Cognitive Dissonance and Health Insurance Reform
Posted: Tuesday, February 02, 2010
by Yamileth Medina
VitalOne Health
The national controversy swirling around healthcare reform has become one of the main topics of conversation during President Obama's first year in office. He campaigned on the issue, and made it the centerpiece of his domestic policy. Many political analysts are now considering that to be a bad move. Current polls show that a majority of Americans are against Congress' current proposals for health insurance reform. With Democrats losing their filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, it appears less likely that comprehensive legislation will be passed.
According to experts, the psychological phemomenon of cognitive dissonance is to blame. When a person holds two contradictory ideas at once, anger and anxiety result. Cognitive dissonance is not uniquely American, but journalist Abigail Trafford claims that healthcare reform is a perfect example of the American mindset. After all, this nation was born of pioneers seeking freedom from the tyranny of the British government. The image of the rugged individualist is enduringly popular for a reason: Americans still hold those values dear. Many of them also desire their lives and businesses to be free of their own government's intervention--hence the libertarian movement. Increased regulation of health insurance companies is against what they stand for, and threatens further encroachment of Big Brother.
On the other hand, the United States is not controlled by anarchy. Although pro-independence and individual sentiment is extremely popular in America, the public would never stand for a complete lack of laws. Despite their political and ideological views, most Americans want at least some degree of law and order. Personal responsibility is important; but few people have seriously suggested that, for example, public fire departments be dismantled in favor of people either hiring private firms to put out the fire or having property and lives destroyed. Even those who steadily call for significant government tax cuts do not propose doing away with taxes; to them, certain (albeit limited) government services are worth some encroachment of their personal income.
The average American wants some form of social safety net, although many may not realize it. People have differing opinions on how wide and deep that safety net should be, but still believe it should exist. None other than small-government proponent President Ronald Reagan signed a law that requires hospitals and ambulances to provide emergency medical services, whether or not a person has the medical insurance or the ability to pay. However, they do not want laws that seek to prevent them from going to the hospital in the first place. Experts liken this mentality to crashing motorcyclists: the motorcycle rider (or American resident) may resent government intervention that mandates that he or she wears a helmet (or buys health insurance), but he or she would like the government to provide him or her with emergency care after the crash (or other health event). Europeans, by contrast, are more honest with themselves: in generally collectivist societies, they have chosen slightly less independence for a stronger social safety net, and pay higher taxes to live in a nation that provides it.
How does this relate to the current healthcare reform debate? Psychologists have found that cognitive dissonance, left unresolved, causes people to become angrier and more defensive in order to justify their positions to themselves. This would explain a portion of the vitrol that has come from both sides. These days, the Medicare insurance program for senior citizens is popular, despite similar initial controversy. Cognitive dissonance causes older Americans who oppose medical insurance reform to demand that the federal government "take their hands off [their] Medicare", while failing to understand the irony of that statement. Unfortunately for supporters of individual health insurance reform, many Americans have not been effectively convinced of what's in it for them.
Yamileth Medina is an up and coming expert on Health Insurance and Healthcare Reform. She aims to help people realize that they can find quality medical insurance right now. Yamileth lives in Miami, FL.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)I believe that fewer and fewer will be able to afford health insurance. Health insurance will be a thing of the past for many people. Even now, people are afraid to see a doctor because they might be saddled with a pre-existing condition that will keep them from obtaining insurance in the future. This is the best of worlds for insurance companies; people afraid to see a doctor, but continuing to pay premiums. A solution may be to take one's retirement savings and income and move to a country such as Thailand where the medical costs are a fraction of what they are here while their medical facilities and personnel rival what we have. After all, we will be paying up front in no time anyway, why work hard and save for a lifetime, only to give it all to greedy, unfeeling insurance companies that don't pay anyway, or way over priced hospitals?That's definitely possible. Thank you for commenting!
I loved your explanation here, Yamileth. I see this with friends I have who are in jobs that do not provide health insurance yet they are terrified that if the government gets involved through reform that they will somehow lose some sort of "freedom". What freedom? They already can't choose their doctor or hospital since they must go to the ONE public hospital or pay cash up front for everything. I find the "cognitive dissonance" involved fascinating.It's interesting, isn't it? Thanks for the comment!
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