Robert S. Mori, CPA, President   7429 East Heather Way, Everett, WA  98203-5424

Washington Medical                                     

People are paying a lot of attention these days to the rising burden of Washington medical care costs.  There are even economists whose sole attention is to understand and to advise on the economics of healthcare.  Now, some 15% of the GNP of the entire  United States is devoted to medical care and Washington state is no exception.  This percentage is still growing. Still, despite all of this attention, expertise and expense.  Nobody has been able to get control of these spiraling costs that threaten to overwhelm the budgets of every private and public organization as well as every citizen of this great country. 

Because healthcare costs are so great, there are many people who believe that left without insurance, one will not be able to access care. Judges have even ruled that insurance companies are liable for even services not covered by the insurance contract since the lack of insurance equated to a denial of service.

 This belief that private medical insurance equates to access is obviously  false since the federal, state and local governments at least in Washington state have have a number of options for coverage for those who can't afford coverage including Medicaid, Health Kids Now (Chip and Medicaid), Washington Basic Health Plan which is a subsidized program, Indian Health Service, Health Options (Medicaid Managed Care Program) and the Washington Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. Even with all these options, still indigent people use the emergency rooms of public hospitals as their primary care provider. 

Nevertheless, there is a widespread perception that people who cannot afford private health insurance cannot get access to care.  this is patently false.   With many companies outsourcing their work and the number of jobs declining  many people are worried that they will love health coverage with the loss of their job. Although, if they lost their group coverage, they may not be able to exactly replace it with the same benefits, there are a number of replacements that can do the job.

 Medical care benefits have been a major facet of discussion for labor unions and employers ever since the end of World War II.  lately, these negotiations have become more heated and significant because of the costs involved and the perception of how crucial it is to have a good Washington medical insurance policy. Disagreements over medical insurance benefits here in Washington and across the US have been the main reason why unions strike and employers lock out workers.

 Many people believe we spend too much of our wealth on medical care. The medical-health care industry now is around two trillion dollars. 

Without a doubt, some of the healthcare dollars spent for Washington medical expenses are being used frivolously.  Many people request services that do nothing to improve health or pay for charges way out of line to what is normally billed.  A lot of wealth is paid for elective surgery and other procedures  for physical enhancement such as to look thin or to look younger. i Some folks pay their small co-pay to see a healthcare professional because they feel lonely not thinking that they are utilizing services that are much more expensive than the co-pay.