Quote:
Originally Posted by cobra de capell
If millions 'need' health insurance, put them on Medicare until they get back on their feet - those that cannot afford it - put them on Medicaid.
As to private insurance - tweak it - by law - extend Cobra coverage until the covered person secures a new job or goes on Medicare, eliminate pre-existing conditions as a way to turn down coverage, assist self-employed persons to establish 'group coverage' for buying power and about 200 others tweaks that will not cost the government one dime.
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A little problem with the pre-existing coverage.
insurance
Noun
1. the agreement by which one makes regular payments to a company who pay an agreed sum
if damage, loss, or death occurs.
Making insurance companies cover pre-x changes the coverage to a subsidy, not insurance. There is no IF.
Insurance companies in most if not all states are allowed to make a certain profit. To raise rates they must go to the state insurance office and apply for an increase. They must PROVE the need for that increase or it is rejected. [the fact that the approving authority is made up of politicians, is for another discussion]
Covering pre-x would automatically give them proof they MUST raise rates.
Insurance MUST be a BET. Make it a sure payout and it is not insurance or affordable for anyone.
For instance, in south Florida. EVERY auto insurance policy has lumped into the premium, $240.00 per year to cover fraud and theft alone. Then the insurance company calculates the bet. 100 miles north of Miami, auto insurance is MUCH cheaper.
Requiring coverage of pre-existing conditions would add hundreds of dollars to everyones premiums, maybe MANY hundreds.
We don't need health INSURANCE, we need reasonable costs for health treatments. Universal health INSURANCE [private, Government, or any combo of them] means NO Doctor OR patient would care at all about how much the health CARE cost. Health care is a PRODUCT, we all need to be concerned about its cost/value and we all need to "shop" for it. The present system of insurance/Government coverage makes 'shopping' impossible and prices irrelevant. Universal coverage not only won't fix that, it WILL make it worse.