If you are guessing my insurance company stands between me and my doctor, as well as between me and my pharmacy, you are right in one. It doesn't matter what medicine my doctor orders, the pharmacy will check with the insurance company first before filling the order. Now, what sort of logic is that?
After all, I have already paid the premium for the coverage, so why does the pharmacy have to check with the insurer?
That is because some insurance bureaucrat (unlike a government bureaucrat?) is reading off a list of allowable drugs or treatments. If it isn't on the list, no matter how much you may need it, it simply isn't going to be covered by your insurance. In other words, your insurance company, despite already being paid, has veto power over what treatment or drugs you will get.
It is true that if there were universal health care there would be a government bureaucrat reading the same information over the phone to your doctor or pharmacy but with one important difference. You never get a chance to vote for the bosses of the bureaucrats who sit between you and your doctor with private insurance. With government health care you do. Both involve bureaucrats but the second one gives you a voice in the process.
So, the real question is do you want bureaucrats in health care to have bosses you elect or not?
Patrick Durusau is a resident of Covington. His columns appear regularly on Fridays.
