Solving healthcare problems?

There is a huge difference between solving high cost of healthcare and devising different ways for the people to pay for the high cost of healthcare. In the former, it is more about how to reduce the high cost of healthcare. In the later, the high cost of healthcare is taken for grant, it is a sure thing and cannot be brought down. So the trick is to tweet the mode of payment, how to squeeze money from the people to pay for the high cost of healthcare.

With the kind of premium that everyone is made to pay, especially the older folks, many are paying upfront and may not need it should they remain healthy or choose not to go for the expensive hundreds of thousands of dollars operation. And for many senior citizens, it is better to let nature take its own course when they pass 65 or 70. There is no need to cling on to life when the body is tired and wearing down. But for those who are rich or very rich and have all the money to pay for all the expensive treatment, let them choose to pay and to live forever.

If we can accept the premise that the medical insurance for the seniors, above 65 or 70, is to pay for not too serious and expensive medical treatment or major ops, to let them live with dignity with basic medical care should they be hospitalized, to make their final hours pleasant and not painful, the medical cost and insurance need not be high and can be absorbed by the govt. To go for expensive ops/treatment, hypothetically a sum exceeding $10k, let it be optional for those who want and can afford to pay for them in their own capacity.

Otherwise, with so many seniors and all demanding expensive treatment/ops, the premium is going to be unaffordable to many. There is a need to define what and how much to cover for the seniors. Perhaps the govt can provide a basic coverage, to be defined, for free. Additional coverage can be optional for those who can afford them.

With healthcare cost so prohibitive, there is a real need to streamline the expectations to suit the needs of different groups of seniors. This is the paying part, the affordability part. It is necessary for the govt to seriously put in efforts to bring down the cost of healthcare and there is no need to be extravagant in many things. There can be basic, economy and luxury class healthcare tailored for different kinds of pockets. Not everyone is financially equal and can afford to pay like a millionaire. In the days of old, the doctors billed the patient discreetly according to what they think the patient could afford. A comprehensive healthcare insurance scheme must take into account the different expectations and affordability of the insured.

Thoughts of a minister

A young reporter was interviewing a very dignified and prosperous looking minister.

Reporter:  A penny for your thought, Sir.

Minister: What is that?

Reporter: It is a coin Sir, like ten cent, twenty cent….

Minister: Never know they have such things.

Reporter: Have you taken a loan before, Sir?

Minister: What is a loan?

Reporter: Oh, when you buy a car, you borrow some money to help you pay first and then you pay back to the bank over several years.

Minister: Oh I see. I did know you can take a loan. I only pay cash.

Reporter: For your car, Sir?

Minister: No, for the houses I bought.

Reporter: Wow, how many houses do you have Sir?

Minister smiled: Honestly, I don’t remember how many I have.

Reporter: One last question, Sir. Have you been poor before?

Minister: What is being poor?

Cassandra’s article 0n 6.9m population in TRE

I pulled this comment out from Cassandra’s article on LKY’s comment on the 6.9m population posted in TRE. On page 223 of his latest book, ‘One Man’s View Of The World‘, LKY said “DPM Teo Chee Hean has put up a White Paper. Let’s wait a few years for it to be implemented, to see if the measures work”.

I feel very uncomfortable reading these two sentences. The govt is going to wait for a few years for it to be implemented. And the govt is not sure if it is going to work. The 6.9m population is still rolling ahead in full steam according to this comment. There is no change of heart and no change of direction. 6.9m is what Singapore is going to get in 2030.

The second part, the govt is not sure if it is going to work. How many in the cabinet or the MPs are convinced that this will work and what does it mean by work? This cannot be a one man idea, pushed through without the support of the team and everyone fiddling their thumbs hoping that it will work. This is a very big gamble on the future of the country and the lives of our people. What if it does not work? What are the grave consequences that the people will have to bear? One thing we need not have to worry is that most of us will not be around to see that day.

Why is there a need to take such an intractable risk of flooding the island with so many people when we are struggling with 5.35m or maybe now 5.6m or 5.7m oredy? Hey, this is no joke you know. This is not masak masak, tikam tikam.

The govt is casting the die, and die die the die must be cast in this way and hoping that the country and people will not die from it. I am beginng to be terrified. Can you blame me for feeling this way?

Stand up to be discounted!

In the National Day celebration, the same message, stand up and be counted is everywhere. Sinkies need to stand up for the country and be counted. But this is not always the case. Standing up for the wrong cause, for the wrong reasons, for the wrong party will get one discounted, not counted.

There are many concerned and serious Sinkies that have stood up but never will they be counted. The more committed and the doers have joined the political parties. Joining the wrong party means not be counted. You can only be counted if you joined the right political party. Why like that one?

And there are many concerned and responsible citizens who could not and would not keep quiet anymore, who put in effort and thoughts on the welfare of people and country and are standing up to stay their piece. They are doing it voluntarily, without compensation or any rewards or returns. They are selfless, passionate and committed to the good of the people and country. They are not only not counted but seen as insurgents and anti establishment. Despite their efforts, their comments, views and suggestions of what they see as wrong or undesirable and hoping that the Govt will lend them a listening ear were ignored, not heard.

These citizens are not even asking to be counted. They are prepared to be ostracised, to be labelled and branded as enemies, trouble makers, waiting to have a date with Sue. And all they are doing is hoping for the Govt to take note of their views and perhaps something be done to make life better for everyone, to create a fairer and more just society. That is all they are hoping for, to make things more right.

No need to be counted, no need to be recognised, definitely no National Day honours or be invited to the Istana, and no perks. Many Sinkies are standing up in their own ways to want to make this city a better place for all Sinkies. They have different views of things, wanting things to be done differently, but unfortunately everything they say or do will not be seen as the right thing and will be dismissed summarily.

We cannot be an inclusive society when alternative views or differences are never accepted by the Govt or people in authority. We cannot improve and progress when only one view, the right view, is seen as good and welcomed when even the Govt has acknowledged that they don’t have all the answers and solutions but will reject all the wrong views without even bother to give them a thought. The wrong views are not with us and will not be counted. Want to be counted, say the right thing and do the right thing. Thank you.

Recolonisation of the Philippines

The last vestiges of American colonialism in the Philippines ended with the vacating of Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base in 1991. The years of ignominy when the Philippines were conquered by the Spanish and then the Americans were over. It is strange that the Philippines are begging to be recolonised today by inviting the Americans back to station American troops in the former bases. It is a voluntary kind of neo colonialism where the colonized is willing and happy with the new colonial master.
 
The Philippines are willing to trade or compromise their independence and sovereignty, national pride to be a semi colony all for a weak claims against China for some islands in the South China Sea. These islands were claimed by China centuries ago in an era when the law of the jungle existed and islands and countries were owned by finder’s keeper formula. The islands were uninhabited when the Chinese visited them and marked them as theirs.
 
On the other hand the Europeans went to take over countries, islands and continents that were inhabited by the natives. North and South America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the continent of Africa were founded by the European empires ignoring the right of ownership of the natives.
 
The Chinese definitely have much more right to claim the islands in the South China Seas under the predominant norms of those days. The Philippines want to challenge the Chinese to claim these islands under a new set of laws prevailing today which have lesser authority than the earlier laws. And the Philippines is banking on the Americans to back them up in a military confrontation with China for these islands. The Americans too have acknowledged in acquiescence to China’s ownership of the islands. Going against the Chinese claims would put their claim to the American continent and the right of ownership of other western dominion countries like Australia and New Zealand in question.
 
The Pinoys think they have a strong case against China and are ready to take on China even compromising the sovereignty of the whole of Philippines to become a semi colony of the Americans. Is the stake too high for some flimsy claims on a few islands that they are unlikely to succeed?