rhaig 0 #1 September 30, 2009 Can someone who supports the current proposed healthcare legislation please explain why it's a good idea to legislate that everyone must buy a health insurance policy?? I'm not baiting here... really. I don't want to see a bunch of posts moaning on about how horible it is. I seriously want to know why someone thinks it's a good idea forcing everyone to buy health insurance.-- Rob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #2 September 30, 2009 Answered here.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhaig 0 #3 September 30, 2009 ok... so the problem is that if only the people that need it badly will buy it, then the costs go up, so do the premiums, and then the people that need it can't buy it. Since it's a government run program, doesn't it make sense to cap the cost of the premium and subsidize it (since that's happening anyway)?? Or is it better to regulate the "free" citizens of the country through legislation that takes away our choices?-- Rob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #4 September 30, 2009 QuoteSince it's a government run program … It doesn't matter if it's a government run program or not. It is not practical to force insurance companies to accept all applicants unless all citizens are required to obtain insurance. Quote… doesn't it make sense to cap the cost of the premium and subsidize it (since that's happening anyway)?? No, that doesn't make sense, nor is that what is happening in the system in which I described (i.e. the market, not the government, will still determine premium prices). QuoteOr is it better to regulate the "free" citizens of the country through legislation that takes away our choices? Yes, via Congress' Constitutional authority as granted in the general welfare clause of Article I, Section 8.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhaig 0 #5 September 30, 2009 Quote It doesn't matter if it's a government run program or not. It is not practical to force insurance companies to accept all applicants unless all citizens are required to obtain insurance. that's the part I don't really get. I understand why not forcing everyone to buy in will cause prices to go up. But I don't get why it's not practical to just cap the premiums in the government option. Don't tell private insurance companies what to charge, just cap the govt option premiums. Then the people who really need the insurance will get it, because the cost is either subsidized, or low enough they can afford it. The people who don't need it will not pay for it (except in their taxes that subsidize premiums). to put it simply, why is it more practical to force everyone to buy insurance, than it is to regulate the price of the govt option plan. -- Rob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #6 September 30, 2009 If you cap the government premiums at a level below the actual cost you will only accomplish two things: 1. you will put private insurance out of business because you can't run a private business in a net operating loss year after year, but the goverment can do exactly that for eternity. 2. you will run a progam deficit, and be forced to subsidize the program with tax revenue. It won't lower costs in the system, but it will wreck havoc on the system."The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #7 September 30, 2009 Quote But I don't get why it's not practical to just cap the premiums in the government option. That would make it impossible for private companies to compete, because capping the premiums won't affect the cost of the benefits paid. Capping the premiums of the government plan would pass even more of the costs on to taxpayers than subsidizing premiums for those who can't afford them would.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhaig 0 #8 September 30, 2009 so the only option is to legislate that people pay for healthcare insurance? I understand both of the previous posts. I knew those would be the responses. But I was hoping for something better. I just don't think it's right for anyone (much less the government) to force people to buy something. oh well.-- Rob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #9 September 30, 2009 Quoteso the only option is to legislate that people pay for healthcare insurance? It is the necessary flip side of the coin if Congress passes legislation requiring insurance companies to accept all applicants, regardless of pre-existing conditions.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
