Although I like the idea of a voucher system, what we really need is to cut out the middleman - and who do I mean by the middleman?  The insurance companies of course.

The fundamental payor - payee relationship must change if we really intend to take cost out of the system.  The patient must be responsible for the fees paid and the services received by the healthcare provider.  So long as the insurance company stays in the middle of paying for services and the patient, the consumer, remains blind to the costs and feels nor personal responsibility for the cost of their healthcare - medicare and medicaid expenses will continue to spiral out of control.

Every patient needs to be personally responsible for their own health and the fees related to staying healthy or failing to do so.  When that happens costs will come down.

Why do I believe this to be the case?  It's very simple - my wife and I carry a high deductible family insurance plan.  Our family deductible is very high so we pay cash for all medical care - except when a major catastrophe occurs.  The prices we pay in cash are less than those billed to the insurance company.  This is true for dental care, urgent care, chiropractic and family doctor care.  These are not imagined difference.  I ask what the cost of care is for cash and what the cost is that will be billed to my insurance company.  I want the cash price every time.

Simply put the current health care system is upside down - it violates the principles of personal responsibility and self-reliance.   When we get the system built on correct principles -the costs of our healthcare will come back in balance.

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