HCR Passes

[Betty]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Oh a side note, it occurred to me to wonder about this: For those folks who have gotten a "prescription" for certain "herbal" remedies... would the prescription coverage now be required to cover people's access to pot? How odd would THAT be!

You dont' get a prescription - you get a recommedation.

[Not Afraid]

More links:

10 things....

CNN

NOTHING I'm reading helps me to fathom what the "problem" is.

[Alex]

I think it is easy to see the primary problem the honest dissent has, but like abortion it is fundamentally a philosophical disagreement so there really isn't room for compromise and the opposite view is somewhat incomprehensible.

But I think to a large population Health Care Reform and this would be roughly equivalent:

We as a society think it is important for everybody to have access to university education. Studies show that such education leads to happier, longer, more vibrant lives. So we're going to require everybody to pay tuition to the University of Phoenix regardless of whether they are actually going to be taking classes any time soon, have any interest in classes, and even if they agree that they will never actually complain about not being able to take a class in the future if they reject kicking in their share.

And because we need the people who aren't taking classes to contribute so that we can subsidize those who can't afford to take the classes we're going to make it against the law to simply sit back and pay for your classes when you take them, regardless of your ability to pay and certainty that you'd personally never be a financial burden on the university education system.

I can see why mandating that every citizen buy a private product regardless of their need, intent, or ability is a very scary road. And it is not really equivalent to car insurance, medicare, social security. That's why I'm of the opinion that the right course is either to go more libertarian and accept the brutal outcomes that implies or go totalitarian and nationalize the entire healthcare industry both payer and provider.

I'm not too worried about the current bill because I don't think it really does much and it isn't likely to change in the future but I can see the seeds of something to be afraid of, especially as the logic is further internalized and inevitably begins to spread to other areas that seem nonsensical now (as the logic of anti-smoking regulations are inevitably moving into other areas).

I'm not on board with it (the assumption that this is the first step to ruination), but I don't dismiss it out of hand.

[innerSpaceman]

Also, Morrigoon - according to the stuff I've seen - the prohibition on co-pays applies only to check-ups and other preventative care. So the Doc will have to bill it as preventative, otherwise co-pay you pay. The hypochondric-disincentive remains!

[innerSpaceman]

And it seems to me the mandate to buy private insurance is thankfully toothless, because I object to it, too - and would expect it to be overturned on constitutional grounds.

But the fines for not buying it are pretty minimal (especially in comparison with the costs of the insurance otherwise have to buy). I can't see them being any big incentive to comply, and it's not expected that enforcement will be robust in any event.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

And it seems to me the mandate to buy private insurance is thankfully toothless, because I object to it, too - and would expect it to be overturned on constitutional grounds.

Perhaps, but if the mandate is unconstitutional then it doesn't matter how toothless it is, it'll still be unconstitutional and subject to being stricken.

And if there is no mandate then not allowing insurance to exclude people from the pool due to pre-existing condition is not sustainable. One without the other means the incentive then is to not pay for any insurance until you get sick then pay for insurance only so long as it takes to not need the coverage at the moment any longer and repeat as necessary.

And that is true regardless of whether the insurance is private or provided by the government. Which is why Medicare has a very strongly enforced mandate that charges people that won't even be regularly eligible to benefit for another 40 years.

[BarTopDancer]

Is the 10% on tanning salons on top of the 8.75% tax? If the new tax will be 18.75%, it's only $2-$3 for the average package. It's certainly not going to deter anyone.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Oh, no wonder there are that many new posts....

As one without health care - I'd like some. Thank you very much...

[innerSpaceman]

yeah, i think this thread doubled the LoT post count for the last fortnight.

[€uroMeinke]

Can someone explain to me why socialism is bad? I suspect it's all in how one defines socialism but I don't get the assumed evil behind that term.