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April 26, 2006
1%
At my union's convention, I had the honor of meeting the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell. He came to address us on many issues relating to health care and the nursing shortage, and his speech was well-received. Amidst of all the talk of improving working conditions for health care workers by eliminating mandatory overtime, passing safe staffing legislation, and creating a system of health care reimbursements that rewards hospitals that provide quality care, not cheap care, there was mention of another, complimentary approach to the problem of our nation's healthcare crisis.
Governor Rendell told us about how state workers in PA now pay 1% for their healthcare. That's not much -- thanks to the strong union workers sticking together to demand the affordable health care that they need for their families -- but it's definitely a bite out of a paycheck. However, there is one way to get out of paying the 1%. Employees who meet certain health criteria, such as not smoking and maintaining a healthy BMI, have the 1% waived. Governor Rendell says that the state saves lots of money on these people who maintain fairly basic standards of health. What a great idea! A glimmer of hope in a public health system that is so far down denial river that it can almost see the pyramids. As the former mayor of the former fattest city in the nation, Governor Rendell knows a thing or two about obesity. I congratulated him on our way out (I was in charge of escorting him to and fro the convention hall -- one of my friends got a great pic that I'll try to post to the blog!) on his commonsense approach to maintaining a healthy workforce.
I really wish that those of us who actually work at our health were rewarded in more ways. It can be a pain to negotiate with waiters, raid other parties' vegetable tray at hotels because your own convention offers nothing you can eat, and get carded well into your thirties. If there were more incentives for living a healthy lifestyle, I really think more people would do it. Americans pay attention to money, and if it costs them more to be overweight, smoke, and grow mold while watching TV on the couch, they're more likely to adopt the kind of habits that will keep health care costs down by keeping the people healthy.
How about this: a tax credit for not being a burden to the public health system? At the end of every year, if you maintain a healthy weight, don't smoke, exercise, and can prove that you wore a seat belt, you get a portion of your taxes back?
I, for one, could really use the 1%.
Posted by april at April 26, 2006 8:25 PM
Comments
I was reading my "freewill horoscope" in the village voice today and it had a message about poverty. It said that if I made 2388 dollars (or something like that) in a year, I was richer than the 85% of the rest of the world population. I checked the website referenced, and saw it with my own eyes. Combined with the 1% of your post, it really makes you think how relative numbers are. İt sounds so little, 1 % of your annual income, but it's a lot if you think about it. I support your suggestion strongly.
Posted by: zeynep at April 27, 2006 3:32 PM
Be sure to send your posting to the Gov.'s office. Thanks again to all the bloggie friends for the good wishes. Marti
Posted by: Marti at April 28, 2006 7:03 AM
To have healthcare for 1% of income sounds quite cheap to me. Even Medicare takes about 7% out of Social Security payments.
Peg D
Posted by: peg diamond at April 29, 2006 9:01 PM
Tax Credit of 1% for being healthy and not a burden to the state? But exercise is one of the requirements ... but isn't it true that the mice that CR and exercise die faster than the CR mice that don't exercise? So for CR Humans, in order to get the 1% tax credit, they will have to exercise and therefore die sooner than otherwise.
Well, if CR Humans they die in good health, I guess that might save the state money if they exercise and therefore die sooner than otherwise.
But it doesn't seem quite fair, does it?
CRWilliam,
Vegan CR, for longevity and for all life.
Posted by: CRWilliam at May 9, 2006 3:53 PM