The Good Old Days

Ah, the “good old days.” We’ve all heard about or perhaps even reminisced about those times when life seemed simpler, slower, and more idyllic. Times when our days weren’t filled with a constant barrage of text messages, emails, and phone calls demanding instant responses. When a long day at work was the exception rather than the norm. And remember when kitchen counter space wasn’t taken over by a plethora of small appliances like air fryers, instant pots, and electric tea kettles?

Those were the days, or were they?

Selective Amnesia
As humans, we have a knack for romanticizing the past, focusing on the highlights while conveniently forgetting the challenges and struggles that came with it.

Let’s ponder life before cell phones. Sure, there were some perks, like not having to call anyone while driving, allowing us to enjoy music or the peace and quiet. But let’s not overlook the stress of hunting down a pay phone when you urgently needed to make a call.

Or the frustration of explaining to your parents why you couldn’t inform them about your late return home after a Friday night at Burger King with friends because there was no pay phone. Trust but verify, right? So off to Burger King with Dad the next day to confirm the absence of a pay phone!

Tradeoffs: Simplicity or Innovation
Sometimes people yearn for the simplicity of the past, especially when it comes to healthcare.

Health insurance plans used to be less complex and easier to compare. Today, navigating premium contributions, deductibles, and variable co-pays based on the type of  service and drug formulary tier can feel like navigating a financial labyrinth. And remember when fewer medical services required prior authorization or were part of a utilization management program? Plus, healthcare costs seemed to take a smaller chunk out of our paychecks or pensions.

But before you long for the good old days of healthcare, consider the remarkable advances in medical care over the past few decades. From MR imaging to targeted cancer therapy, minimally invasive heart surgery to gene therapy, medical science has made incredible strides in treating a wide range of conditions.

So, do you still want to go back to the good old days?

Happy reading,

Enjoy the weekend!

Best,
Suzanne
Suzanne Daniels, Ph.D.
AEPC President
P.O. Box 1416
Birmingham, MI 48012
Office: (248) 792-2187
Email: [email protected]