McCain Doesn’t Know That Other Countries’ Gov’t-Run Systems Are More Efficient Than U.S.
McCain Doesn’t Know That Other Countries’ Gov’t-Run Systems Are More Efficient Than U.S.
Today, President Obama spoke before the American Medical Association about the immediate need for far-reaching health care reform. He insisted that one of the options presented to Americans “needs to be a public option that will give people a broader range of choices and inject competition into the health care market so that force waste out of the system and keep the insurance companies honest.”
On CNN earlier today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) rejected the public option as “a non-starter.” He admitted that the current “competition” between “1,300 health insurance companies in America today” is not successfully driving down costs — but insisted that a government plan could never be more cost efficient:
MCCAIN: Look, if we have a government option, then sooner or later it will dramatically increase the cost, it will crowd out private health insurance. And if you’re doing it in the name of competition, we have 1,300 health insurance companies in America today. They’re competing but they’re not getting the kinds of health care costs under control that is necessary.
CNN: Yeah. Do you think that is absolutely necessarily so? That if you have a competing government system, that invariably what will happen is that you will drive some of the private health insurers out of the business?
MCCAIN: I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. Over time you’ll drive them all out, and the idea that somehow the government can administer health care in a more efficient fashion than the private sector I think flies in the face of examples of other countries that have done so.
Watch it:
McCain is simply wrong. The United States ranked last in terms of efficiency among five other nations with universal health care, according to a Common Wealth study. In fact, the purely government-run Great Britain ranked first:
Compared with five other nations — Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom — the U.S. health care system ranks last or next-to-last on five dimensions of a high performance health system: quality, access, efficiency, equity, and healthy lives.
Efficiency: On indicators of efficiency, the U.S. ranks last among the six countries, with the U.K. and New Zealand ranking first and second, respectively. The U.S. has poor performance on measures of national health expenditures and administrative costs as well as on measures of the use of information technology and multidisciplinary teams. Also, of sicker respondents who visited the emergency room, those in Germany and New Zealand are less likely to have done so for a condition that could have been treated by a regular doctor, had one been available.
One needn’t even look abroad: The government-run Veterans Administration health care system is the most effective health care system available, not just on results but on cost efficiency as well:
Or consider this measure of the VA’s medical efficiency. Veterans enrolled in its health care system are as a group far older, sicker, poorer, and more prone to mental illness, homelessness, and substance abuse than the population as a whole. … Yet the VA’s average expenditure per patient in 2004 was $5,562, including prescription drug and longer-term care benefits that have long been available to VA patients. By comparison, Americans as a whole, including children and those who never saw a doctor during the year, consumed an average $6,260 in health care dollars in 2004.
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MCCAIN: Look, if we have a government option, then sooner or later it will dramatically increase the cost, it will crowd out private health insurance.
– - Johnny Mac knows health care like he knows economics. Mr. Patriot continues to play politics to the detriment of the population.
June 15th, 2009 at 3:52 pmWhen in the hell has McCrappyPilot ever been right about anything ?
Certainly not here nor his pick for Vice President……
June 15th, 2009 at 3:53 pmPlease, we CANNOT confuse these dullards with FACTS. They have constituents to appease (i.e. Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Sheild, Cigna etc. etc.)
June 15th, 2009 at 3:53 pmMCCain, Eh? what? ZZzzzz
June 15th, 2009 at 3:55 pmLet’s not even go as far as comparing the efficiency of government-run insurance programs elsewhere.
Let’s just look at the fundamental inconsistency of McCain’s statement:
Look, if we have a government option, then sooner or later it will dramatically increase the cost, it will crowd out private health insurance.
If a government-run program would “dramatically increase the cost” then how in the hell would it “crowd out private health insurance”?
Does Grampy believe in a competitive marketplace or doesn’t he?
If a government-run program increased cost, then it would be undercut by private insurers.
If the government-run program would put private insurers out of business, then isn’t that an argument that the government program is more efficient, or at least better value than the private insurers?
Do these right-wingers think before they speak?
June 15th, 2009 at 3:57 pmEvery time that we get frustrated with President Obama, just remember, THIS could be the man making the decisions
*shudder*
June 15th, 2009 at 4:00 pmRalph says: Do these right-wingers think before they speak?
Great question!!!!! I’m still searching for the ONE right-winger….in the entire United States of America… that can utter a coherent statement! Anyone out there?
June 15th, 2009 at 4:01 pmThanks, ralph. I was trying to figure out how to properly debunk McCain’s ridiculous, knee-jerk response.
You know, for a guy who has lived his entire life on the US government payroll, McCain sure seems to lack respect for what it can do for its citizens.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:02 pmkrystalview Says:
Ralph says: Do these right-wingers think before they speak?
Great question!!!!! I’m still searching for the ONE right-winger….in the entire United States of America… that can utter a coherent statement! Anyone out there?
Colin Powell. You specified coherence, not truthfulness. I wish I could give you a second name.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:03 pmAnd if you’re doing it in the name of competition
Whoops, 1,300 companies competing have driven health care costs up.
Sorry, John. can we please do something in the name of decency?
Competition seems to suck.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:03 pmAnd if the AMA was interested in true capitalism…it would dissolve its workers union…I mean association.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:07 pmCool guy, Johnny Mac, thinks homework is for nerds.
CNN worships Johnny, so they bought him donuts and framed the argument for him.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:08 pmUm — if 1,300 health insurance companies are competing for my business, then why were my only options Blue Cross or nothing? That’s not competition, that’s mini-monopolies. Which might explain why they’re all so against a public option.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:08 pmI;m guessing the last coherent argument uttered by a Republican came from Eisenhower when he warned of the rise of the military-industrial complex during his farewell address.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:10 pmWayne says; Colin Powell. You specified coherence, not truthfulness. I wish I could give you a second name.
Do you consider Colin Powell a right-winger?
June 15th, 2009 at 4:10 pmTo me, he comes across more as a moderate republican. Hence the coherence!
with all the time McCain has spent in Washington he’s still just a war pilot.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:13 pmMcCain knows that he wouldn’t give up that government health insurance from which he has benefitted every day of his life so he can say with some authority that a government option would drive private insurers out of business. Trying to make the case for why that would be a bad thing is where he drives off the ideological dock into the water.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:14 pmkrystalview,
My mistake. He is a Republican (no matter who else in the Republican Party doesn’t like it). I did not know that when you said “right winger”, it meant the far right.
No, no one on the far right can speak with any coherence. I withdraw my nomination. ;)
June 15th, 2009 at 4:15 pmIt’s not surprising that McCain doesn’t know about just how well “socialized medicine” is doing everywhere it’s employed. Most wingnuts don’t. They come in here an howl about how bad it would be to be “like Europe.” No amount of facts or relevant figures seem to be able to inform them either; they just bounce off their thick wingnut skulls.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:16 pmNo, they don’t have to think. In their reality, they are able to hold two conflicting views at the same time, and both opposong viewpoints prove their position.
This is a perfect example. All along the right-wing argument has been that:
a.) A public health plan cannot work because government is too inefficient to complete with private companies.
b.) A public health plan is not fair, because private companies cannot compete with the government.
You see, they win both ways! Brilliant!
June 15th, 2009 at 4:17 pmI cringe every time I see this joker utter things that show his stupidity or when I hear idiot statements such as Newt’s “We’d be better off now with John and Sarah in the White House.” How close were we to complete disaster? That can only be emphasized when you see these morons speak. It’s scary.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:17 pmWho is McCain working for? It’s incredible that anyone in government is talking about the Public Option as if it were government run health care. The large insurance pool should be self-evident to a gambler such as McCain.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:17 pmI do not think we do ourselves any good by relating to the VA system of health care when it is probably one of the worst systems going. Does anybody remember Walter Reed Hospital just a couple short years ago?
Republicans have already grasped firmly onto the “socialized medicine” excuse for driving away any health care reform, so I think we need to look for positive reasons for the need of the health care reform we know we so desperately need.
One thing I can point to is the fact that the Federal Government is already paying, with taxpayer $$$, about 60 – 70% of health care costs. If you look at Medicare, Medicaid, VA health benefits, and all (any) government employees that their health insurance is either subsidized, or outright paid by the government using taxpayer $$$ then we can see more clearly the path in which health care reform should pursue.
There are billions of dollars in administrative savings, as well as cost savings from unifying all the plans into one that the reform will almost pay for itself. We need to go back and look at H.R. 676, which was introduced in the house and ultimately was allowed to die in committee.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:18 pmSo the public can buy jets, ships, planes, rockets, bombs, tanks, humvees, guns, cannons, sattelites, some 750 bases around the globe, insurance for congress and presidents, but not insurance with its money?
June 15th, 2009 at 4:19 pmI just love it when people who’ve had platinum-plated health care on the taxpayers’ dime for their entire lives pontificate to the rest of us about what works and what doesn’t and how we all have to learn to make do with less.
See my post “The U.S. health care policy morass” now nearing completion.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:19 pmSay “goodbye” to your health care insurance.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:20 pm@davidual Says:
I do not think we do ourselves any good by relating to the VA system of health care when it is probably one of the worst systems going. Does anybody remember Walter Reed Hospital just a couple short years ago?
___
Walter Reed is Army, not VA. Huge difference.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:20 pmWalter Reed is not part of the VA. My father and my brother love the VA. The biggest problem with the VA is getting into it.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:21 pmI agree with previous posters, listening to a person who has had government run health care his entire life calling it bad is pathetic.
Give Johnny a handful of shyte and he will shine his shoes.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:21 pmWhere does McCain get his information?!
But the bottom line is that America’s health care system spends nearly twice as much per person as Canada’s (building the wealth of hospital tycoons like Mr. Scott). Yet our infant mortality rate is 40 percent higher than Canada’s, and American mothers are 57 percent more likely to die in childbirth than Canadian ones.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/opinion/11kristof.html?_r=1
June 15th, 2009 at 4:22 pmTom Sullivan is doing a great job of evicerating obamas “health care” plan and documenting all of his flip-flops and hoodwinks.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:22 pmJune 15th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
John McCain says:I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. Over time you’ll drive them all out, and the idea that somehow the government can administer health care in a more efficient fashion than the private sector I think flies in the face of examples of other countries that have done so.
why would a government plan drive all of the other companies out unless they were more efficient?
if they were less efficient the other companies would be providing better health care at a better price.
you wouldn’t have to worry about the government driving out all of the other insurance companies unless you were positive that none of them were providing the most efficient and affordable health care.
nice try john
keep guessing.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:23 pmI’m guessing Tom Sullivan has health insurance.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:24 pmTrolls can talk smart and use big words like eviscerate. They don’t have any guts to be concerned about.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:24 pmThis is a must read if you want to understand the health care debate. It’s a bit long, but explains where the waste is and knocks down various “strawmen”.
The Cost Conundrum
June 15th, 2009 at 4:26 pmWhat a Texas town can teach us about health care.
by Atul Gawande
ralph the wonder locust Says:
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If a government-run program would “dramatically increase the cost” then how in the hell would it “crowd out private health insurance”?
Because the cost would be to the government, not individual people. So people will no longer choose a private health plan for themselves because they are already paying for one with their taxes, which is why he is saying it would crowd out private insurance.
He is referring to the total cost of the healthcare to the country not individuals paying to private insurance companies. What he is saying is not that difficult to understand. Healthcare for the country will increase (paid by the government with tax revenue), but nobody will want to pay for a second insurance through a private carrier. This is how claiming this is in the name of competition is very misleading.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:26 pmOne has to say “hello” to their health care coverage before they can say “goodbye” to it.
I still haven’t met mine.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:27 pmMcCain Doesn’t Know That Other Countries’ Gov’t-Run Systems Are More Efficient Than U.S.
This comes from living with your head up your own butt, in spite of what your government run healthcare system has done to cure the problem.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
June 15th, 2009 at 4:28 pmNot when the profiticians deem AIG too Big to FAIL!!!
See? JohnM is a poster child for cognitive dissonance.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:29 pmJohnM is obviously not employed.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:29 pmshoeless Says:
Walter Reed is not part of the VA. My father and my brother love the VA. The biggest problem with the VA is getting into it.
————-
Okay. Sorry, for my error, but I’m just trying to get away from any comparison of Obama’s health care reform as “socialized medicine”, it is not.
Also, one must look to how much the our governments (federal. state, local) are already paying for health care using taxpayer dollars. Uniformity will bring down costs.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:30 pmPlease, I just simply want to be able to have the opportunity to the same government run healthcare plan that McCain and other members of Congress and the federal government enjoy. Why is that too much to ask or debate? If these hypocrites are so against a public health plan, should they not renounce their government health plan and go with a private plan – assuming they have no pre-existing conditions, can afford the high deductibles, and if their doctors are on the plans provider list.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:30 pmAP wasn’t talking about you. He hates uninsured Americans.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:30 pmWhat does any politician know about the realities of the health care industry in America and how beleaguered the American People are?
Do they care about the critical intersections with losing jobs and then health care, people losing their homes because of medical costs, etc?
No — they don’t.
They have Socialized medicine themselves – the best medical plan in the country. So they don’t give a god-damn.
It’s good enough for them, but not for us.
They need to have their health care taken away from them.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:31 pm*
I can’t seem to find an answer to this question, so maybe someone here knows.
I’ve heard the proposed government-run system would be voluntary for the doctors and for patients receiving it and that’s all fine and good.
But would the payments be voluntary too?
Would it be just like any other insurance, but it’s run by people calling themselves the government?
IOW, would it be similar to the post office for parcel delivery? I don’t have to pay for it if I don’t use it and I can go to some other provider? But unlike public schools and other government services, where you pay for it whether you use it, like it, or not.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:33 pm“McCain Doesn’t Know That Other Countries’ Gov’t-Run Systems Are More Efficient Than U.S.”
Yup, and Grandpappy McSame still believes Putin is the Preaident of Germany. ;-) Seriously, McSame lost another wheel off the Straight Talk Express bus. Since he doesn’t know economics, he is certainly not believable in fixing our broken healthcare system. And to have Grandpappy share his opinion of how the healthcare system should be fixed in this country when McCain, himself, has excellent and affordable healthcare package as a Senator and is not in great shakes in health is completely useless. McCain continues to play politics with this issue when he knows that we are way behind the eight ball as a country in universal healthcare.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:34 pmIf I remember correctly, McSame is not knowledgable about a number of topics. He is an old may yelling at the clouds.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:35 pmWhy the fcuk is anyone asking McCain about private healthcare? What the hell does he know about it, having spent all 80+ years of his life suckling on the government health tit?
Okay, that’s out of my system. I found this sentence very sobering:
Everyone gets older, but when I consider that veterans, as a group, are far sicker, poorer, and prone to mental illness, homelessness and substance abuse, I’m ashamed of my country because let’s face it, aside from WWII vets, most of these veteran were sent to fight in wars of choice.
Oh and because it can’t be said enough, STFU McStain. I didn’t care what you had to say when you were running so I don’t want to hear you now.
PEACE
June 15th, 2009 at 4:38 pmdoes it or rather has it ever clicked in peoples minds that our health system is crowded with foreign doctors…not because our schools or health system is any better but because they can make more money in America as opposed to native country…not that i have anything against foreign doctors my wifes obgyn’s first name is Magdy…our family doctor is of asian descent, i mean don’t get me wrong we have many doctors of many different origins, that all add a bit of different perspective on any given subject of medicine, but these administrative costs are through the roof, tests being run repeatedly cause its so hard for 2 doctors to correspond things of that nature, this cant get any better the way it is
June 15th, 2009 at 4:38 pmI wonder if McSame and the wanker GOP senators who serve with him would opt out of the government provided healthcare we pay for with our tax dollars for what they propose for the rest of us? These people are some sorry individuals. Patriotism is not only in wars. If they can not be a little understanding of the needs of the citizens they represent, it is time for them to step back and evaluated what the heck they are doing. The GOP is a bunch of greedy thugs.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:38 pmThe talking point the JohnM lobbyists expect us to buy: that a government option will INCREASE healthcare costs. Sorry Johnny, estimates peg the savings around 30%.
Something that’s very hard for you to understand, Johnny, is that, to date, the private insurers have been crowding out medicare and medicaid by refusing to negotiate rates with hospitals. By accepting and paying out the hospital rates they pass along the excess costs to consumers, shown in the dramatic premium increases that have far outpaced inflation.
So don’t talk to people like they’re below your unbelievable level of stupidity by accusing them of doing what you’re doing. If the free market had the solutions, those should have came during the glorious Bush years. Instead, we’ve seen insane overhead costs & CEO junkets.
Not one more family should have to file for bankruptcy just because you can’t let go of your rigid ideology. Too bad, so sad. You lost.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:42 pmThe Public Option is not written or voted on yet…so who knows???
But Why think it will be paid with TAX dollars. Why can’t it be paid for with MORE AFFORDABLE PREMIUMS???
The problem I see is that the “Public Plan” will offer LESS to Doctors and Hospitals than they want.
Many Doctors, and Especially Dentists, in this area REFUSE Medicaide Patients…for that very reason.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:42 pmThose 1,300 companies are not competing for my insurance choice, they are competing for my employer’s choice. I have 2 choices for my employer based health care – take it or leave it.
If I have the option of going with a public plan that offers me better coverage at a lower rate, my employer is not going to be happy either, because his premium costs will rise as his pool (employees in health plan) gets smaller. So not only is it in the insurance companies best interests to keep me, it is in my employer’s interest as well. The question is at what cost?
This is not about whether or not insurance companies can compete, it’s about whether or not they can continue to profit from people’s illnesses. This is about an end to expensive junkets for the brass and obscene compensation for executives and paying your buddies $30,000/year to come to a half dozen board meetings and approve your obscene compensation package every year.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:44 pmJohnM thinks that knocking out the need to buy a second insurance plans would be a bad thing. Why the hell would I want to pay two insurance premiums for one type of coverage? You’re a dumbshit.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:46 pmNobody knows?
Are the payments into this plan optional?
Or will it be taken out of everyone’s paycheck whether they use the insurance or not?
June 15th, 2009 at 4:48 pm“MCCAIN: I don’t think…” WAIT! Enough said!
Is he trying to get back into the running as spokesperson for the Republican party? If so, he is right on course by misstating facts.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:49 pmrepublicans hate facts Says:
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JohnM Says:
Because the cost would be to the government, not individual people.
Individual PEOPLE don’t PAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT? Really? Hmmm… That’s new.
Read my whole post moron, I clearly stated that people are would already be paying for the government one. Do you intentially try to be dishonest and misleading or is it just ignorance?
June 15th, 2009 at 4:49 pmSo lets ask the medical providers who work with the Members of Congress on their plan. Are they being screwed, underpaid? Are they hurting because they have to submit their bills to Congress or who ever runs their plan?
Or is this part of the whole bait and switch where Congress gets the best and tells us it only works for the privileged elite?
Inquiring minds want to know.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:49 pmAlejandro Says:
Nobody knows?
Are the payments into this plan optional?
Or will it be taken out of everyone’s paycheck whether they use the insurance or not?
Another obviously uninsured clown.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:51 pm——————————————————————————–
Megaloptera McWars Says:
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JohnM thinks that knocking out the need to buy a second insurance plans would be a bad thing. Why the hell would I want to pay two insurance premiums for one type of coverage? You’re a dumbshit.
That is exactly my point! This is why McCain’s quote was right that it is not in the name of competition.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:53 pmJust because there are 1,300 companies doesn’t mean that these companies exist to fit all market niches. They commonly exist to fit one: young and healthy people. And even then, if you recall on SICKO, a 22 y.o. woman got cervical cancer and the insurance company’s logic in rejecting her was, “You’re too young, you shouldn’t have cancer.” Needless to say, she maneuvered her way into Canada and got the help she needed.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:53 pmBoneheads, you don’t get to ‘choose’ to pay taxes that fund your military. Or your highways. Or your police. Or your firefighters. Or your air traffic controllers.
What part of society don’t you want to belong to? Personally, I hope you figure it out and move somewhere else.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:54 pmTroll funny! Troll say:
Is it just me, or is the juxtaposition of “I clearly stated” and “that people are would already be” just hilarious? (wipes tears)
Ah, good times, good times…
PEACE
June 15th, 2009 at 4:54 pmPlease take away his government paid for health insurance! Anyone with 7 or 8 houses doesn’t need insurance, he can always sell one or another of his homes to pay for his cancer operations… By the way, is he taking his Medicare insurance? Republicans are indeed the worst persons in the world, they haven’t a thought or a care for anyone but themselves and their financial backers.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:55 pmHonestly…How can a “For Profit” system compete with a “Non Profit” system???
My Guess…by rigging the competition, cherry picking, and hiring “Fine Print Experts” to deny coverage.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:56 pmThat is exactly my point! This is why McCain’s quote was right that it is not in the name of competition.
MCCAIN is eligible for almost every type of government plan there is — VA, Medicare, Tricare & whatever is offered in his government post. He doesn’t have to bother with the tangle of supplemental plans for a guy his age.
It’s very destructive when people drinking from the gilded goblet, on the taxpayer’s dime nonetheless, can tell the people who pay for all his bennies to eat slop. That is very dangerous representation.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:58 pm——————————————————————————–
republicans hate facts Says:
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JohnM Says:
That is exactly my point! This is why McCain’s quote was right that it is not in the name of competition.
YAWN… Insurance isn’t about COMPETITION it’s about *PROFIT* and EXPLOITATION. The whole thing is NOTHING MORE THAN A SCAM and a GAMBLING BUSINESS.
F*KKK off MORON.
You do realize that all businesses exist to make a profit? It is pursuing that profit the creates competition.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:00 pmThe Republicans have no plan for health care other than to water down any plan that passes in this Congress. This will make it easier for the Republicans to repeal or restrict this law in the future. The Dems need to talk to the public rather than the Republicans. A good ad campaign by the Dems would put pressure on a lot of vulnerable Republicans.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:01 pmCongress is being hoist on their own petard. They voted themselves a sweet health care plan and are now trying to tell the people who elected them it is bad.
People, ask your representatives in Washington who was the last member of Congress forced into bankruptcy because of medical bills. Tell them it is ok to go back a few decades.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:03 pmspencers mom Says:
Troll funny! Troll say:
Read my whole post moron, I clearly stated that people are would already be paying for the government one.
Is it just me, or is the juxtaposition of “I clearly stated” and “that people are would already be” just hilarious? (wipes tears)
Ah, good times, good times…
I think it might be a right wing affliction.
Along the lines of Sarah Palin’s “Absolutely not necessarily”. They give the comedians so much material!
June 15th, 2009 at 5:03 pm117 million of the 170 million with private health insurance would opt for public health insurance.
That tells me that people think private healthcare is too expensive. And yes, it would force private health care to compete, its what they need to drive down costs because as it is insurance costs are not going down.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:04 pmPlease VA health care isn’t that great. As I’ve stated before I messed up my back and it was the military’s fault. They won’t even attempt to rehabilitate me only pay for my pain medication. I had to get my own insurance and that’s still even giving me trouble. Something needs to be done.
Seems like McCain is stuck on stupid today.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:04 pmWhats next, are the profiticians going to tell us ‘private healtcare is too profitable to fail’
June 15th, 2009 at 5:05 pm‘
You’ve really got to hand it to the commenters at TP. They really have a certain enigmatic persuasive genius.
Again, I cannot find this information.
But, if everyone is taxed to pay for the insurance, then that’s an obvious way that this “public insurance company” can afford to be inefficient while still undercutting private insurers.
And I’ve got insurance, Hooda. It blows, but that’s because I don’t want to pay more than $50/mo for it. If I paid about $100/mo, it would be much better insurance. Something tells me if this “public plan” came about, I’d be paying the $50 for my current insurance plus another $100/mo on my FICA.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:05 pm——————————————————————————–
republicans hate facts Says:
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JohnM Says:
Read my whole post moron, I clearly stated that people are would already be paying for the government one. Do you intentially try to be dishonest and misleading or is it just ignorance?
No, you implied that PEOPLE would be PAYING *MORE* little *MORON* even though Medicare has 1/10th of the OVERHEAD as *COMMERCIAL* insurance. We aren’t talking about delivering *NEW PRODUCTS*, we’re talking about *INSURANCE*. That business is NOTHING but ACTUARY, *INVESTMENT* and *PROFIT*. It doesn’t *ADD* anything to the healthcare system except COST. Which *PEOPLE* already PAY FOR at the tune of DOUBLE WHAT THEY SHOULD!
Now who is DISHONEST? That would be you d*ckweed TWIT.
You have a tendency to miss the point and when you lose an argument you quickly change the subject. You said that I didn’t know that individual people do not pay for the government, when I pointed out that I obviously said that people would be paying for the government healthcare to you instead acknowledging you were once again wrong you changed the subject. You really don’t understand what you are talking about.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:05 pmAs ralph explained a few days ago, JohnM, the stuff we can do without should be for-profit. It is destructive to think that a function closely resembling public works can be put up for profit. Yours is a thought that is eating away at society and I’d advise you to lose it.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:06 pmThe private health insurance companies might want to have plans in place to shift to offering supplemental coverage and ’boutique’ coverage for those that can afford it.
Basic health coverage should be a level playing field for all citizens.
If you want a private room or cosmetic surgery you’ll have to pay extra.
The naysayers are so short-sighted! I’m not surprised that the right wing of our government can’t see it working – after all they suck at governing and just want to farm the hard work to private companies.
But the potential benefits are enormous. Quality of life would go straight up for the majority of the population. Just not having to worry about getting sick would help in not getting sick!
June 15th, 2009 at 5:10 pmReally, insurance companies are just middlemen, why pay them millions and billions of dollars when they cant perform surgery or prescribe prescription drugs…
June 15th, 2009 at 5:12 pmAlejandro – I don’t know that any proposal would levy taxes on lower income people (I assume) like yourself. The public option, to my knowledge, would be mostly sustained by its premiums — the seed money would be financed both through deficit spending and a tax increase on higher income people. The ability of this proposal to pay for itself would be tremendous on individuals, local governments, and the federal government.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:13 pmMegaloptera McWars,
So it IS subsidized. But you talk (write) like they really haven’t said how this is going to be paid for yet.
If it just works on premiums, then it would be honest competition for the private companies. If it’s subsidized, then all this talk about honest competition is BS.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:18 pmFor all these reps and sens who OWN stock in these private companies, enough is enough. It’s time to mandate all government officials to dump their stock when they’re elected/appointed to serve. No taking their word that they’ll be blind towards their own assets. I don’t care who owns stock — whether it’s Hillary Clinton or Ted Kennedy — they need to unload the stock. I can’t believe our government would leave in place such a conflict of interest.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:19 pmHe he. What do you think the TARP was all about?
Congress-people(?) were thinking they were saving their stock portfolios by bailing out the banks. In the end, they still lost half their value and the tea-bagging taxpayer got stuck with an $800 billion bill (actually, I don’t think that much went out, but the Fed got involved and pumped a few trillion around the world).
June 15th, 2009 at 5:26 pmJohnM Says:
You do realize that all businesses exist to make a profit? It is pursuing that profit the creates competition.
In this particular industry, “pursuing profit” is achieved by cutting or refusing benefits, and denying coverage.
And, you know, if “all businesses” existed for profit, we wouldn’t have categories like “non-profit” businesses.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:27 pmNot only are public plans efficient, they are also better for your health. On all public health measures–e.g., infant mortality and longevity–the U.S. ranks behind nations with national health insurance–even behind some developing countries.
And public plans are very popular too. From a 2004 Harris Poll: “When asked in a new Harris Poll how strongly they support 14 different government services, five services receive strong, or a fair amount of support, from about three-fourths of all adults or more. The five most popular services are The National Parks Service (85% support), Crime-fighting and prevention services (77%) Medicare (76%), Social Security (76%), and Unemployment benefits (74%).”
June 15th, 2009 at 5:30 pmMy understanding of the public option is that it would not be free, as our friend JohnM implies. Members would still pay premiums, and would still have the option of going with a for-profit insurance company.
What scares the beejesus out of the insurance companies and JohnM (well, let’s be honest; just about everything scares JohnM. That’s why he’s a conservative) is the potential for a huge risk pool and bargaining power lowering costs, and thus profits for everybody, since for-profit companies would have to compete with the projected much lower administrative costs associated with a non-profit, government-run insurance provider.
Now that I think about it, that may not be what scares JohnM. He may just be totally misinformed.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:32 pmgummble-bee-itch Says:
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JohnM Says:
You do realize that all businesses exist to make a profit? It is pursuing that profit the creates competition.
In this particular industry, “pursuing profit” is achieved by cutting or refusing benefits, and denying coverage.
And, you know, if “all businesses” existed for profit, we wouldn’t have categories like “non-profit” businesses.
Or they pursue the profit by providing excellent coverage so people are covered in case of an unfortunate accident or illness much like my insurance company does. I pay them a good amount each month and they provide me with excellent coverage. Read your policy before purchasing and you will know what is covered and what isn’t.
As for non profits, yes they are not in it to make a “profit” per se. Non profits like the Center for American Progess might not make a profit, but people are certainly getting rich off of it.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:39 pmJohnM, nonprofit organizations are mostly just that. There are some on the higher end that have learned to play games but most are about service.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:46 pmRalph, the government single payer plan would shift employer/employee contributions to a different destination. Most working Americans would only see a difference in their choices, not their contribution.
Choices would expand from private HMO/Insurance negotiated providers to anyone.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:50 pmTrollies, just imagine, the health insurance dollars that are now being spread over 1.300 providers would go into 1. That would make one hellacious bargaining unit.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:52 pmhttp://www.cahi.org/cahi_contents/resources/pdf/CAHI_Medicare_Admin_Final_Publication.pdf
Hidden costs of Medicare.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:53 pmThanks, Hooda. So it appears that the government-run option would operate in similar ways to the private, right? Just not for profit?
It’s not, as JohnM fearfully implies, simply shifting the cost to the government from private individuals.
It appears that JohnM’s fears are based on misinformation.
That’s so unlike JohnM.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:55 pmAmericans should be demanding single payer health care. How many time must this be repeated ?
THE PURPOSE OF HEALTH CARE IS NOT TO MAKE A PROFIT.
Whenever my fellow Aussies lament the fact we’re so far behind the US, I remind them that Americans STILL don’t have
June 15th, 2009 at 5:58 pmuniversal health insurance. ( Or the metric system, but that’s
matter. )
The Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) is a research and advocacy association of insurance carriers
Gee, when I want an objective, unbiased assessment of the effectiveness of Medicare, my first stop is a trade association of private health insurance companies.
nice going, there, JohnM
June 15th, 2009 at 6:01 pm——————————————————————————–
ralph the wonder locust Says:
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Hoodathunktick Says:
Ralph, the government single payer plan would shift employer/employee contributions to a different destination. Most working Americans would only see a difference in their choices, not their contribution.
Choices would expand from private HMO/Insurance negotiated providers to anyone.
Thanks, Hooda. So it appears that the government-run option would operate in similar ways to the private, right? Just not for profit?
It’s not, as JohnM fearfully implies, simply shifting the cost to the government from private individuals.
It appears that JohnM’s fears are based on misinformation.
That’s so unlike JohnM.
My fears are not based on misinformation. A single payer system may not mean any more costs to an individual directly, but the costs as a nation would increase drastically. Costs would seem low on the front end, but the goverment would need to borrow money in order to pay for it, at a rate a public company simply cannot do. So as the deficit grows, so will the expense based on increased interest expenense. This of course will lead to increases in taxes to subsidize this massive borrowing.
The low and misleading costs on the front end will cripple competition to the point that government will be the only game in town because as I stated earlier we as tax payers will be already funding the government single payer system, so what would the advantage be of purchasing another health care plan in the private market?
June 15th, 2009 at 6:05 pmralph the wonder locust Says:
——————————————————————————–
The Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) is a research and advocacy association of insurance carriers
Gee, when I want an objective, unbiased assessment of the effectiveness of Medicare, my first stop is a trade association of private health insurance companies.
nice going, there, JohnM
Do you disagree with any of their information or the extra costs of Medicare? You can look up any of the information they are presenting.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:08 pmrepublicans hate facts Says:
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Poor JohnM didn’t even READ his OWN LINK!! ROTFL! What a f*KKKing IDIOT!
This study, based in part on a technical paper by Mark Litow of Milliman, Inc., finds that Medicare’s actual administrative costs are 5.2 percent, when the hidden costs are included.
You do realize that only 40 some percent of typical *INSURANCE* dollars actually go to services – right JohnM?
Like I said – 10x+ difference between the costs of Medicare and those of private insurance BY YOUR OWN LINK!! ;)
You will need to read the entire paper to understand, if you need a couple days to get through it, I understand.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:11 pmrepublicans hate facts Says:
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JohnM Says:
You will need to read the entire paper to understand, if you need a couple days to get through it, I understand.
As opposed to the EXACT QUOTE that says the *WHOLE* overhead is only 5%? ROTFL! What a f*KKKing illiterate p*ssy MORON you are little princess!
Again you will need to read the entire paper to understand it, I know it might be hard for you to read more than one page.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:22 pmrepublicans hate facts Says:
It’s FUNNY because they only list the *ADMINISTRATIVE* costs of PRIVATE INSURANCE and leave out *PROFIT*, *OPERATING* and OTHER EXPENSES. Wonder why that is princess? ;)
Actually that is not true, but you would know that if you could read.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:26 pmFor anyone curious about how it works down under, at the end of the finacial year when we file a tax return,(two weeks from now) we may have to check a box on our form for the medicare levy surcharge.
If a person is a family member, privately insured, or makes less than $ 50,000 AU per year, they are exempt.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:33 pmJohnM Says:
This is why McCain’s quote was right that it is not in the name of competition.
The current system isn’t competitive. Competitive models just don’t work on this particular industry. We’ll just be glad to have something that works.
.
American Patriot Says:
Say “goodbye” to your health care insurance.
Gladly. It sucks.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:38 pmThe second an elected politician gives up his government funded health insurance and goes with a private plan, then I will have respect for what they say. If they have a pre-existing condition that makes their premiums $1000 or more per month then so much the better.
If they would do that, then I MIGHT have some respect for their opinions. Until then they are just tools of the insurance industry.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:55 pmThere’s a lot of talk in here about republican opposition to a government health plan option, but it is not only republicans who are against this. If all the democrats were truly interested in the public health the only option being discussed would be a single payer plan. A single payer plan makes the most sense because the whole nation would form one giant insurance pool, there would be only one insurance form to fill out, and billions in insurance company profits would be returned to the public in the form of cheaper coverage. One of the highest costs of health care is the administrative overhead which begins at the doctor’s office, where multiple types of insurance forms are processed, and ends at the CEO level where one individual earns millions. Capitalism is king and pain and suffering is a growth industry for everyone involved including your senators and congressional representatives. This whole debate may be President Obama’s way of trying to secure a better health care system, but it is Congress’ way of drumming up funds for the 2010 elections. The real question here is how long are we going to cling to a super-capitalist system that makes enormous profits off the pain and suffering of American citizens. The current system is great for all the profiteers, insurers, big pharma, doctors, dentists, etc., but for those people who have no insurance, or have insurance that will not cover their life threatening conditions, the current system only means one thing, death.
June 15th, 2009 at 7:09 pmWhen was the last time Mcsame had to wait hours for a hospital room?
June 15th, 2009 at 7:23 pmWhen was the last time he was put on a floor with us “commoners” and was seen by a nurse maybe once a shift?
When was the last time he stayed in a hospital that took three days to fix the bathroom?
People lilke Mcsame and JohnnyM are so out of touch with reality it’s frightening?
atony and lido
Poor JohnM, caught in the righty meme of ‘hidden costs’. Sorry, boyo, it is the insurance companies who hide costs. Something your RW masters are familiar with and will certainly print out on your talking points.
The rest of the industry knows what the real costs are. Those ‘hidden’ ones involve trips to the Bahamas and such.
But a nice try.
June 15th, 2009 at 7:28 pmA single payer system may not mean any more costs to an individual directly, but the costs as a nation would increase drastically
Take a deep breath, JohnM. The US, through private coverage, already pays about twice what the ‘Socialized’ countries do per individual. And we receive less care for that privilege. With less than most people already pay for private insurance we can get more coverage.
It really is simple math. If health insurance companies aren’t taking a cut, health care gets less expensive.
June 15th, 2009 at 7:55 pmThere’s something quite amusing about someone like JohnM being so arrogant about his misinformation.
June 15th, 2009 at 8:47 pmrepublicans hate facts, you completely debunked JohnM with his own link and he still doesn’t get it.
Nicely done! :)
June 15th, 2009 at 10:38 pmI’m so everflarking sick and tired of these anti-American corrupt and greedy bastards!!
And… I’m even more sick and tired of these everflarking STOOPID pathetic morons like AmericanIdiot and JohnM who lick their filthy boots — and do their dirty work for them!!
June 16th, 2009 at 12:36 amI love my country’s system for several reasons. One reason is health care. I don’t have to deal with paper work. I choose my doctor and when I can’t see him, a walk-in clinic will take me(with minimal paper work). Drugs for life -threatening chronic diseases are government paid(ie-HIV or bi polar disorder). Abortions are government paid after evaluation. Sure ER rooms are a zoo, but there is no paper work or insurance companies to deal with, just rely on triage to decide on the severity of the incident and minor things can be dealt with at a walk-in clinic.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:44 amJohnM Says
He is talking NONSENSE. We already pay MORE per capita and as a percentage of GDP than any country in the world. National healthcare plans DECREASE cost they dont increase it. You have been spanked so often on this subject why do you keep saying the same stupid idiocy that has already been debunked. I KNOW you are stupid and I know you are brainwashed but its just getting ridiculous
June 16th, 2009 at 6:49 amJohnM Says:
Did you REALLY call someone else a moron? My GOD you are stupider than cigarette ash. Stuff it up your tarhole MORON
June 16th, 2009 at 6:51 amXisithrus,
AIG is not a health insurer. Their bailout is a separate topic.
June 16th, 2009 at 9:14 amen son videolar
June 16th, 2009 at 9:41 amen son videolar
McCain and the other right wingers know that they are on the losing end of this argument, so they resort to their tried and true method of fear mongering and misrepresentation. The death of health care reform is coming if we allow the Republicans to frame the debate because, unfortunately, there are a lot of Americans who compose the “conservative base” for whom cognitive dissonance is not just okay, but actually a way of life. Republicans apparently live in a fairy-tale world where patients can choose any doctors they like and the decisions are made by the two of them while the insurance company happily pays for whatever the doctor recommends. Their main arguments are that the government is going to start rationing health care and that the insurance companies can’t compete with a bloated, inefficient, rationing-based public option. I’m not sure whether that says more about the sad state of insurance companies or the lack of common sense among conservatives, but I do know that people who truly believe that President Obama is a Kenyan Muslim who is part of a huge conspiracy run by either ACORN or the “Jews” to destroy the freedom-loving America of their forefathers and turn it into a socialist, communist, fascist Islamic Republic will eat this up like cotton candy, so our only hope is to ensure that the millions of centrist, almost apolitical Americans who are too lazy to really research this do not join their ranks to create a vast majority.
June 16th, 2009 at 10:17 amI was just thinking how similar America and Palestine are: In America, we have a two party system in which we must choose between a crazy, religious fundamentalist-driven, militant party and a reasonable, policy-driven, rational party which is, unfortunately, plagued by absurd levels of corruption in almost every place where they are in power. I just found that odd and wanted to share….
June 16th, 2009 at 10:26 amSince all of McCain’s medical bills are covered BY the government, how could he understand what the average American has to go through just to see a dentist, or get glasses, or take a kid that is sick to see a doctor. He don’t.
June 16th, 2009 at 10:54 amYou’re much too kind. It’s not that McCain doesn’t know, it’s that he’s being intentionally duplicitous because, like so many of his colleagues, he has been bought and sold by Big Healthcare and therefore puts human life second to profits.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:28 pmPutting profits above human life is intrinsic to capitalism, whose adherents worship the mantra of infinite and perpetual growth. The ultimate consequence of this mantra only become manifest in recent times because of current population levels, the rapacity of which starkly demonstrate how limited are resources.
In other words, you can either have capitalism or a sustainable planet, you can’t have both. If capitalism is not soon abolished, humanity is headed for omnicide before the end of this century.
Because he’s nothing but a mouthpiece for Big Healthcare, thus demonstrating that he values profits over human life, McCain thereby has not only sold his influence, but his soul itself, and deserves nothing but contempt from decent people.
Whenever a nation’s government is corrupted to this extent, history shows that any such nation eventually collapses under the weight of its own rot, and thusly, in this day and age, would hasten human extinction.
Ask those from Socialist countries like Canada and Great Britain why they come to America for needed healthcare that they either cannot get or must wait, months to years (yes this is true and happening NOW). The Federal gov’t has NO money. It TAKES/TAXES us and spends our dollars in a wasted illegal fashion. Just look at the GM bankruptcy and the failed bank bailouts. Gov’t isn’t capable of managing anything. And don’t be specious and compare a country like Sweden to America.
I’m not Republican but am looking for honesty in gov’t and support of our Constitution / Republic. Obama is a sad failure, we hoped for true independence of thought. He’s a typical far Left Democrat. He’s much like Ted Kennedy (the female murderer-remember?) Most of you folks have your heads in the wrong place
June 16th, 2009 at 12:54 pmOH, and stating that the VA hospitals are efficient is pure insanity. I’m a Vet and wouldn’t set foot in one of these. The abuse that was reported last year in the Vet’s hospital in the DC area is just the tip of the iceberg in it’s poor care, much like what you’d expect in a Socialist country. You folks are NOT realistic. God help us, we need it!
June 16th, 2009 at 1:00 pmWow!
June 16th, 2009 at 1:04 pmThe Canadian officials come here for care. How good could Canada’s care be? The trmendous influx of forign doctors also speaks volumes about our system. They did not go to Germany did they? If you have all been paying attention, several of the countries you mentioned just elected conservativ governments, some running on a platform including the privitzation of health care. Maybe we should look at the political environment of the increasingly conservitive Europe. Don’t some of them let there sick die or evan kill them? You have a higher infant servival rate if you force abortions on mothers(Belgum)carring special needs children, don’t you? Look behind those numbers, our biggest killer is cheap food and alot of it. Our poor who are are currently on single payer systems(medicaid) constitute the bulk of our diabetics(#1 caus of early death), most weight related. The single payter system already in place has seen massive increases in preventable death. Conditions have actualy grown worse in our esisting single payer system. Why would we expand it to everyone?
Dear John,
You said, “we have 1,300 health insurance companies in America today. They’re competing but they’re not getting the kinds of health care costs under control that is necessary.”
Perhaps your fact checking was set aside while you pulled off a shoe to help in counting your houses, but the fact is, there is no competition in the health insurance scam.
You see, these scumbags are exempt from anti-trust law. It is perfectly legal for these CEO’s to get together over a beer and collude on setting rates. Moreover, I see no evidence that they aren’t taking full advantage of this galaxy swallowing loop hole.
I’m sure that you can remember when it was a standard medical practice to bleed patients with leeches. I submit that with these insurance companies, we are still being bled with leeches.
June 16th, 2009 at 1:31 pmThere are only 3 to 5 major health insurers. The rest of the 1300 are too small to negotiate price breaks for services. If these co-ops are established, they will have the same problem because they are not large enough to negotiate with medical care providers. The insurance companies and most other health care providers are raking in billions of profit and they are not going to let the government compete with a public plan because that will force the insurers to lower premiums. The government does not determine medical care unlike the private insurance companies. The doctor still makes the medical diagnosis but the government has a flat amount that it will pay for services. Experimental treatments are not covered and each illness has a set treatment plan and tests. No insurance company does anything different than the government would do.
June 16th, 2009 at 1:54 pmIt’s a no-brainer … forget it – single payer will not happen, unfortunately.
Now, since private initiative is so great, why they don’t run the Postal Service too? If this happens, no American will be able to send letters anywhere because the price will be so high…
Anywhere you look you see that capitalism is a beautiful concept-system that does not work in practice. Just like communism was a beautiful concept-system and deservedly crashed because of self interest being put ahead of common interest.
Any pointed discussion is nitpicking and a shameful waste of our resources. Organize and expose the big cartels behind the politicians. THAT is the real problem. There will always be McIncompetents and Obananas to spare. They are not the problem, they are the symptom.
June 16th, 2009 at 4:07 pmSo if you want to use the numbers that this article is using than fine. But here inlies the problem. The Democrats have the bill for health care already to go and the numbers or as follows. It will cost the tax payer 600 billion and they plan to CUT 400 billion from medicare medicad. That totals 1 trillion for those of you slow on math. there are about 300 million people in the USA so if you devide the 1 trillion by the 300 million that means that we will be spending 3,333 per person on medical which is still more than the other 5 countries that they list.
June 16th, 2009 at 9:37 pmNow if their information is correct than why has the number of women dieing from breast cancer in England gone up. Since they are sending them home without treatment.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/british-women-more-likely-to-die-of-cancer-558801.html
no matter how you want to look at it the system we have is the best plain and the cheapest for the country. what we need to do is get the government out of it rather than getting more government into it.
It has been proven time and time again that when the government gets involved in a program it doesn’t help the program it makes it worse.
You want to fix the health care system in this country than get the government out of it.
First, I’m a somewhat young vet. I’ve been to VA hospitals. I also went to school, got a good job, and got employer paid health insurance. I can go to any normal hospital in the country. Guess which one I prefer? I’ll give you a hint, it’s not the VA. There’s a reason the VA has the lowest cost per patient among the countries that the gentleman above stated, and it isn’t due to lower costs, it’s due to lower spending and fewer services. Second, a lot of our health care deficiencies are the result of our nation’s drug problem. Fix that and you’ve made a massive improvement for U.S. health care. That’s prevention.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:44 pmSlow down there all you Keith Oberman wannabes! Bash McCain all you want, but before you blindly support Obama’s plan just ’cause it’s “Obama’s plan,” keep in mind his plan is essentially to throw Medicare open to everyone, and then over time force everyone into it. The choice to keep employer-provided insurance will be up to the employer, not you. Oh, and by the way, Medicare is Already Bankrupt!
June 16th, 2009 at 11:53 pmMedicaid, which pays for health care for the poor, shows where Obama’s current plan is headed. Medicaid promises free health care for the poor, but then refuses to pay the doctors and hospitals enough to provide quality health care for the poor. As a result, about 40% of doctors already refuse to take Medicaid patients. This translates into real suffering for the poor. They have to scramble to get appointments with the doctors who will see them, and the doctors give them shorter appointments and less attention to fit what the government is willing to pay for them. They have to wait longer to see the few specialists willing to take Medicaid patients. The end result: studies show that the poor get less adequate health care, and suffer worse health outcomes, including more and earlier deaths from heart disease and cancer. This should be no surprise, because it is the same result of all government-run health care throughout history the world over.
Okay, so I’ve gotta ask the last few posters: If a public option is so horrible, why does it make you so scared? If you really believe that it will result in rationing and take away your imaginary choices offered by your current insurance provider, won’t the market decide that those who can afford private health insurance will choose it? I suggest you think long and hard about this…
June 17th, 2009 at 3:46 pmI’m wary of anything that the gov’t is going to tell people they HAVE to buy – on their own. That only results in the same problems we currently have with auto insurance where 50% of people (at least those I know) only have coverage for one month when they need to show proof of insurance to get their plates renewed, then cancel immediately. People don’t manage their finances well on their own: If you want to force people to pay for some universal service, I believe there is a system that takes the money automatically out of their paychecks… If people think the gov’t is doing a bad job or they want better service, give them a 100% refund via direct payment of witheld payroll to chosen private company. I’m sorry if that makes too much sense….
June 17th, 2009 at 3:53 pm