TED Community » Erica Ravin-Anand

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• A reply on Conversation: Should health insurance be related to a patient's risk?

  May 7 2012: I tried make it clear that the question really doesn't focus about people who get sick, but for people who have lifestyle habits that affect their overall health.
  
  Why should an insurance company pay for medication for someone who is severely overweight, who then gets diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, when they didn't need the medication 1-2 years earlier if they changed their lifestyle? Or a smoker who refuses to quit....not one who tries and tries relentlessly by going to smoking cessation therapy?
  
  Many cardiovascular problems begin with the patient not taking good care of themselves, although this is not to say someone who is diagnosed with a congenital problem or develops a heart condition shouldn't be treated.
  
  I think that if a method was in place that based insurance on certain risk factors, patients would have an incentive to care for themselves better, because otherwise they would be paying out of pocket.

• A comment on Conversation: Should health insurance be related to a patient's risk?

  May 7 2012: I know for some people the idea of health insurance based on a patient's risk is impossible and detrimental to the overall health of a person if they cannot be treated. But, for the commenters who agreed, I think you understand it is really about giving people responsibility of their own health and since most people are motivated by money, this type of insurance would encourage those who participate in habits like smoking, etc. to re-think their choices if they were the ones who would be paying for it.

• A comment on Conversation: Should health insurance be related to a patient's risk?

  May 5 2012: I know the question is a bit too vague, so it can be interpreted in many ways. I would never suggest that insurance not pay for congenital conditions or medical conditions not in a patient's control. However, it is habits like smoking, poor diet, poor oral hygiene, alcoholism, drug use, lack of exercise that lead to so many cardiovascular and other serious medical issues.
  
  I am in the dental field, not medical, so when I see a patient over a course of a year not improve his/her oral hygiene condition after prophylaxis and oral hygiene instruction, it not only gets frustrating but makes one think, why should dental insurance continue to pay for these treatments when the patient is not interested in improving? It is a waste of money. It is a waste of time when someone neglects their own body.
  
  Obviously, if insurance premiums were ever linked to a patient's risk, there would have to be so many conditions and limitations as the system can not neglect patients who need medical care.
  
  Someone posted the quotation: "One must define health care as either a right or a privilege."This is a really controversial topic. It should be a right, but when people take advantage of the system, then I think at times it should be a privilege.
  
  There really is no right or wrong answer to this question - when it comes to the best care of a patient, he/she should be treated. No questions. But, when it comes down to dollars and cents, the health care system may disagree.
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  A reply on Conversation: Should health insurance be related to a patient's risk?

  May 3 2012: I agree - and I do not mean to be insensitive to those who desperately need aid because of congenital issues, medical disorders, cancer, etc. But, there are certain conditions and smoking is one that lies within a person's own self control. Harmful habits like alcoholism, smoking, and drugs can lead to terrible medical conditions, but ultimately it was the patient's decision to begin those horrible habits.
  
  Obesity is probably a major reason that insurance pressure may drive people to improve their lifestyles. It simply leads to too many conditions that require expensive treatment.
  
  It is unfortunate that it all comes down to money....but maybe that is what is needed to change people's lifestyles and change insurance coverage, especially for those who are unable to afford it.

• A reply on Conversation: Is it a good idea to integrate children with Autism into the mainstream classroom?

  Apr 14 2012: I will do some research on Bear Kauffman, but if you find anything good to send me, please do. Thanks for the tip!

• A reply on Conversation: What does it say about women who keep their maiden name, change their name, or hyphenate their name?

  Apr 10 2012: Agreed. My husband and I are from different backgrounds and although we will give them his last name and not hyphenate, they will see from me that they have the right to choose when they are older.
  
  On a side note, poor Mrs. Shitrag!

• A reply on Conversation: How might teachers implement sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube to engage students in their education?

  Apr 10 2012: Touche, although it is difficult to really compare social media and drugs/bullying/suicide whereas social media actually does benefit people.
  
  I am simply making an observation that many people focus on their techie gadgets which feed social media over concern of their medical or oral health. It is unfortunate. Education is at the root of the problem.

• A comment on Conversation: What does it say about women who keep their maiden name, change their name, or hyphenate their name?

  Apr 10 2012: I think that it really differs depending on the society, lifestyle, and profession of a woman. I know plenty of women who have all different situations varying from dropping one of their given hyphenated names later in life, to using their maiden name professionally and married name in personal settings. For some women who are only children, they may want to continue their family name's legacy.

• A comment on Conversation: What does it say about women who keep their maiden name, change their name, or hyphenate their name?

  Apr 9 2012: It is about how a woman chooses and why.

• A comment on Conversation: What does it say about women who keep their maiden name, change their name, or hyphenate their name?

  Apr 9 2012: I originally thought that being in professional school more females would retain their maiden names, but I was wrong. I have seen more females change their names to their husbands surname, but not many hyphenate. I am an exception, but I chose it for personal and professional reasons.
  
  When I recently went to Chile, they all had two last names - one from their mother and one from their father. Although they officially have two, they mainly use one of them (I believe their paternal).