By 

Craig Matteson (Saline, MI) –

  

  

  

This short and focused book offers five suggestions to help lower our society’s overall healthcare expenses, improve availability, while putting it on a more sound footing for controlling future cost growth. Discussing healthcare is a complicated issue and much of the public discussion is distorted by various kinds of self-interest, lack of knowledge about the technical aspects of the problem (both medical and economic), and different views of what the desirable outcomes would be. This one hundred-page book is a wonderful basic foundation so we can discuss the health care issues from a common ground.

Our present private health care system suffers from several market distortions that prevent efficiencies. First, it arose from a wartime wage & price controlled economy in 1942 when companies began offering “fringe benefits” since they couldn’t raise wages. The next biggest problem is that what we really have is pre-paid healthcare rather than true insurance. Insurance is based on the notion of sharing risk not the notion of no-risk no cost. Imagine if we have pre-paid lunches. Wouldn’t the natural inclination be to consume bigger lunches than you normally would? Maybe even combine two meals of the day? You would not want to be paying for something you weren’t getting the full benefit from, so you would over consume and costs would rise. That would spur the desire for more consumption and a vicious cycle gets worse.

The notion that healthcare should be provided at no cost is pernicious. The government has no money of its own so we have to pay for our healthcare even if the government “provides” it. But worse than the payment problems this causes is the notion that we should be free to use our income on everything else but healthcare and that somehow when we use our own income for healthcare we view it as a kind of oppression. However, we use our income for many less necessary and some very foolish things. The amount of money we waste on foolish things like diet fads, pills, patent medicines, magnets & bracelets that do nothing, and various quack treatments has got to be a large fraction of our actual health care expenditure. We need to spend our money on health with greater awareness and understanding.

So, what are the five recommendations the authors make in this book?

1) Change the tax law to reduce the preference for medical-care purchases through employer-based insurance.

This is an important change because it will allow for people to make health care purchases with their own income and buy their own insurance with PRE-TAX dollars. As it is now, everything is biased towards shifting it to the employer program because anything we pay for is AFTER-TAX and therefore much more costly. Since everything is pushed to the employer pre-paid healthcare it exacerbates the over consumption problem.

2) Reform regulation markets for health insurance.

This is about lowering costs by making national insurance pools and reforming state specific regulations that add unusual costs to the insurance market through specific popular mandates. This is the suggestion I am least comfortable with, however I do understand the notion and think it is definitely worth investigating. What we don’t want is a national reform that solely benefits the insurance industry shareholders at the expense of the insured the way our, say, sugar supports keep us paying four times the world price for sugar.

3) Expand provision of health information.

This has two components. The first is to limit discoverability of information that flows between organizations with the purpose of quality improvement. The second is to rate organizations and doctors in a way that provides good information to consumers of healthcare. While I like the notion in the simple abstract, the real problem with this is, for example, that not all cardiologists have the same risk profile of patient. Nor are all the same in their approach to patients. All systems of “grading” are subject to gaming and I wonder how this will be prevented in such a national system.

4) Control anticompetitive behavior by providers and insurers.

Yes, we do need real markets for market forces to do their work in cost containment. But, yes, businesses and businessmen (and women) do want to limit competition and enhance profits (rent seeking behavior in economic terms). So, one of the very most important things our lawmakers and regulators can do is ensure that a strong market and strong competition exists. There is evidence that hospitals and insurers are working to limit competition and using their influence with lawmakers to strengthen their position and raise costs. This is quite important.

5) Reform the malpractice system.

There is no question that the lottery approach to non-economic damages has driven up…

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http://www.be-healthy.net/healthy-at-one-hundred-the-scientifically-established-secrets-of-the-worlds-healthiest-and-longest-lived-peoples/#comment-331 Theodore Hargrave "Tad Hargrave" Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:05:18 +0000 http://www.be-healthy.net/healthy-at-one-hundred-the-scientifically-established-secrets-of-the-worlds-healthiest-and-longest-lived-peoples/#comment-331 <div style="margin-left:0.5em;"> <div style="margin-bottom:0.5em;"> 44 of 46 people found the following review helpful: </div> <div style="margin-bottom:0.5em;"> <span style="margin-left: -5px;"><img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._V192240867_.gif" width="64" alt="5.0 out of 5 stars" title="5.0 out of 5 stars" height="12" border="0"/></span> <b>One of the most grounded, beautiful, rich and inspiring books on health I've ever read.</b>, <nobr>September 23, 2006</nobr></div> <div style="margin-bottom:0.5em;"> <div><div style="float:left;">By </div><div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2L8G9VRI6BTEF/ref=cm_cr_if_pdp/175-2310543-9815369?ie=UTF8&tag=24reviewscom-20&linkCode=xm2" target="_top"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Theodore Hargrave "Tad Hargrave"</span></a> (Edmonton, Alberta) - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2L8G9VRI6BTEF/ref=cm_cr_if_auth_rev/175-2310543-9815369?ie=UTF8&tag=24reviewscom-20&linkCode=xm2&sort_by=MostRecentReview" target="_top"></a><br/><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=cm_rn_bdg_help/175-2310543-9815369?ie=UTF8&nodeId=14279681&pop-up=1#RN" target="AmazonHelp" onclick="return amz_js_PopWin(this.href,'AmazonHelp','width=340,height=340,resizable=1,scrollbars=1,toolbar=1,status=1');"><img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reputation/c7y_badge_rn_1._V192249968_.gif" width="70" align="absmiddle" alt="(REAL NAME)" height="15" border="0"/></a>    </div></div><div style="clear:both;"/> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:0.5em;"> <b><span class="h3color tiny">This review is from: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-100-Scientifically-Healthiest-Longest-Lived/dp/1400065216/ref=cm_cr_if_orig_subj/175-2310543-9815369?ie=UTF8&tag=24reviewscom-20&linkCode=xm2" target="_top">Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World's Healthiest and Longest-Lived Peoples (Hardcover)</a></b> </div> I laughed when I read the editorial review from Booklist, that begins with the words: "Robbins has moved on from his career as a successful ice-cream manufacturer..." Obviously, that reviewer hasn't actually read Healthy at 100. <br/>I have, however, and I am exceedingly grateful for all I've learned, and even more for the experiences I have had while reading, and as a result of reading, this extraordinary book. In the days since I finished it, I've felt uplifted in every cell of my body. I also shared it with an older friend, who read it. She then gathered her children, friends, and grandchildren around her so that we could talk together about aging. My friend spoke of what she is grateful for in my life, and all that she is looking forward to in her later years. We talked about our images of aging, where they come from, and whether or not they serve our optimum health potential. None of this would have happened without Robbins' fabulous new book. <br/>Prior to reading Healthy at 100, like most Americans I had adopted a pretty negative view of aging. But as a result of the exquisite blend of heartful wisdom and rational clarity in Robbins' superbly written book, I now have a positive and beautiful vision of what my wisdom years can entail, and the steps I can take not only to live long but to live well. He describes exactly the steps we can take not only to increase our life spans, but also to increase our health spans. <br/>I have read a great number of books on health and healing, on diet and exercise, and on the healing powers of love and positive attitudes. I've never read a book as full of truth, as deeply grounded in the joys and struggles of life, as real and authentic, as Healthy at 100. And I've never read a book ultimately as hopeful, as genuinely uplifting, as honoring of who we are and who we can be. <br/>Robbins has written many outstanding best-sellers before, but this may well be his best ever. If you want to read a mature writer at the culmination of his craft, get Healthy at 100. If you want to live a healthier life, more centered in your optimum health potential, and more in touch with what really gives you life, read this book. I am going to buy copies for everyone I know who is aging, and I don't mean just the older people in my life. As Robbins points out, aging doesn't begin at 65. We are all aging, every day, and this is the book for those who want to do it well, who want each stage of their life to be fulfilling, creative and vital. <br/>Dean Ornish calls this book "a masterpiece." Marianne Williamson calls Robbins "one of the most important voices in America today." I couldn't agree more. <div style="padding-top: 10px; clear: both; width: 100%;"> <div style="float:left; padding-right:15px; border-right:1px solid #CCCCCC"><div style="padding-bottom:5px;"><b class="tiny" style="color:#666666;white-space:nowrap;">Help other customers find the most helpful reviews</b> </div><div style="width:300px;"> <a name="RE6ME3EDILSRB.2115.Helpful.Reviews" style="font-size:1px;"> </a><span><span class="votingPrompt">Was this review helpful to you? </span><a rel="nofollow" class="votingButtonReviews" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/voting/cast/Reviews/2115/RE6ME3EDILSRB/Helpful/1/ref=cm_cr_ifvoteyn/175-2310543-9815369?ie=UTF8&token=EC0150DE176E14ED97F077C03A279BECA286EA62&target=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL3Byb2R1Y3QtcmV2aWV3cy9CMDAwVVpRSERFL3JlZj1jbV9jcl9pZnZvdGVyZHIvMTc1LTIzMTA1NDMtOTgxNTM2OT9fZW5jb2Rpbmc9VVRGOCZzdW1tYXJ5PTAmYWxpbmtDb2RlPXhtMiZ0YWc9MjRyZXZpZXdzY29tLTIwJnY9MiZsaW5rQ29kZT14bTImYXNpbj1CMDAwVVpRSERFJnRydW5jYXRlPTUwMDAmYWtpZD1BS0lBSkxEMjRVTTZURFVWV0Y0QSZzaWc9QzVTb2ZCcW5jQzJKUEg2JTJCN0o3ekRkZDdsbzdZMGFWeVFNN3BzNTZIQlFBJTNEJmV4cD0yMDEyLTAxLTE0VDAyJTNBMjUlM0ExM1omYXRhZz0yNHJldmlld3Njb20tMjA&voteAnchorName=RE6ME3EDILSRB.2115.Helpful.Reviews&voteSessionID=175-2310543-9815369"><img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-yes-sec-md._V192249951_.gif" width="35" alt="Yes" style="vertical-align:middle;" height="18" border="0"/></a> <a rel="nofollow" class="votingButtonReviews" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/voting/cast/Reviews/2115/RE6ME3EDILSRB/Helpful/-1/ref=cm_cr_ifvoteyn/175-2310543-9815369?ie=UTF8&token=B8D72C7E11F1FDC0446ADD458DAAEF10C800D2CA&target=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL3Byb2R1Y3QtcmV2aWV3cy9CMDAwVVpRSERFL3JlZj1jbV9jcl9pZnZvdGVyZHIvMTc1LTIzMTA1NDMtOTgxNTM2OT9fZW5jb2Rpbmc9VVRGOCZzdW1tYXJ5PTAmYWxpbmtDb2RlPXhtMiZ0YWc9MjRyZXZpZXdzY29tLTIwJnY9MiZsaW5rQ29kZT14bTImYXNpbj1CMDAwVVpRSERFJnRydW5jYXRlPTUwMDAmYWtpZD1BS0lBSkxEMjRVTTZURFVWV0Y0QSZzaWc9QzVTb2ZCcW5jQzJKUEg2JTJCN0o3ekRkZDdsbzdZMGFWeVFNN3BzNTZIQlFBJTNEJmV4cD0yMDEyLTAxLTE0VDAyJTNBMjUlM0ExM1omYXRhZz0yNHJldmlld3Njb20tMjA&voteAnchorName=RE6ME3EDILSRB.2115.Helpful.Reviews&voteSessionID=175-2310543-9815369"><img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-no-sec-md._V192249949_.gif" width="35" alt="No" style="vertical-align:middle;" height="18" border="0"/></a> <span class="votingMessage"/></span> </div></div><div style="float:left;"><div style="padding-left:15px;"><div style="white-space:nowrap;"><span class="tiny"> <a name="RE6ME3EDILSRB.2115.Inappropriate.Reviews" style="font-size:1px;"> </a><span class="reportingButton"><nobr><a rel="nofollow" class="reportingButton" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/voting/cast/Reviews/2115/RE6ME3EDILSRB/Inappropriate/1/ref=cm_cr_ifvoteyn/175-2310543-9815369?ie=UTF8&token=26743F7B7FDBB6203B33E807DA4832413709B62F&target=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL3Byb2R1Y3QtcmV2aWV3cy9CMDAwVVpRSERFL3JlZj1jbV9jcl9pZnZvdGVyZHIvMTc1LTIzMTA1NDMtOTgxNTM2OT9fZW5jb2Rpbmc9VVRGOCZzdW1tYXJ5PTAmYWxpbmtDb2RlPXhtMiZ0YWc9MjRyZXZpZXdzY29tLTIwJnY9MiZsaW5rQ29kZT14bTImYXNpbj1CMDAwVVpRSERFJnRydW5jYXRlPTUwMDAmYWtpZD1BS0lBSkxEMjRVTTZURFVWV0Y0QSZzaWc9QzVTb2ZCcW5jQzJKUEg2JTJCN0o3ekRkZDdsbzdZMGFWeVFNN3BzNTZIQlFBJTNEJmV4cD0yMDEyLTAxLTE0VDAyJTNBMjUlM0ExM1omYXRhZz0yNHJldmlld3Njb20tMjA&voteAnchorName=RE6ME3EDILSRB.2115.Inappropriate.Reviews&voteSessionID=175-2310543-9815369"></a></nobr></span> </span> <span style="color:#CCCCCC;">|</span> <span class="tiny"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/RE6ME3EDILSRB/ref=cm_cr_if_perm/?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1400065216&nodeID=&tag=24reviewscom-20&linkCode=xm2" target="_top"></a></span></div><div style="white-space:nowrap;padding-left:-5px;padding-top:5px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/RE6ME3EDILSRB/ref=cm_cr_if_cmt/175-2310543-9815369?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1400065216&nodeID=&tag=24reviewscom-20&linkCode=xm2#wasThisHelpful" target="_top"><img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/comment-sm._V192250344_.gif" width="16" alt="Comment" hspace="3" align="absmiddle" height="16" border="0"/></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/RE6ME3EDILSRB/ref=cm_cr_if_cmt/175-2310543-9815369?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1400065216&nodeID=&tag=24reviewscom-20&linkCode=xm2#wasThisHelpful" target="_top">Comments (2)</a></div></div></div><div style="clear:both;"/> </div> <br/></div>

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

One of the most grounded, beautiful, rich and inspiring books on health I’ve ever read., September 23, 2006

By 

Theodore Hargrave “Tad Hargrave” (Edmonton, Alberta) –

  

This review is from: Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World’s Healthiest and Longest-Lived Peoples (Hardcover)

I laughed when I read the editorial review from Booklist, that begins with the words: “Robbins has moved on from his career as a successful ice-cream manufacturer…” Obviously, that reviewer hasn’t actually read Healthy at 100.
I have, however, and I am exceedingly grateful for all I’ve learned, and even more for the experiences I have had while reading, and as a result of reading, this extraordinary book. In the days since I finished it, I’ve felt uplifted in every cell of my body. I also shared it with an older friend, who read it. She then gathered her children, friends, and grandchildren around her so that we could talk together about aging. My friend spoke of what she is grateful for in my life, and all that she is looking forward to in her later years. We talked about our images of aging, where they come from, and whether or not they serve our optimum health potential. None of this would have happened without Robbins’ fabulous new book.
Prior to reading Healthy at 100, like most Americans I had adopted a pretty negative view of aging. But as a result of the exquisite blend of heartful wisdom and rational clarity in Robbins’ superbly written book, I now have a positive and beautiful vision of what my wisdom years can entail, and the steps I can take not only to live long but to live well. He describes exactly the steps we can take not only to increase our life spans, but also to increase our health spans.
I have read a great number of books on health and healing, on diet and exercise, and on the healing powers of love and positive attitudes. I’ve never read a book as full of truth, as deeply grounded in the joys and struggles of life, as real and authentic, as Healthy at 100. And I’ve never read a book ultimately as hopeful, as genuinely uplifting, as honoring of who we are and who we can be.
Robbins has written many outstanding best-sellers before, but this may well be his best ever. If you want to read a mature writer at the culmination of his craft, get Healthy at 100. If you want to live a healthier life, more centered in your optimum health potential, and more in touch with what really gives you life, read this book. I am going to buy copies for everyone I know who is aging, and I don’t mean just the older people in my life. As Robbins points out, aging doesn’t begin at 65. We are all aging, every day, and this is the book for those who want to do it well, who want each stage of their life to be fulfilling, creative and vital.
Dean Ornish calls this book “a masterpiece.” Marianne Williamson calls Robbins “one of the most important voices in America today.” I couldn’t agree more.

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