When American Healthcare Works Well

One difficulty with the current debate on healthcare is that people's experiences vary dramatically. However, for most people the system works pretty well. Today was a case in point. I was preparing for my daughter's birthday party when I fell off a ladder and landed on a sawhorse. I knew right away that I had landed hard on my ribs.

Since it was Saturday, I couldn't go to see my own doctor. However, there was a minor emergency center less than a mile from my house. In just an hour and a half, I had been x-rayed and seen a doctor who confirmed that I had fractured a rib. However, it was not anything which required treatment. I left with a CD containing my x-rays and a prescription for pain medicine. All it cost me was a $50 co-pay. With the pain that I was in, I am sure that I would have willingly paid a lot more.

I was able to return to finish preparations for Kristen's party and was a lot more careful around ladders and sawhorses.

For me, the healthcare system worked extraordinarily well. I was able to get affordable treatment in a short period of time in my own neighborhood. I realize that many people don't have the same experience. However, it is important to make sure that we don't throw out the parts of the system that currently work.