Glenn E Meyer said:
I guess Brent, the flip side of you not wanting health insurance, is the assumption by some that if you or yours face some extreme need - who picks up the tab?
Thus, if you get clobbered in a car wreck - do you have a card that says no care or should someone start very expensive care to save you?
That's the rationale for mandating insurance. If folks were willing to take the risk and be happy to pass on when their bank account was drained - then that would be their decision.
You're quite correct about the rationale.... but that rationale misses several major points.
The example of a car accident is often used... but the simple truth is that health insurance doesn't generally cover car accidents, car insurance covers auto injuries, most often.
Similar examples are used about falling off ladders, getting hurt at work.... all (mostly) irrelevant. Home Owners and Workers Comp cover those injuries.
The truth is that most people will not get "upside down" on medical costs unless they have a catastrophic illness, like cancer.
This is particularly true of young people. Even having a baby and paying the entire cost, even a c-section, is cheaper than paying insurance. (I know first hand.)
Even healthy elderly folks can cover their own costs easier than they can afford insurance, until they get to the age where direct continuous medical intervention is necessary just to stay alive... again, it's not general health needs, it's "catastrophic".
There are many simple solutions that would solve almost all problems associated with today.
First, we need to get the idea out of peoples heads that your health insurance should cover EVERY SINGLE THING, EVER AND ALWAYS! Do you submit a bill for changing your cars oil to the insurance company? If your car needs a new gas cap does insurance pay for it? No! That would be ridiculous.... yet we expect our health insurance to pay the $45 well-baby visit or the $50 cough/cold visit with the $7 prescription. Equally ridiculous!
Second, there is positively no reason that health insurance companies can not compete across state lines. None whatsoever. Competition lowers prices. This is a problem that has been known for... decades?.... and NO ONE, Republican or Democrat has fixed it. The most obvious and glaring problem and it's been ignored, even strengthened, for decades.
Third, tort reform. Gazillion dollars law suits that garner $22.10 for the victims and millions for the lawyers. Also known for decades and also ignored and unfixed by both parties.
Fourth, promote "Catastrophy" plans. As I say, most people, especially the young, do not need "all-inclusive" health plans and those plans, in fact, almost never make financial sense. Most people would be better off with plans that only cover substantial, life-changing or ending illnesses.
Fifth, reforming the "non-payer" system. If all of the above were true, most people would VOLUNTARILY have reasonable coverage and would be willing and able to pay their own bills. Those who do not should not be able to "pass on the cost" to those who do. Yes, we need certain systems in place for the poor but simply not paying bills because you can get away with it, or it's "cheaper" to let someone else do it, is ridiculous.
All these things would not only work, they would be constitutional and supported by the masses.