Re: democracy as the cure (Healthcare)

Health insurance is not the same as healthcare.  It is a question of how we should pay for healthcare.  Should healthcare be guaranteed, even though most things in society aren't?   We have public and private charities for food and housing, which we consider to be basic necessities, so maybe we should have the same for healthcare, and to some extent we do. 

The current system is bad because 3rd party payer programs have removed the concept of price, cost versus benefit, from the consumer.  This has lead to a really nice healthcare system, but one that has driven up cost.   (There are a few people who moved us toward this kind of system with the agenda of socialized medicine, because now just about everybody expects someone else to pay for their healthcare, which may be the fundamental problem with the current system.  What would happen if we just suddenly said that everybody is now responsible for paying for their own healthcare?  It would increase competition and drive down prices.)

I am suggesting that a national system of medical savings accounts, even if subsidized for those who can't afford it, would put price choices back in the hands of the consumer and lead to lower costs due to competition.  It would also guarantee portability since people would own their accounts. 

I would prefer just about anything other than the current system of using insurance companies subsidized by our employers, which to some extent ties us to our jobs and puts us at the mercy of the insurance companies.  I would even go with a single payer system, although it is far from my first choice.  I have heard horror stories out of Canada of their crummy system.  

Seems to me that Obamacare is patterned after the Swiss system of mandatory health insurance. 

Best wishes 

John Coffey

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 1, 2011, at 3:57 PM, larry.r.trout

Did you know the States can pass laws that the Federal government can't.

If the Federal law is not one of the enumerated powers, then it is an unconstitutional federal law.

 

From: Wendel, David J

 

A thought just occurred to me.  If you don't want mandatory health insurance, what are your thoughts about mandatory liability insurance on your car?

 

David Wendel

From: Trout, Larry R 

 

It was also my view, even in 2002, that to force a population into democracy at gunpoint was an oxymoron. 

 

Robert Updike asked me whether forcing people to buy insurance at gunpoint, was consistent with democracy.

 

Obviously he feels strongly about this :-)