Who'll pay for medical care?

One of the biggest political and economic issues today involves trying to answer the question, "Who'll pay for our medical care?"

There is a growing clamor -- especially in Congress -- for "government" to pay for our medical care.

Who must pay for "government"? We do. That's no surprise.

Most of our people fortunately have personal or employer-employee group insurance to help pay for medical care. Some people pay out of pocket. But whatever the sources of payment, including that by government programs, in the end, "we" pay for medical care.

It isn't "free." Hospitals, doctors, medicines, operations, etc., have to be paid for. Obviously, the best way is for each of us to be personally responsible, just as we are personally responsible for our food, clothing, housing, etc. Most people find it is advisable, convenient and responsible to have medical insurance. But insurance is expensive because medical care is expensive. So there is the demand to pass the cost on to "somebody else."

To whom?

If it's to "government," we pay in taxes, or in public debt that requires taxes for interest on the debt. The problem increases because we want more from "government" than we are willing to pay into government in taxes to cover the rising costs. And when "government" is involved, the cost is always more than just the cost of the medical or other service, because the cost of bureaucracy inevitably is added on.

It's possible that many of us are asking for far more medical attention, from doctors, hospitals, medicines, etc., than we really need. It is also true that many of our people do not have all the medical care they do need.

So the question is, how should we meet all real needs, avoid unnecessary costs -- and pay the bill?

Personal responsibility and employer-employee insurance are the main and best means to manage medical care these days, just as we meet other personal responsibilities -- with no one being denied service if financially in need.

But medical care is not "free," and must be paid for in an obvious variety of ways. The problem is that many of our demands are greater than our willingness or ability to cover the rising costs.

There must be a continuing effort to balance a combination of means of payment. But obviously, the worst prospect is to pile trillions of dollars of extra costs onto the taxpayers through higher taxes and increased national debt, thus creating unbearable financial burdens.

Many medical and financial adjustments surely are needed. But no adjustment will be easy. Adoption of ObamaCare, in any of its proposed forms, surely would result in a degree of socialized medicine, a lower quality of medical care and much higher cost.