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originally posted by: Edumakated
We know free markets work in keeping cost down because the end user is encouraged to shop around. As you aptly pointed out, in the medical field LASIK, Plastic Surgery, Fertility treatments, Cosmetic dentists, etc are all relatively affordable because the market is not distorted by insurance.
With that said, the problem isn't so much insurance, but that healthcare insurance really isn't insurance but more of a health maintenance plan.
By definition, insurance is supposed to be about covering catastrophic UNEXPECTED COSTS. You have homeowner's insurance to protect you from a fire that could destory everything you own. Life insurance to insure that your family doesn't go broke from your death.
Health insurance is supposed to be about covering you in case you have a HEALTH emergency. Cancer. Broken bones. Needed life threatening surgeries. Expensive drugs. The problem is that people expect insurance to cover every little sniffle and sneeze when that is not what insurance is supposed to be for. Insurance should not be paying for your physicals. Colds. Or every little doctor consultation. This is why insurance is so expensive.
Imagine how much your homeowner's insurnace would cost if it had to pay for your lawn care. House cleaning? Or your car insurance if it had to cover oil changes, tire rotations, and car washes? Better yet, how absurd it would seem if your car insurance was tied to your employer and anytiem you changed jobs, you had to get a new auto policy.
In addition, government has also distorted the insurance market by forcing it to be tied to employers with outdated and misguided tax policy. People should be buying health insurance on the open market and it should be completely disconnected from your employer or the state in which you live in.
This is why healthcare is so screwed up. Relatively easy fixes, but for many people unless they think it is going to be free, they don't want simple solutions.edit on Fri Mar 29 2019 by DontTreadOnMe because: trimmed quote Trim Those Quotes
originally posted by: Mach2
If I were low income, I would be in favor of single payer, or government subsidies.
originally posted by: tanstaafl
originally posted by: Mach2
If I were low income, I would be in favor of single payer, or government subsidies.
What is wrong with people???
Insurance should only be for emergency/catastrophic events. Regular health maintenance/care should be paid for out of pocket.
originally posted by: BrianFlanders
If you really ever want to have "free healthcare" (nevermind that nothing is free) you might want to get your ass in gear and start supporting the idea of a stable global government. As long as they can squander zillions of dollars on wars and military spending to defend against assorted types of rogues, there will never be extra money just sitting around waiting to pay to keep people alive.
The only way it's going to happen (that every citizen of planet earth will have equal access to life) is if there is global peace and stability. That's not going to happen with borders that need to be defended and enemies who need to be fought. It's that simple.
Now of course even if there was a global government, it just wouldn't be a government if they weren't paranoid about security and potential enemies so they'd likely still find a way to spend zillions on security. There's always going to be someone who isn't happy.
originally posted by: Mach2
Now if there were a unifying threat to the planet, such as an alien invasion (the space variety), the process might be sped up, but if that were the case, our chances of survival aren't very high anyway.
originally posted by: OccamsRazor04
a reply to: BrianFlanders
Global government is impossible. Someday maybe, not in our lifetime.
originally posted by: roadgravel
Congress has great health care so it is not an actual priority. It just issues for regular people.
originally posted by: roadgravel
Congress has great health care so it is not an actual priority. It just issues for regular people.
originally posted by: OccamsRazor04
a reply to: BrianFlanders
It's not a basic human right.
originally posted by: OccamsRazor04
a reply to: BrianFlanders
Healthcare is man made, therefore it can not be a natural right. There is no innate right to healthcare. You talked about food and shelter, those are actual rights. Those rights do not entitle anyone to be anyone else's responsibility though, but they have the right to have access to food and shelter without undue interference.