I ran a company with over 1,000 employees and cut our healthcare costs 6% in four years — by paying for prevention instead of sickness. The same approach can fix what Washington has failed to fix for decades.
I ran a company with over 1,000 employees and cut our healthcare costs 6% in four years — by paying for prevention instead of sickness. The same approach can fix what Washington has failed to fix for decades.
Democrats support a fundamental right to healthcare, while Republicans aim to eliminate Obamacare. What about this idea? Provide preventive care and non-narcotic generics to everyone at no cost. Shift the focus from healthcare to overall wellness. If you choose not to use the benefit, you can't expect guaranteed hospital care.
Society tends to focus more on treating sickness and injuries than on prevention and wellness. Hospitals are required to treat emergencies regardless of a person's ability to pay, leading those who can't afford regular care to rely on emergency rooms for minor issues. This results in people skipping routine doctor visits and not purchasing medications. The healthcare system shifts costs so those with insurance pay for those without. Someone who neglects their health throughout their life still receives care. It should be about personal choice. No one should have others decide what they must do to take care of themselves. However, if you have access to preventative care and choose not to take care of yourself, society shouldn't have to cover your poor decisions. Premiums and copays would decrease if basic preventative wellness care was accessible to everyone. Telehealth and inexpensive generic drugs make wellness affordable compared to catastrophic health events. Costs WOULD go down.
The company I led prioritized wellness by hiring an RN and a nurse practitioner. We offered free generics and office visits, with no insurance filings. We provide early detection of health risks such as high blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and tumors. This reduced our insurance costs by 6% over four years, while healthcare insurance costs rose 22% during the same period. Telehealth and generics made wellness care cheaper than treating organ failures.
Offering free preventive care promotes healthier behaviors, but taxpayers shouldn't fund major surgeries if individuals haven't made efforts to maintain their health. To qualify for taxpayer-funded surgeries, people should show they have taken preventative steps. If national efforts matched corporate success, unnecessary ER visits could decrease. Should ERs be used for colds? Should Medicaid or Medicare cover those who haven't tried to care for themselves?
Lawmakers should unite to promote wellness and reduce costs by reforming tort laws, eliminating insurance costs associated with wellness, and preventing expensive procedures. Implementing a federal wellness program and laws that encourage personal responsibility could lower healthcare expenses. The path forward emphasizes prevention, accountability, and access for everyone.
By Don Louis · Published 2026-04-07