Let’s face it, one of the challenging issues of needing a wheelchair is the time it takes to get places. Whether you’re traveling around the neighborhood just in your chair or scooter or you’re taking the time in a blistering hot parking lot to load and unload your chair.

So do any of you have ideas for how to stay cool while riding in your power wheelchair? Do you carry a water bottle? Have any of you used an umbrella for shade? Do any of you have attachments for your chair that provide shade—I’m not familiar with such a chair—does such a chair exist?

For me, I use loads of sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat. I might look a little funny, but what’s new about that?

Also, I try to get my errands done early in the morning when it’s cooler. If a store doesn’t open until 10 a.m., I’ll often just try to make my purchase online and pay for delivery rather than be out in the heat of the day.

Three years ago, diabetic neuropathy took my feet. It was horrible and traumatic. I’m still suffering in many ways.

After my surgery, I was able to receive a power wheelchair through my medicare benefits. It wasn’t free, but I can tell you that I never could have afforded it without the help from medicare. I believe medicare paid 80% of the cost.

Because of that medicare benefit, I have been able to still get around and maintain a little independence.

But I’ve been reading a lot about the mess that our elected officials have made of medicare. What if my granddaughter someday faces a challenge like mine? Where will the funds come from for her power wheelchair? Or for her medications? Or prosthetic?

It’s not right. There will be no funds for future generations. The system will be bankrupt. So many of those who are working today are paying into medicare and they’ll never be able to benefit from it.

I know the topic of healthcare and health insurance is a hot topic because it’s an election year. And there is going to be many perspectives thrown around, each trying to solve the issues.

But as I sit here in my wheelchair, I’ve been thinking about what’s wrong with the healthcare system. I’m not sure any of the candidates for public office can (or will) tell it like it is. Maybe it’s because I have a unique perspective—and not just because I’m sitting in a power wheelchair.

First, the whole idea of employer-provided health insurance came about through labor unions. I’m sure some of the intentions in the beginning were noble. Trying to help your employees live healthier is a good thing. But here’s the deal, by providing health insurance through an employer, you’ve now created far too much separation between the person who is making healthcare “purchases” and the way their money actually changes hands.

What other major purchase decisions do you make in your life where you don’t really know what the “thing” costs? Or without shopping around?

If your car was in the repair shop and the mechanic called you and said “We’re worried that there might be a serious issue with your brakes. We need to run a special diagnostic test to determine if there is an issue.” Wouldn’t you have a few questions? How much is the test? What will it tell us? What are the risks of not having the test? What makes you think my brakes have the issue in the first place?

The funny thing is, doctors are more than prepared to answer all those questions. But because we have our employer and our health insurance company involved in the payment process, we feel separated. We don’t see healthcare “purchases” as purchases. And as a result, there are no (or too few) true market pressures in the healthcare industry.

If the mechanic’s answers to your questions revealed that the risk is that your brake pads might wear out too quickly and the cost of the test is $5,000—you’d tell him that he’s crazy. But if the issue was your brakes might completely fail the next time you drive, you’d be willing to pay quite a bit to get it fixed. Or you might want to check around to see if someone else can do the test for cheaper.

Anyway, my point is, all the solutions being thrown around won’t help the end consumer feel in control of their own healthcare dollars. Therefore, they won’t bring real market pressures into the healthcare industry. And therefore, nothing will change. Costs will continue to spiral. And the average Joe sitting in his wheelchair will be stuck paying ridiculous prices, getting unnecessary treatments, and generally feel constantly frustrated with the whole healthcare mess.