Thursday, February 10, 2011

What I'd Change About Healthcare

I don't usually have a ton to say about political hotbutton issues. Sure, I have my opinions about political parties, abortion, death penalty, tea parties, speed limit, gay marriage, whatever. I simply choose to lay low and let more vocal types go about their way.
I am lucky enough to have good healthcare. I have reasonable co-pays, reasonable prescription costs - including generic options - and can be admitted to any emergency room without fear of being kicked back out again.
I have two doctor's appointments coming up - one tomorrow, one Monday. Both annual visits, and both doctors have seen me for over 10 years. I don't necessarily look forward to poking, prodding and whatnot, but that's what annual visits are for.
The painful part is the paperwork. I just printed out 7 pages of crap for one of the doctors - the one smart enough to put the forms online so you can fill them out early rather than go 20 mintues early to sit in the waiting room and fill them out there. So much of it is family history that you've written out several times before. I want blanket authority to draw a big X on the page and write, "No Change Since Last Visit," and sign at the bottom. Is that so wrong?