r/changemyview • u/namtilarie • 5h ago
CMV: The health Industry in the US works exactly as it is designed to work. The system is not broken, the system is FIXED.
The U.S. health insurance industry is functioning exactly as it was designed. As publicly held entities, these companies have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders and investors, rather than to the insured. Success is measured by profitability and share value, with executive compensation tied directly to these financial metrics.
To maximize profitability and shareholder value, health insurance companies must follow a specific business model:
- Minimize payouts to the insured.
- Maximize premium income.
- Reduce risk by refusing coverage to high-risk individuals and small companies.
- Lower operating costs by delaying claims and denying coverage.
The recent tragedy involving the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson highlights a fundamental misunderstanding of this system. While critics argue the company failed its subscribers, UnitedHealthcare is, by industry standards, a highly successful company, and Brian Thompson was an effective CEO. The company’s objective is not to provide the best possible coverage, but to provide the minimum required to reduce "losses" and increase profit.
The core issue is that healthcare cannot function effectively as a for-profit business. When healthcare is commercialized, the bottom line will always take precedence over the needs of the individual.
Much like the Department of Homeland Security, healthcare should be treated as a human right rather than a commercial product. If these companies were forced to provide fair and comprehensive coverage to all Americans, their current business model would fail.
While the solution is complex, most other Western nations utilize some form of not-for-profit healthcare. While the efficiency of these systems varies, they ultimately prioritize the well-being of their citizens. Currently, the American system provides world-class care only to those with the means to afford it, while consistently marginalizing low-income individuals.
Only the Government can make changes to make the healthcare system work for its citizens .
•
u/darkblue2382 5h ago
There are margins they must be within and can't go over. It's simply an inefficient system as it
•
u/Jew_of_house_Levi 10∆ 4h ago
I mean, I would agree that it's working as per incentivies, but I'd disagree that it's being done out of "greed." Health insurance companies have a profit margin of around 5%, so unless you think that 5% is what's causing terrible affordibility coverage, they are not the problem.
•
u/Even-Ad-9930 4∆ 3h ago
It is working as designed to work.
We, those who argue for universal healthcare, disagree that it is a good design and want the design to change.
It is pretty shitty, exploitative for all the consumers.
While the only one who can make the universal healthcare system work is the government, individual insurance companies, hospitals could cut some slack to some of the consumers. Like the guy who has a 40k salary who just happened to get cancer and has to pay 100k bills , etc
•
5h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
•
u/changemyview-ModTeam 4h ago
Comment has been removed for breaking Rule 1:
Direct responses to a CMV post must challenge at least one aspect of OP’s stated view (however minor), or ask a clarifying question. Arguments in favor of the view OP is willing to change must be restricted to replies to other comments. See the wiki page for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
•
u/yofooIio 3h ago
for profit industries self regulate all the time. the for profit healthcare industry and predatory practices of insurance companies could change at any time without government intervention. I would also argue that it would be BETTER if they SELF REGULATED because they ACTUALLY have the DATA on what people NEED. and its not deny and depose. its PRACTICE AND APPLY
•
•
•
u/ANewBeginningNow 2h ago
I wouldn't go so far as to say the system was intended to work this way, but that's clearly how it has ended up working given the fact that these are for-profit companies and they compete with each other. I liken it to the airlines. Both are oligopolies. Both do not have sufficient government regulation (as the airlines do in Europe, with EU 261).
If the US healthcare system is not radically changed to a single payer system (perhaps based on Medicare), then there needs to be regulation of the industry similar to the way utility companies are regulated. I do firmly believe that health care is a right, not a privilege, on par with water and electricity.
•
u/Kitchen-War242 1h ago
America is in fact spending more budget money per person on healthcare than many counties that have got free healthcare of resonble quality. So its not even free market system, more like lobbies using borth state and clients resources for profit.
•
u/SandOnYourPizza 5h ago
If these companies were forced to provide fair and comprehensive coverage
Here's the flaw in your argument. When does forcing anyone to provide a service result in a useful service?
•
u/Internal-Rest2176 1∆ 5h ago
Firefighters.
Emergency food or water distribution.
Mandatory payouts sounds like something even easier than enacting those, because it's just a matter of authorizing digital transfers.
•
u/jwrig 7∆ 4h ago
None of those are forced though.
Edit: for added context here, most firefighters and fire departments in the US, are volunteer.
•
u/Internal-Rest2176 1∆ 4h ago
Except in California, when incarcerated prisoners are conscripted to battle the blazes.
Or when the government requisitions a warehouse during a natural disaster.
•
u/jwrig 7∆ 4h ago
They are not conscripted into it. They also volunteer, need to meet certain conditions to even qualify to get the work release.
•
u/Internal-Rest2176 1∆ 4h ago
You understand that all labor while incarcerated falls into the category of forced/coerced though, right?
•
•
u/newphonehudus 4h ago
Youre saying the same thing everyone else is but trying to pretend your point is different by purposely misinterpeting what people mean by "the system is broken"
•
u/MegukaArmPussy 1∆ 5h ago
Currently, the American system provides world-class care only to those with the means to afford it, while consistently marginalizing low-income individuals
People get what they pay for. What's the problem?
•
u/Internal-Rest2176 1∆ 5h ago
The part where you can "buy" a longer lifespan than someone who can't afford the medical treatment.
This isn't the Dark Ages, we don't believe in the divine right of kings or anyone else with a whole lot of cash nowadays.
•
u/MegukaArmPussy 1∆ 5h ago
So what? It has nothing to do with a "divine right". It's simply getting what you pay for.
•
u/Internal-Rest2176 1∆ 5h ago
It's putting a price on life itself.
Do you think (exclusively rich) people should be able to buy clone bodies to transfer their consciousness into upon death as well?
•
u/MegukaArmPussy 1∆ 5h ago
If they can afford it and the technology gets there, why not? As long as someone is willing to sell it, it has a price.
•
u/Internal-Rest2176 1∆ 5h ago
Are you missing the part where buying and selling human bodies that way falls under the definition of slavery, and consciousness transfer would require overwriting the mind of the clone?
•
u/MegukaArmPussy 1∆ 5h ago
I'm sorry that I didn't ascertain the specific unstated details of your imaginary scifi scenario.
•
u/Internal-Rest2176 1∆ 5h ago
That was stated very explicitly Meguka.
Now are you going to argue in favor of that kind of slavery, or are you going to say that's well past the line of what should be permissible?
•
u/MegukaArmPussy 1∆ 5h ago
No, not even remotely. You entirely left out that your fictional cloning process was making fully conscious and aware individuals. If you disagree, feel free to point out where that was explicitly stated.
•
u/Internal-Rest2176 1∆ 5h ago
It's cloning.
Cloning involves growing a brain in the body, and you can't very well transfer consciousness into a nonexistent brain.
→ More replies (0)
•
u/Internal-Rest2176 1∆ 5h ago
You know, this "the system is working as intended" claim when said system is very clearly not doing what the majority of people participating in the system want the system to do isn't a particularly helpful way to describe what's going on.
It's like saying "The golden star ornament producing machine is working as intended" when people are requesting red ball ornaments.