Medical costs

[ultrarunner]

No where in the constitution is there any requirement for every citizen to have basic liability insurance coverage on our vehicles. But if we don't, we violate the law and are subject to arrest. I don't see why the requirement that all citizens have at least basic health insurance drove every conservative crazy. Insurance is a way of sharing risk.

When I was young I was absolutely certain I would never get sick. When I was 18 years old and in need of cash for cars, motorcycles and entertainment, and had my employer offered me the option of more money or health insurance I probably would have taken the option of more money. Of course I made the mistake of getting older and after numerous knee surgeries, trips to the Emergency room for various reasons, it became obvious hat I might need some healthcare from time to time. And now,, I am glad that my employer didn't give me the option.

Asking young people, who at the moment may not need much healthcare, to participate in the "risk pool" doesn't seem like a crazy idea. It is possible that these same "young people" will get old and need healthcare. Additionally, as many have said here, catching a small problem when we are 30 is much cheaper to deal with than when the condition worsens and becomes life threatening and expensive when we are 60.

I was taught Driving is a privilege and not a right...

Also, insurance isn't necessary even in California if you are willing to post a bond or the full minimum in cash...

My grandfather sold insurance for many years... he said the purpose of insurance is to make the unbearable bearable in financial terms.

 

[Travelover]

1st: It would be difficult, but I would make insurance work like it worked 40years ago. Patient's pay their bill at the time of service and insurance reimburses the cost directly to them. ..........

Excellent post. I'd add:

1) No more employer paid health insurance. Give employees a raise equal to the average premium currently paid by the employer and from then on, employee buys insurance on open market. It is not fair that one guy gets $6000 a year free insurance when the guy next to him gets $15,000 of insurance because he is married and has kids. That is socialism. Premiums will come down when there is competition and patient has skin in the game.

2) Allow drugs to be purchased on the open market internationally. I'm not talking about sleazy black market - I mean purchase from the same drug stores Canadians, Australians, Europeans buy their drugs at. Drug prices will come down or US pharmacies will go broke. Competition again.

3) Increase number of foreign doctors immigrating until shortage is met, especially in rural areas. Maybe require rural service of X years to qualify for front of line immigration status. Competition again.

 

[goeduck]

No where in the constitution is there any requirement for every citizen to have basic liability insurance coverage on our vehicles. But if we don't, we violate the law and are subject to arrest. I don't see why the requirement that all citizens have at least basic health insurance drove every conservative crazy. Insurance is a way of sharing risk.
.

No where in the constitution does it say that I have any requirement to pay for someone else’s healthcare. Pay for some able bodied person who could very well have planned better or worked harder? THAT is what drives us conservatives crazy. Not talking about those that are truly in need, happy to help those. Your reasoning behind government subsidies please?

 

[two_bit_score]

Dadnatron nailed it.

I was taught Driving is a privilege and not a right...

Also, insurance isn't necessary even in California if you are willing to post a bond or the full minimum in cash...

My grandfather sold insurance for many years... he said the purpose of insurance is to make the unbearable bearable in financial terms.

Excellent post. I'd add:

1) No more employer paid health insurance. Give employees a raise equal to the average premium currently paid by the employer and from then on, employee buys insurance on open market. It is not fair that one guy gets $6000 a year free insurance when the guy next to him gets $15,000 of insurance because he is married and has kids. That is socialism. Premiums will come down when there is competition and patient has skin in the game.

2) Allow drugs to be purchased on the open market internationally. I'm not talking about sleazy black market - I mean purchase from the same drug stores Canadians, Australians, Europeans buy their drugs at. Drug prices will come down or US pharmacies will go broke. Competition again.

3) Increase number of foreign doctors immigrating until shortage is met, especially in rural areas. Maybe require rural service of X years to qualify for front of line immigration status. Competition again.

No where in the constitution does it say that I have any requirement to pay for someone else’s healthcare. Pay for some able bodied person who could very well have planned better or worked harder? THAT is what drives us conservatives crazy. Not talking about those that are truly in need, happy to help those. Your reasoning behind government subsidies please?

This thread has really taken a positive turn!


.

 

[cqaigy2]

Now we just have to figure out how to get past the special interest groups to get it to happen.

 

[Travelover]

Now we just have to figure out how to get past the special interest groups to get it to happen.

Yea, unfortunately they have a direct line to your politicians and Congress runs every two years, so they need cash like a dope addict needs heroin. The average guy's $100 donation is like spit in the wind.

 

[ultrarunner]

Don't forget as much as employers claim insurance is killing them it is also a tool that has been used for decades so employees will be beholding/dependent...

 

[Dadnatron]

Don't forget as much as employers claim insurance is killing them it is also a tool that has been used for decades so employees will be beholding/dependent...

That is what has occurred... but not how it began. Insurance and other benefits were carrots used to gain and compensate better employees. When it began, there were few companies who did it, but it was so effective, that it soon became standard.

Now, with O-care removing restrictions on pre-existing conditions, the 'hold' of insurance on an employee is much less. Of course, the IMMENSE COST of insurance after O-care was installed still makes it difficult to afford. For me, every employee costs me around 80% more than their salary when benefits are factored in, (depending on job). A nurse is around 70% and a front office worker is around 90%.

I think there should be 'portability' which would significantly improve things. Allow an employee to maintain insurance that he/she had prior to working for you. You pay $X... and if he/she wants to keep their old insurance, you pay $X to their insurance. If their insurance is more costly, the employee can make up the difference.

It makes no sense for each insurance to be specific to a company. I understand why we do it... we get a full package for a per employee cost. But, I'd fix it so that each Employer pays $X insurance per employee, and he/she can get whatever insurance they want with the funds.

 

[ultrarunner]

Sounds like a Voucher System for Health Care...

A solution would also need to address dependents and/or Spouse....

United Airlines and the City and County of San Francisco had a show down when the Mayor started performing Same Sex Marriages... eventually, United offered Domestic/Same Sex Health Care.

There are a lot of variations... how is it a single person for decades was treated the same as one with a spouse and 10 dependents?

It has come so far the other way that our Health Plan allows minor children to be added that are children of live in girl or boyfriends... at least in San Francisco.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

This chart explains it.