I Want It All – The Anthem of Human Nature

From the moment Freddie Mercury’s powerful voice declared, “I want it all, and I want it now,” Queen gave us more than a rock anthem — they tapped into the essence of human nature. That lyric resonates deeply because it reflects a universal truth: we all want what we feel we deserve, especially when it comes to health, opportunity, and fairness. But what happens when “wanting it all” collides with the realities of healthcare?

“Wanting It All” Meets Reality

This question feels especially relevant in the wake of the tragic murder of United Healthcare’s CEO, which has reignited frustrations with the healthcare system. Social media is flooded with stories of individuals denied coverage for treatments, medications, or procedures they believed were essential. The outrage is understandable — being told “no” when your health or the health of a loved one is on the line feels deeply unfair. It strikes at the heart of our belief that healthcare should be there when we need it.

But as much as we want to have it all in healthcare, the reality is more complicated. Many consumers don’t fully understand what their insurance covers or doesn’t cover. Nor are cost-sharing requirements like copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance, or limitations on coverage for specific treatments understood. The maze of prior authorization requirements can further frustrate patients, leaving them blindsided by denials for care they expected to be covered.

Sometimes, misunderstandings or misinformation leads to demands for treatments that are not medically necessary, or that should be tried only after less invasive or less expensive alternatives. These safeguards exist not to deny care but to ensure it is appropriate, effective, and cost-conscious.

The Preventive Paradox

Amid these cries of “I want it all,” a paradox emerges. Some people, while demanding full access to healthcare when they are sick, reject preventive measures — like vaccines — that are designed to keep them well in the first place. Vaccines, which have been proven to prevent serious illnesses and thus reduce healthcare costs, are sometimes dismissed due to misinformation, fear, or skepticism. This refusal creates a striking contradiction: wanting access to everything modern medicine can offer while declining the tools that can help avoid the need for such care – and avoid costs to the healthcare system.

Today’s news of the recent effort by an attorney and ally of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to push for the FDA to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine is beyond troubling. This vaccine eradicated polio in the United States and drastically reduced cases worldwide. Undermining such a proven preventive measure risks reintroducing polio in the U.S. – a disease for which there is no cure. Such actions exacerbate the very healthcare challenges people demand solutions for, creating preventable crises in the name of unfounded skepticism.

This paradox highlights a deeper challenge in healthcare. We want the system to be there for us when we’re in crisis, but we don’t always embrace the steps that could reduce those crises.

Want versus Need

Queen’s iconic anthem captures our drive for the best life, but it also highlights a tough truth: in healthcare, our wants and needs don’t always align. We all want top care when we need it, but that doesn’t mean demanding everything we think we deserve. It’s about understanding evidence-based medicine — ensuring care is effective and tailored to our needs, while avoiding unnecessary treatments and costs. It’s also about knowing what your insurance covers and embracing prevention before a crisis strikes.

And while we may not get absolutely everything that we want, we will get what we need!

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]

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