bonnie Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009...related_stories EDITORIAL: Destroying private health insurance The devil is in the details of the Democratic reform plan Don't mark his words. "f you are happy with your plan, and if you are happy with your doctor, we don't want you to have to change," President Obama promised on the ABC News Health Care Forum late last month. The reality of the market is less accommodating. Many rules proposed in the Democrats' health care reform plan will ensure that private health insurance won't be around for long. Take increased cost shifting, in which the government pays hospitals and doctors below cost. This results in private insurance picking up those losses. Private insurance also will find it difficult to compete against the subsidized rate charged for government insurance. Another change proposed by Mr. Obama and the Democrats is forbidding insurance companies from considering pre-existing conditions when granting insurance or determining what to charge. By itself, this means that most people will not want to pay for insurance when they are healthy but instead will wait to buy it only when they "need" it. After all, there's no reason to pay premiums when you're healthy if there is no deterrent to picking up coverage later, when you are sick. Mr. Obama's proposed plan to force everyone to get insurance will not solve this problem unless the government ensures that all insurance companies provide exactly the same coverage and quality of service. Otherwise, people will get the cheapest coverage available to fulfill the mandated requirement and wait until they get sick to purchase better care. In short order, high-quality insurance will be driven out of the market because it will be too expensive for most people given cheaper short-term options. We already see this phenomenon with Medicaid, where pre-existing conditions do not exclude people from joining the government program. Because anyone can join at any point regardless of pre-existing conditions, 14 million of the currently "uninsured" are in practice covered by Medicaid. These millions are eligible but don't sign up until they are sick because they don't have to. It's easy to see where things are headed. With more and more rules on how health insurance can and cannot be offered, the industry will head toward a government one-size-fits-all system. ! Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Oplinger Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 I agree, dgrimm60. And I'll bet this one goes to a vote without sigificant portions being read and understood as well...Just like TARP and Cap & Tax...er...Trade... Quote "As iron sharpens iron, so also does one man sharpen another" - Proverbs 27:17 "The offense of the cross is that the cross is a confession of human frailty and sin and of inability to do any good thing. To take the cross of Christ means to depend solely on Him for everything, and this is the abasement of all human pride. Men love to fancy themselves independent. But let the cross be preached, let it be made known that in man dwells no good thing and that all must be received as a gift, and straightway someone is offended." Ellet J. Waggoner, The Glad Tidings "Courage is being scared to death - and saddling up anyway" - John Wayne "The person who pays an ounce of principle for a pound of popularity gets badly cheated" - Ronald Reagan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonnie Posted July 19, 2009 Author Share Posted July 19, 2009 I agree, dgrimm60. And I'll bet this one goes to a vote without sigificant portions being read and understood as well...Just like TARP and Cap & Tax...er...Trade... They cannot afford to have this read. And most won't read. I have yet to talk with or have a response from anyone that knows what is in this bill. Not a problem,somebody has to do something about our manufactured health crisis and we care little what. As long as the government cares for us all will be well in our world I think it is on page 16 where it is clear the option of choice is a myth to soothe potential voters. If a employer opts out of private insurance and pays the 8% penalty the choice just went out the window. What does anyone that can count to ten think a employer is going to do? Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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