The other day, I ate lunch with my father at the local Chinese buffet.  As I sat down with my initial round, a salad, I noticed an older lady with a vertical scar on her chest, indicating the fact that she had undergone open-heart surgery.  I glanced at her plate.  She had loaded it with all manner of deep-fried goodness.  Given the fact that my morning meeting involved a discussion with my company's health insurance representative, I was silently infuriated.

Earlier that day, I was informed that my family's health insurance monthly premium will be increased to roughly $1400 per month for a policy that is less than stellar in the area of benefits.  Our deductible is high.  Our copays are high and we are very limited as to covered services.  Each year, our premiums and copays increase while our benefits are cut.  It strikes me as curious, the fact that health insurance companies don't seem to be suffering the same economic doldrums that the rest of the country seems to be suffering at the moment.  I understand why.

Each group is evaluated individually.  The claims for each group are totaled.  The total has some administrative costs factored in and additional risks that are associated with the types of claim that are contained in the history are calculated.  The premium is calculated such that the insurer will never lose money on any of its clients.  In the event of a series of catastrophic illnesses striking a company, the following year will see a drastic increase in premiums.

Every American should see it as his or her duty to their household, the head of household's employer, co-worker and neighbor to maintain the best possible health.  This does not mean going to the doctor for the sniffles.  This means minding one's weight.  It means keeping an eye on salt intake.  It means preventing disease.

Part of the reason our premiums are so high is the fact that the average age of employees here is above 50.  Half smoke.  Forty percent of the insured are diabetic.  Twenty percent have had heart attacks and one person is (what is considered to be) proper weight. (In truth, he is far too thin, has back problems due to inadequate muscle and smokes like a chimney)

If my co-workers would engage in health improvement, our rates would stop going up.  We could negotiate our rates and have a better quality of life.  Unfortunately, despite the presence of a good exercise facility (that I bought) and a shower, I am the only one who is making an effort to reduce these overhead costs.

In truth, unless our population undertakes sufficient preventative measures, universal health coverage will be prohibitively expensive.  If we don't observe the path we have followed and where it is leading, our own gluttony and laziness will adversely affect our quality of life.  Get the kids away from the video game console and take them outside to play in the yard.  The joys of a healthy life are not going to be the product of modern medicine.  They will be the wage earned by good sense.