Yep, the big one, you know, the 3rd rock from the Sun.
In terms of disbelieve of all reality, let's see if we agree on the following:
- Access to healthcare is a right. Anyone who can pay for it should have access to it.
- Health insurance is a way to protect yourself in the event you become ill or have an accident. Health insurance itself is not a right, just like auto insurance is not a right.
- If government mandates health insurance (as in you have to have it), this will eventually lead to either the decrease of care, to contain costs, or much, much higher premiums due to adverse selection.
- I have an obligation to myself and my family. I will gladly help out the invalid, disabled, and poor ederly.
- I do not want to help out those who chose to stay at home, rather than work, when they are perfectly capable of working (a child at home is a reason to work, not stay at home).
I personally like guaranteed issue health insurance. People with problems should have a way to obtain some help, without having to declare bankruptcy. I know this is problematic, especially if you talk about adverse selection, but there is some middle ground that will work here. Guaranteed issue does not have to be inexpensive.
Currently, because of the way the system works, PPO patients in hospitals end up subsidizing those with government healthcare. This means we currently do not have a free-market system. If we did, PPO costs would actually come down, but then medicare/medical patients would go untreated. This does not improve if the government gets to insure more of us.
Dan
