Health Care System Is Killing Us, Speaker Says

By Susan Rupe

Health care reform means "designing a system where people know what they're going to pay and providers know how they will get paid," according to author Den Bishop.

Bishop, the author of "The Voter's Guide To Healthcare," spoke at the National Association of Health Underwriters 2020 Capitol Conference.

"Every bill in health care is a surprise bill," he said. "We need a system where people can afford the benefits they have."

The American health care system is failing those who need to access life-saving treatment, Bishop said.

"The rate that people die from something that could have been detected and cured is 58 percent faster in the US than in other countries," he said.

When people need care, the system either provides them a ramp to receive the care or a hurdle to keep them from accessing it, Bishop said. He urged those present to build more ramps to make it easier for people to obtain care.

'Blue Zones'

Also at the conference, Nick Buettner discussed his findings in studying the world's Blue Zones, places where the population reaches a lifespan past age 100.

Although Blue Zones are found in such diverse areas as Loma Linda, Calif., and the island of Sardinia, the people of these regions have a number of things in common. They include eating a plant based diet of locally grown foods, having strong family and social connections, and incorporating exercise into daily life.

Buettner is working with select cities in the US to incorporate some of the Blue Zones findings. Examples include building more sidewalks and walking paths, establishing community gardens and encouraging grocery stores and restaurants to promote healthy eating options.

Susan Rupe is managing editor for InsuranceNewsNet. She formerly served as communications director for an insurance agents' association and was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @INNsusan.