Hurry up public option!!
- Thread starter bigarrow
- Start date
"increased regulation and minimal government intervention", is a contradiction, and there already are alot of regulations, which is to blame for the problems in the US system.
OK. I understand that unpaid costs are passed through to paying customers, but I have never heard that cited as the primary reason for the increase in health care costs. The govt does not pay for people that can't afford it (unless they are on a govt plan obviously) no one does, that is why the costs must be passed on. At least that's the way I understand it.
I have also previously stated that I think everyone should have a catastophic policy (including me), just to control costs. But I don't think that it should be law or forced upon anyone by the government. If they were to allow intrastate health insurance, I believe that would fuel competition. Think about it this way: If health care costs are driven up by the unisured, they only reason health insurance costs rise proportionally is so that the companies can keep the same profit margin on their products. So if there were competition, they may have to operate on a smaller margin, not necessarily inflating as much (or at all) with actual health care costs.
At least that approach is worth a try, as it is far less costly, before we decide to radically alter the entire system. I believe that regulation is part of the problem anyway, as it is based on "fairness" and not reality. It is always bullshit IMO to force anything on anyone who is allegedly free.
And health insurers are going to lower premiums out of the kindness of their hearts. Get a clue goofball.
I heard the other day that the nation wide average profit margin for health insurers is about 4.5%. If true, do they really have any room for reductions?
I read a report to Congress recently that one of ET's esteemed liberals dared me to read.
Some noteworthy highlights I recall.
1)The US has fewer doctors per capita than most countries with universal health.
2)US doctors have to spend much much more in education expenses to become doctors than most countries with universal care.
3)US doctors are the second highest paid of all the countries in the study.
4)The US has a lot more expensive diagnostic equipment than most countries in the study.
5)The US has significantly lower average wait times for most procedures than most of the countries with universal care.
Assuming numbers 4 and 5 don't need to be "reformed", which if any of issues 1 -3 are being addressed/reformed in the current health bill I wonder?
I also just heard, and agree with, that in the US Americans have come to expect their health insurance to pay for virtually everything no matter how trivial. Unlike home, auto or life insurance which is primarily for covering major or catastrophic expenses. Seems to me this has led to unnecessary and rather large increases in health insurance premiums. As an example we collectively seem to have to visit a doctor every time we have a runny nose? Despite the fact there is no cure for the common cold.
Is this issue being addressed/reformed in the current health care bill?
Given that the average premium growth between 1999 and 2007 was 120% then it sounds like a public option would be better managed.