Originally Posted by LiveUninhibited

You assume that people with insufficient health insurance coverage are so irresponsible that they deserve to die? There are many people out there who spend their money on stupid things, but there are also people who have a pre-existing condition that makes them uninsurable, like a Type I Diabetic. There have even been cases where middle-classed, sometimes even upper-classed people used up their entire lifetime limit of coverage due to, for example, their premature baby, and then were charged even more on top of that, bankrupting them. Health care expenses are the number 1 reason for personal bankruptcy in America. Notwithstanding all of this, it would simply be more efficient to switch to a single-payer system, as I demonstrated in past posts. I want a system that values health over profit, because such a system would benefit all of us who do not currently profit from the healthcare industry.

Originally Posted by Bartholomew Roberts

Health care costs a fortune because we live in such a litigious society. Doctors have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in Malpractice insurance because if one little thing goes wrong while they are working, they can get sued for millions. What we need to do is first make healthcare affordable by passing laws that protect doctors from outrageous lawsuits. Once healthcare is affordable, health insurance premiums will drop and more people will be able to afford it.
And as for the people that choose not to buy insurance when they have the choice: we shouldn't treat them. It sounds cruel and inhumane, but, if they can afford health insurance, they should take responsibility and do what is logical or else we simply should not treat them. When government pays for uninsured people, it just adds burden to those of us that make better decisions. I do not want to be paying higher taxes because of someone else's poor decision.
As for people who actually cannot afford health insurance, a system should be set up like Connecticut's "Husky Plan" which is a state run, low premium, health insurance policy that lower class people can opt to pay into so that their medical expenses are covered.

Originally Posted by choclosteve

Are you in favor of not treating children without insurance? One of the good things about universal health care is that we would not have the opportunity to make such draconian choices. From my 67 years of observing humans, it seems very clear that a lot of folks can be expected to make poor and illogical decisions when it comes to how they spend their money, and that most of US would not like to see others kicked out of emergency rooms to suffer or die in the street, no matter how irresponsible they or their parents may have been with their money.

Originally Posted by Future Leader

It puts $2500 - $5000 into your pocket, the average health insurance I would guess costs about $2000 - $2500. So if you are not making enough money to pay insurence right now, you can use the money you get from the tax break to but insurance. Answer:
A lot of those without insurance do not pay that much in taxes.


That's a big speculation, sure maybe young people may option to not buy health insurance because they feel 'invincible', but families that can't afford health care right now wouldn't waste the money gained from the tax cut. Quote. __Answer:
I have noticed that there are a lot of heads of families that make very wasteful and irresponsible choices with their money, and I do not think that is likely to change any time soon.


You won't need employer provided health care if you can afford it your self. Besides, what if the company begins to go bankrupt? health insurance might even send little businesses down. What is the first thing that companies will do? cut costs, and if employer healthcare is mandatory then workers would have to be laid off, I'd rather have a job then health insurance. Since there will be a boom in the health insurance industry compitition will cause a lower in prices. Because smart people who need this extra cash arn't going to sign up with some insurance company that nickel and dimes them. You do in fact have leverage when dealing with insurance companies, your money, if you don't like that company go to a different one, these people want your business and they know you are looking to buy, so they all will lower thier prices to get you to sign up. Quote. Answer:
No way am I, as an individual, going to have the bargaining leverage of a large corporation, union or other group, nor am I likely have the same level of knowledge of the market or choices. As a senior, I have been bombarded with pitches for supplemental insurance for my medicare, and it sure is confusing. Let's make it simple and cheaper- get rid of the gate keepers (insurance companies) and their high paid employees looking to deny benefits.


That is true, we americans arn't getting the bang for our buck, but we have better medical technology then the rest of the world, and also shorter waiting lines. Here is an example of government health care in america
Healthcare cost increases dominate Mass. budget debate - The Boston Globe
it basicly shows that Masschusets is in debt because of its health care plan. French citizens have to pay extremely high taxes to keep thier health insurance, and according to this report they arn't getting what the want either.
BBC NEWS | Europe | French healthcare is 'badly run'

Now lets be practical, were is all this money going to come from? We are in a recesion, and asking china for extra money isn't the answer (their pharmasutical drugs are tasty though, but eat them fast because they give you cancer). Higher taxes arn't the answer because as you said, if people can't afford to even buy health insurance now, how are they suppose to pay higher taxes? Quote)
Answer: If the increase in taxes is less than what we pay out now, then how can we afford not to.
Now lets spice up the issue with some good ol' capitalism, every one knows that in order for industries to make advances in their feild they need to spend money to hire scientists and what not, if the health care system is government owned are they really going to waste money on a system that isnt broken? If the government is non-profit then that means all the money will go into the health care and not into making it better. I mean the government can't even spend real money on alternative fuels let alone health care advancement. It has always been the guy trying to become a billionare that advanced technology and profited off the invention.

Originally Posted by Bartholomew Roberts

The parents should consider the welfare of their children when they make the decision on whether or not to pay for healthcare. Hopefully, people who can afford health insurance would see it like any other utility such as running water or electricity and make the smart decision to pay for it just because they need it.
As I said before, though, those who trully cannot afford it will receive help, as well as those who cannot obtain a policy due to their state of health.

Originally Posted by choclosteve

Should is nice if all folks did what they should, but a lot do not. Hope will not make everyone do what they should.


Do you want to deny care to the children with parents who choose not to do what they should? Do those children have a choice?

Originally Posted by Bartholomew Roberts

Charities will take care of the children. I have seen adds for charity hospitals that care for children whose parents do not have insurance. Those hospitals, with help from other charities, will help the children.

Originally Posted by choclosteve

Great idea!!!!