Capitalism and Healthcare

I'm sure you've heard the argument suggesting the best way to correct a market is to encourage capitalism. Good old healthy competition! It works for health care too. Here's an oft overlooked example....

In 2006 Wal-Mart decided to start an aggressive campaign and lower many of their prescription drug prices to $4.00 for a 30 day supply (mostly generics). This saved Americans literally billions of dollars (Pay attention Washington). Hat's off to an often maligned company for putting the consumer first!

To stay competitive, Target, Kroger, First, Giant, Giant Eagle, Food Lion, Publix, and Safeway fell in line as well. They had to if they wanted to compete. Wal-Greens played their ace card, and now offers a 90 day supply of over 400 prescription drugs for a mere $12.00. A perfect example of competition driving the market.

Wal-Mart realizes through marketing studies that every customer in their store spends about a quarter million dollars over their lifetime. The prescription drug discounts was genius marketing that brings customers into the store, and forced the competition to follow suit.

Wal-Greens in kind has a ploy of their own.They are currently developing low cost in store clinics with nurse practioners to handle your daily aches and pains. You have to think their medications and collateral medical needs will be addressed right in store increasing sales!

Competition creates innovative thinking! Pssst, Washington release the hounds and remove the restrictions on interstate health insurance sales! Raise the level of competition, not our taxes or national debt. Cosmetic surgery is a competitive market. As an elected procedure there is price shopping. Did you know since 2005 studies have shown, cosmetic procedures pricing has decreased and quality has risen? Free market principles work in health care given unrestricted opportunity.

Healthcarebluebook.com discloses reasonable pricing for procedures and treatments. Perhaps if we shopped our medical care like we do our auto or big screen purchase we could get a better deal? Wouldn't that'd drive down prices? Teladoc is a service that guarantees to put you in phone contact with a licensed physician within three hours for $35.00. American Well is another company with a new idea, webcam conferences with a licensed physician, $45.00. You know there have been times I'd of traded my house for a chat with a live doctor 24/7. Wal-Mart is now toying with the idea of virtual clinic in their store where your appointment is also via webcam.

Does Washington applaud entrepreneurial efforts to simplify and lower healthcare costs? Nope, they want to assault the founding principles and tax us into bankruptcy and debt. Narrow minded thinking brings costly narrow results. Is the fact most politicians, or their advisors have never had a job in the private sector, nor ever run a business beginning to show? You betcha! (Thanks Sara). Let me ask you this. Have you heard any of this on your news station? Not likely. It's really time for a change, one that evicts those incompetent slackers and brings in new blood with new ideas! Imanoncall suggested in a comment we call Congress and wish them farewell, it's just good manners to say goodbye!

God Bless
Capt. Bill