A checkup of the American health care system reveals a troubling trend: 48 million Americans lack health insurance. The side effects are worrisome for everyone as costs rise, care is compromised, and confusion reigns in doctors’ offices and operating rooms. In many ways reducing the number of uninsured Americans is like armchair quarterbacking Dallas Cowboys football.  We’re all authorities on the subject, but expertise is just talk when you aren’t calling the game first-hand. 

In Washington, both sides share statistics and tell tales of families coping without coverage.  Rhetoric about reform is rampant in our marble hallways.  Unfortunately, common ground is rarely sought to find a prescription to remedy the problem. Here’s an idea.  What if all 535 Members of Congress actually joined the ranks of the uninsured?

I recently introduced a bill to end health care coverage for members of Congress; a little unconventional, sure, but interesting nonetheless.  After all, if you really want to arrive at an answer, walking a mile in someone else’s shoes can help get you there. Losing insurance could lead Congress to find some new and innovative solutions, which for too long have been overshadowed by speeches and sound bites.  In fact, if you drill down into the statistics, you would see that some of the solutions don’t have to be radical.

We rarely look beyond the headlines to see a break-down of the uninsured.  One-fifth of them earn over $75,000 a year and could afford insurance if we encouraged coverage. We could do that by simply reforming some mandates and tax policy.  That translates into nearly 10 million people dropping from the ranks of the uninsured. Combine these folks with a similar number who are eligible for existing programs to help low income individuals like the SCHIP or Medicaid, but for whatever reason have not applied.  If we could help states get this population enrolled and covered, we could add another 10 million to the country’s coverage rolls.

Additionally, by crafting sensible policies that focus on more reasonable pricing, we could pick up some of the 2 to 5 million uninsured who are currently university students or very recent graduates.  This should be pretty easy as this population is one of the healthiest and least expensive to cover. So far, we’ve quickly reduced the number of uninsured by half.  Then consider that at least 10 million of the remaining uninsured are likely here illegally and the figure is far more manageable. All we need to do to write the prescription for real change is to give members of Congress the clarity of thought that result from finding themselves without their own health insurance.

The results of these reforms would help improve affordability and access, while keeping medical advancements alive and well at the same time.

If more people are covered, more people will have access to the care they need and the system will be healthier for everyone.  Health care will also be more affordable. Some of the country's leading insurance executives estimate a 9% savings across the board in health care costs if more people had access to affordable insurance coverage. I don't see a line forming outside my door to support this legislation.  But, as a doctor with nearly 30 years of experience, I know the system is broken and needs to be fixed.  I’m ready and willing to make meaningful changes and I hope my colleagues will get out of the armchairs and help me do just that.  As we say in medicine, take two of these reform pills and call me in the morning.