those who have “outlived their usefulness” for the daily functioning of society. They dismiss us as obsolete.

I do not consider myself lucky not to be the one who was healthy and suddenly dies.  Growing old is not entirely enjoyable.  It is made less so by those who don’t appreciate our wisdom and experience. 

We appreciate being asked for our thoughts and advice or to share our experiences.  Elders can still contribute to society. 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

An octogenarian,

William Shenton