Originally Posted by
bullypulpit
Who's been drinking the kool-aid Red? That would be you. The public option is just that...AN OPTION. You can keep your current insurance if you're happy with it, despite the debt incurred through your own medical treatment.
Mitch McChinless (McConnell) was blathering the same shit you are about the public OPTION limiting the choices of consumers. Never mind that when the choices are between death or bankruptcy for the un/under-insured...a government sponsored public OPTION for health insurance is a far better choice.
I see people faced with those choices on a daily basis Red. The uninsured and the underinsured both put off seeking medical care until it is often too late. They come to the ER sicker, they are admitted in far worse condition and have far worse outcomes. Those that don't die as a result spend their time worrying whether or not their hospitalization will bankrupt them.
The health insurance companies must be held accountable, and a robust public OPTION will provide them the competition that has been absent from the health insurance industry. Real competition will drive down insurance costs to consumers across the board. It will reduce the cost of doing business for companies of ALL sizes by giving benefits managers real options in choosing plans that provide the best coverage at the lowest price. The net result of that being a more competitive American workforce in the global market place.
You and your fellow travelers really need to wake the fuck up Red. Health insurance which forces people into bankruptcy for getting sick or dying because they afford the premiums is simply wrong. The system is broken and it will only get worse unless it is changed in a very fundamental way.
The reason the system is broken is not the doing of the insurance companies, but rather the legislation enacted by the Congress. Tell me, the government is trying to invent a public option that will compete with the private companies, yet because it is run by the government it will have unlimited funds, if it overspends its money it will not go bankrupt but instead pass on the cost to future taxpayers, unfortunately a private company does not have that option, if it runs out of money it will fail.
Secondly, tell me why has Congress allowed legislation that limits competitiveness? Currently Medical Insurance cannot be purchased in one state and used in another. Why? If you want more competition perhaps Congress should get rid of this regulation first. For instance the average cost for premiums in Massachusetts is $8537 for an individual policy, in neighboring Rhode Island the average cost for premiums is $4412. Without the regulation requiring insurance to only be available in a single state, Massachusetts Residents could lower there cost by purchasing insurance from Rhode Island companies, thereby causing companies in their state to lower cost, but unfortunately Congress does not allow this so those who live in Massachusetts are screwed and forced to pay higher costs.
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Your right the system is broken and must be fixed by government run healthcare will only make the system worse. Despite the praise given, usually from those in this country, to the European model or Canadian Model, the fact remains that many of their residents travel outside of their own country for medical care. In fact, Canada which has a total government run system and for a time had made private medical illegal is no beginning to introduce private companies. It would seem that government run care cannot handle the peoples needs.
We will see no change in Medical care until we have real reform. That includes regulatory reform, tort reform and requiring that even those who receive government care have a financial responsibility added to their care.
dmk
Conservatism, I repeat is not an ideology. It does not breed fanatics....But if you want men who seek, reasonably and prudently, to reconcile the best in wisdom of our ancestors with the change which is essential to a vigorous civil social existence, then you will do well to turn to conservative principles-Russell Kirk-