We do need funding for effective universal health care. However, whether we overhaul eligibility and funding systems or not, we are still headed for health and financial bankruptcy if we fail to solve the real problem: Too many people are sick with preventable illnesses.

What if we focused on optimal wellness? Currently, our health systems only kick in when we experience symptoms. With a few exceptions, benefits touted as preventable are only early diagnosis. Early diagnosis is useful and necessary; however it does not move us toward optimal wellness. Our future looks bleak indeed as our ever increasing sick population collides with an ever increasing shortage of all those who medically care for us.

What if, in whatever new health funding system we adopt, we included massive education and incentive plans to inspire our citizens to go for optimal wellness? Yes, it would cost money to do this, but failing to do so, I believe, will cost us tremendously more.

We have an opportunity to make life better for all of us, right here, right now, if only we will. In the meantime, individuals can take on this challenge and improve health for themselves and their own families, which would reduce their personal usage of our ever increasingly over-extended health care system. For the only way we will actually be able to afford and provide excellent and effective health care in the future is if fewer people are so very sick.

Alice Buehring

Integrative Therapist, CHCP

Gold Bar