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Updated Tuesday, August 25, 2009 9:20 am TWN, The China Post news staff

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'Socialism' isn't a bad word with health care

This isn't the first time a young American president has tried to bring a public option to U.S. health care. Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton tried in 1994, but were solidly defeated.

It seems each time many Americans hear the words “public option,” they panic believing the government wants to impose decisions against their will. But these fears are unfounded.

President Obama has made it very clear that he's not asking those who are happy with their coverage to quit it; he simply wants an option for the millions of people who don't have any coverage.

In this sense, Taiwan's NHI is different as every resident of Taiwan -- even foreigners -- are required by law to buy basic coverage. In Taiwan, the fees from the healthy go to pay for the needs of the sick. But many Americans, either due to ignorance or misinformation, can't even accept a parallel private-public system.

Taiwan's NHI isn't perfect. For many years the Bureau of National Health Insurance hemorrhaged money. Local laws were modified to allow generic drugs, drug prices were capped and a “performance for pay” system was instituted for health care professionals. These and other modifications have made the Taiwan NHI one of the planet's most successful health programs and it has been studied by other nations.

One notable area of difference is the salaries paid to doctors. Taiwan's physician compensatory rates are far lower than in America. Finding more American doctors to work at subsidized medical centers for less than they can earn in private practice will be a tough pill to swallow.

America does have Medicare, the nation's one government-run health care program. Medicare is wildly popular. But Medicare is running out of money. Affluent Americans need to realize that when a non-insured person puts off seeing a doctor until the condition requires a trip the emergency room, they as taxpayers end up with the tab. In essence, America may be shooting itself in the foot by not understanding that a degree of socialized medicine is good for all, including the rich.

It will be a shame if this golden opportunity for real change passes America by yet again. Americans need to come to realize that when it comes to health care, a touch of socialism may not be such a bad thing.

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