The Healthcare System is Not Designed for Health

Preston Alexander, healthcare entrepreneur, explains that the healthcare system is not broken, it is working exactly as it was designed to work.

From/about the article: Our system is not broken. It is working exactly as it was designed. The problem is, we have the wrong system.

We say healthcare is broken. It’s not.

It is working exactly as intended.

Everything we experience in healthcare is intentional.

The system is designed this way.

When we receive a bill from the hospital with an outrageously high number, that is not the function of a broken process.

The hospital over charges to maximize reimbursement from insurance.

Insurance pre-negotiates the rates with the hospital, so no matter what the bill is, the hospital already knows what it is going to be paid.

And frankly, insurers are fine with higher costs from hospitals, it justifies premium hikes, narrower networks, and worse coverage.

 

“Frankly, insurers are fine with higher costs from hospitals, it justifies premium hikes, narrower networks, and worse coverage.”

 

When your prescription is not covered, that’s no accident.

It is because other companies are working to maximize their earnings, not deliver good healthcare to you.

If a doctor wants to spend 40 minutes with you but can only spend 7, there is a reason for that.

She has to chart, bill, oversee operations, do admin work, fight with insurers, all of which is again, intentional.

 

Everything we experience in healthcare is intentional. The system is designed this way.

 

The healthcare system is not designed for health.

It is designed to treat sickness.

Your doctor does not get paid for not seeing you because you are healthy.

The hospital doesn’t make any money when you avoid surgery.

Pharmaceutical companies can’t make money when you don’t need blood pressure medicine.

Our system is not broken.

It is working exactly as it was designed.

The problem is, we have the wrong system.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of SoMeDocs)

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Threads
Email

Preston Alexander

Healthcare Entrepreneur

All opinions published on SoMeDocs-Mag are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of SoMeDocs, its staff, or editors. Content on SoMeDocs is intended for informational and storytelling purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Readers should always seek the guidance of their own qualified healthcare professional regarding personal health or medical decisions. SoMeDocs is a magazine built with the safety of free expression and diverse perspectives in mind.

Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on SoMeDocs? Submit your own article here.

Our Content

Latest articles

Us vs Them

The Psychology of “Us” and “Them”

What if one of healthcare’s biggest problems isn’t policy, but the way we divide the world into “us” and “them”? A physician reflects on identity, belonging, and what the World Cup teaches us about becoming “we.”

Learn

Learn from experts

Physician stories. Sharp commentary.

Straight to your inbox. Sign up for SoMeDocs updates and get new docuseries episodes, articles, conversations, and insider healthcare content as they drop.

Interested in subscribing
to our unique content?

Interested in subscribing to our unique content?

SOMeDOcs

Experts. Events. Opportunities. Networking. Learning. Earning. For Anyone Interested in Healthcare.