[VRM]

Ernie,
You have to allow insurance companies to make a profit. Bernies comment about abuse and smoking is a good one, and is very valid. I would rather that higher risk people retain coverage, but they should certainly be charged more as long as they remain in the higher risk category.

I agree that having a bigger insured group is better, but government is the least efficient entity that could administer some sort of plan. There needs to be an incentive to reduce costs by increasing efficiency - government will never have that incentive.

Government should encourage healthy living learning in school, but states and local communities should be the ones implementing that policy. Having a skinnier population that does not smoke is also going to significantly reduce medical costs for any insured pool of people.

Steve