The free market. Self determination. Control over your own money……Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels hit the nail on the head when it comes to the future of healthcare dollars. Individual determination of healthcare dollars spent is successful.
In an Op-Ed piece for the Wall Street Journal today, Daniels illustrates how the free market is supposed to work–yes, even in healthcare. Seems like a simple idea; one which should be easy to implement, but probably won’t because it takes control of the almighty dollar away from the government.
When given the choice, a staggering 70% of Indiana State employees chose to determine their own destiny. Imagine that.
The HSA option has proven highly popular. This year, over 70% of our 30,000 Indiana state workers chose it, by far the highest in public-sector America. Due to the rejection of these plans by government unions, the average use of HSAs in the public sector across the country is just 2%.
Not only are employees determining where their dollar goes, but it is good for the state:
The state is saving, too. In a time of severe budgetary stress, Indiana will save at least $20 million in 2010 because of our high HSA enrollment. Mercer calculates the state’s total costs are being reduced by 11% solely due to the HSA option.
Daniels goes on to say how people who use their own money, cut costs and do not cause a detriment to their own health. What a concept. Free market, control of your own money, and what do you get?…. A positive outcome.
As the healthcare debate continues to drag on, with intentions of ‘bettering America’, one thing becomes clear: Self determination of individual dollars is the only thing that shows promising signs of success.
Kudos to Daniels who champions the individual.
(For more reading on HSA’s and positive healthcare reform, check this interesting article from Dr. Robert E. Moffit, Director of the Center for Healthcare Studies at the Heritage Foundation)
Americans value their freedoms. In the current health care battle, those freedoms are under attack. If politiciansand Washington bureaucrats get their way – a government takeover of your health care – then we will lose the freedom to choose our doctors, what type of care we want and the insurance plans we choose. Nothing is more important than your family’s health. That is why we started the Patients First project. We believe you are most qualified to make the health care decisions that affect you and your family. We believe when you or a family member is sick, you should be able to get care quickly – not months or years later. And we believe your medical privacy is paramount. Don’t let Washington bureaucrats come between you and your doctor. Join us today on our Indiana bus tour to protect the right to choose your doctor, your care and to protect your privacy. Tell Washington to keep their “Hands Off My Healthcare!”
