Health Care discussion yesterday with Senator Mark Begich.

(Photo borrowed from Mudflats)

Alaskans who crowded the Wilda Marston Theatre on Saturday told Sen. Mark Begich overwhelmingly they wanted Congress to create a "public option" for health care as an alternative to the nation's existing system based on private insurance.

The question of whether health care reform should include a public health insurance plan to compete with private insurers is drawing intense attention. President Obama strongly favors it and most congressional Republicans are opposed, with the sides sparring over cost, fairness and quality of care.

Begich, an Alaska Democrat, on Saturday held a "town hall" forum on health care at the Anchorage venue as the debate over the issue rages nationally. Begich said there are many ways to have a public option and it doesn't mean a government takeover of the health care system. He suggested an idea that was part of his campaign for the U.S. Senate last fall: letting members of the public buy into the health benefit program federal employees use.

"It's such a big group, we are able to negotiate a lot of our cost factors," Begich said.

The theater, which has a capacity of about 230, was almost full for the forum. Begich asked audience members to raise their hands if they supported a "public option" -- which he broadly defined as something that was not owned and operated by the insurance companies. The vast majority of people raised their hands.

I attended this townhall meeting yesterday morning and was struck by the diversity of the group that gathered to hear Senator Begich, and the personal stories that I heard. It was a much more civil discussion then the one I had heard only a few days earlier in this same room concerning the equal rights ordinance, but the opinions were just as diverse and deeply felt.

Our Senator (I always want to call him Mark) made it clear that this was a very complicated issue and that new versions of the bill were being created almost on a daily basis. The message seemed to be, "don't hold your breath, because this is something that is not coming anytime soon."

That actually depressed me a little, even though I already knew that intellectually. I guess sometimes I get a little overanxious when I think a great thing is just over the horizon. (Yes I was one of those kids who did not sleep very well on Christmas eve.)

Senator Begich also talked about the different ways that health insurance can be structured to encourage people to start taking better care of themselves. He used the Safeway stores as an example, saying that they offer two different plans to their employees. One plan for the employees who do not smoke, and take the time to exercise and eat right, and another more expensive plan for the people who start the day with a donut and a Marlboro cigarette.

Now as some do you may know I am a HUGE advocate for exercise and eating right. In my mind that is "health care" and what the doctors and hospitals do is "sick care". Once you need the help of the medial profession you are no longer receiving real health care.

So here is my lame brained idea, see what you think.

I would also like to see health insurance offered that took into consideration a person's lifestyle.

But I would like to see that idea expanded on.

I would like larger corporations to really encourage and facilitate more healthy lifestyle choices for their employees. I would like to see running tracks and work out facilities on their premises (Google does this). I would like the company to offer benefits to those employees who take the time to exercise at least three to five hours a week, and pay them to do it right there at the work site (One of the main reasons I hear for people not working out is that they are too busy and simply do not have the time, but if your job paid you to work out at least three hours a week that excuse would no longer be valid).

I would like them to provide personal trainers and dietitians to help the employees to access this healthier lifestyle, and have cafeteria's that offer fresh fruit and vegetable, lean meats, and healthy carbohydrates.

This may seem costly at first, but just imagine how much the company would save with fewer sick days, more productivity, and a happier healthier work environment. The amount the company pays for health care could be adjusted to suit their more healthier work force and the savings would easily offset the cost of the facility, the time spent exercising, and the personal trainers.

Overall this attitude and change in behavior would potentially save the company hundreds of thousands, or depending on its size, millions of dollars. And it would save our country billions of dollars.

Now I know that right about now you are thinking that Gryphen has gone off of the deep end, NO company will make such a fundamental change in their company's philosophy, but it is already happening. And what is more I have already done the same thing in a few of my work places. I have introduced healthy eating and exercise programs that have helped my co-workers lose weight, eat healthier, and feel much better about themselves. The result was a much happier and energetic work environment that had both higher productivity and employee retention numbers. I know it can work, and I believe it should be a large part of President Obama's health care program. Because I believe we should focus on "health care" and not just "sick care".

And that is exactly what I am going to tell Jule Hasquet, Mark Begich's Communication Director, later on this week when I call her with this proposal. Wish me luck!