reply to post by David9176
What choice do they have now? If a couple is LUCKY ENOUGH to both have a job...then that family has a choice. IF not...there isn't one.....which
means they have none and will increase rates for everyone else when they go to the emergency room to get treatment with insane costs that they can
never pay.
I'm not a big advocate for government run healthcare....but I know what I am not for.
OK, David, so what ARE you for? You are quick to criticize, but I haven't heard a solution from you.
I hope it's not what you posted on your thread: "To Hell with the Health Insurance Companies"
In the OP, you said:
The health insurance industry is nothing but a leech on human life. PERIOD.
I don't want to see government take over health care...I'd like to see it non-profit and take out the middle man...THE HEALTH INSURANCE
INDUSTRY....which makes nothing and does nothing for the public but MOVE NUMBERS AROUND.
Very interesting!
Non-Profit? Gee, now who do you WANT to work for free? The doctors, the government workers?
The only time you really have a choice is when you are wealthy enough to get the best treatment possible. Unfortunately...that's not how it works for
most people as many of us have nothing!
Actually, I'm retired, and my employer does not provide health care for my wife and I. I BUY our health insurance, and we are not rich. In fact, 70%
of our retirement income goes to health insurance. That is OUR CHOICE - yes CHOICE. No one gave me the insurance, no one forced me to buy it, WE CHOSE
to buy it, because health is more important than material things.
You say "Many of us have nothing". When you use the pronoun "us", you are including yourself. Earlier you said you have employer provided health
insurance, and that it provides 80%. I would guess that such insurance is actually considered a "Cadillac Plan". Whether you know it or not, 80%
coverage is considered EXCELLENT today. You may be only paying a small premium, but my guess is that the value of that plan is over $21,000 for a
family plan. That makes it eligible for the 40% excise tax.
15 percent of the country is on unemployment...many of them most likely without coverage because it's impossible to pay for COBRA on unemployment
without neglecting other things such as house payments, etc.
Actually, last March 1, the government passed a law providing laid-off employees the ability to buy Cobra coverage for only 35% of it's actual cost.
With unemployment, most workers should have no trouble covering that. If not, then I suggest that you bought a house for much more than you could
afford, if you cannot cover the mortgage on unemployment.
BTW...Insurance fraud is nothing but a small fraction of the problem. ALl I hear from the Conservative side is TORT REFORM. Got any other ideas?
Actually, David, you must be selectively reading just what you want. Several people stated that claims fraud is a huge problem, and accounts for a
large portion of medical costs today. In addition, conservatives have also proposed :
1.) Forbidding companies from rejecting applicants because of pre-existing conditions.
2.) Allowing people to port their coverage from one job to the next.
3.) Allowing insurance companies to sell insurance across state lines.
How about this one? START ENFORCING ANTI-TRUST LAWS DAMNIT!!!
Yes...the insurance companies are exempt from anti-trust laws. Want to end the state restrictions on health insurance...well then that will eventually
lead to just a couple insurance companies to choose from....and a CORPORATION is not a democracy. You don't have representation in a corporation.
Your statement that ending state restrictions will lead to fewer companies, flies in the face of logic. In fact, such a proposal would actually allow
smaller companies to grow bigger, as their potential market place would expand greatly.
Furthermore, I guess you do not understand what a corporation is. Most corporations are stock corporations, and as a result have stock holders. Those
stock holders actually control much of the activity of those corporations.
I would suggest that you spend more time researching this area, before you post. Using profanity such as damnit does not enhance your argument, but
shows that you are arguing from emotions, and not logic and facts.