Baby Boomers the Health Care Challenge

Editor's Notes

• #8: Before we look at a future solution for the Un- and Underinsured Baby Boomers, it is important to understand the root cause of the medical care and insurance dilemma facing the nation as a whole. Governor Lamm succinctly stated the problem, “The American public has come to feel entitled to what no nation can financially deliver—all the healthcare that is or may be beneficial to its health.” Yes, as a nation we have come to believe we have certain rights. The Baby Boomers in particular believe they are entitled to social security or health care paid for by the nation. This sense of entitlement is grounded in the DNA of this demographic group. They are a class with means that until recently could buy whatever they wanted or needed. Baby Boomers lack awareness of their mortality. They believe they can be forever 30. With the loss of jobs and health care benefits and watching their savings erode, they are just now learning they can not afford the high cost of services. The baby boomers by their nature are the class that can turn entitlement into reform. However, it will require a paradigm shift for Life at All Cost to Quality of Life. History gives us insight on the elements of a new model. When Samuel Smiles a radical of his era believed that government had roles to play in public health, regulation of industry, education, and public libraries. But he came to realize that people were largely responsible for their own welfare, and that they had the power to actually alter their economic position in society. His book , Self Help, is the definite source for inspiration and guidance. Building on Smiles guidance and the Baby Boomers ability to think and apply technology to a problem creates a viable foundation for a new Health Care Model that addresses un- and under-insurance of baby boomers that also suffer from the chronic illnesses discussed earlier. Baby Boomers will likely drive creation of the model, but the success is based on collaboration, another paradigm shift. Agencies and philanthropic organizations will build the bridge of understanding and collaboration. The Geriatric Education Centers were formed to understand the needs of the Baby Boomers, education health care professionals and place them in areas of greatest need. Physicians and other health care providers have seen the need to join forces to provide accountability for care. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid expect a savings of $960 billion over three years on Medicare Part A & B because of the shared resources. Philanthropic organizations and foundations also play a crucial row. They provide free or low cost screenings and services (skin cancer, hearing, sight) to the community as a preventative health care service. No time in history has society had the free access to health information and education and the self-monitor tools. The VA was one of the first health care organizations to begin testing Telehealth and web portal tools for patients. The research shows that self-service tools with cohort support does change behaviors and drives a more robust understanding of all the aspects of a condition. Oh that life, health care and insurance were such a simple panacea. Unfortunately, when people are involved problems with communication arise. Litigation is big business and Baby Boomers are key targets. As a class they are used to getting what they want. In health care when a procedure doesn’t yield to the patient ( or family or friends) expectation, the inclination is to file a lawsuit. For the new model to be successful, litigation as a solution needs to be reserved for major adverse situations. More common and controllable is information quality and security. Beneficiaries, practitioners and health service support organizations have responsibility to protect information form theft and ensure the accuracy and standardization of all data if the collaboration is to function efficiently. Finally, the regulators…compulsory compliance must give way and allow creation of processes and controls that are tailored levels of patient-business risk. Not all controls are required in all situations.
• #9: So what does the future hold for the Baby Boomer? An opportunity to take charge. To replace entitlement with Collaboration. Yes, health care is big business, but baby boomers have the education, technical know-how and political clout to create a health care model that is affordable because boomers are able to continue working, support a model that treats the whole person based on preventative care through education, self-service and collaboration with cohorts and medical professionals.