Should Health Insurance be Mandatory? (economic, examples, education, claim)

[mohawkx]

Originally Posted by Greatday

The "Pool" would be the entire United States population rather than only the population of each state

A "surcharge" for PEC would be charged - with caps on this charge that, by law, would have to cause the surcharge to be eliminated if no claims are made regarding the PEC for a period of time - say 18 months.

In some regards I agree with you. The "Pool" of the entire US is a good idea but then you are federalizing the entire health insurance industry and doing away with the state regulated system we have now. I don't think republicans will go for that as it smacks of socialism and more federal control.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by mohawkx

In some regards I agree with you. The "Pool" of the entire US is a good idea but then you are federalizing the entire health insurance industry and doing away with the state regulated system we have now. I don't think republicans will go for that as it smacks of socialism and more federal control.

Actually, it was Republicans who suggested it.

Opening up the "Pool" would only change one thing - Insurance company rates would be standardized and be approved by one regulatory agency versus 50 agencies. Each state would retain the authority to deal with complaints against insurance companies (as they do now) for their particular states residents.

[NCyank]

Originally Posted by mohawkx

Bear in mind that nobody ever gets sick on purpose. Nor do they decide to have a chronic, incurable illness.

No, but plenty of people choose/decide not to have insurance, for a variety of reasons. I know folks who have made such choices, some have gotten lucky so far, some have suffered great financial losses due to their choice of not carrying insurance. Yes, I think those with pre-existing conditions should be reasonably accommodated and people shouldn't be dropped once they are sick but if insurance is available to all, and they still don't get it or they let it lapse....they can bear the consequences for their choices.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by mohawkx

At what cost to those insured with pre existing conditions? Sure they'll offer it at 3000 a month premium with a 50,000 deductable, and that might be a bargain

No, the cap would be a percentage of the premium if there was no PEC.

For instance: If someone is paying $1,000 a month, a surcharge of a maximum of 20% (the number being used currently in debates in Congress) could be charged if the person has a PEC. So, they would pay a premium of say $1,200 a month. After 18 months (or so), if no claims have been filed for conditions related to the PEC, the premium would be reduced to $1,000.

As for deductibles, the same deductibles that the person who would be paying the $1,000 a month is subject to, would be the deductibles the person with a PEC would be subject to also.

[Wapasha]

Originally Posted by TristansMommy

Wow.. you really are strething here aren't you.

Think abuot this for a second. I'm asking for a MANDATE of insurance.. so that EVERYONE must purchase insurance.. THAT INCLUDES MYSELF.. because I am NOT a welfare recipient but am a middle class taxpayer.

Then you are in favor of tyranny, plain and simple.

Originally Posted by TristansMommy

I'm for a PUBLIC OPTION because the private insurance DOES NOT OFFER affordable options for many.. and paticularly for people like myself.

How can it be called something innocuous as the "public option" if the legislation mandates that no American citizen has the option of buying health care insurance, but must purchase health insurance, or face punishment for breaking federal law?

Originally Posted by TristansMommy

What I"m looking for is the ABILITY to buy into the system that you or your employer already does.. but I shouldn't have to live in a cardboard box and choose between my rent and health insurance/health care!!

0bama and the democrat are not interested in you being able to purchase affordable health care insurance, that's why there is nothing in any bill to bring down health care costs, because it might make it affordable.

Nothing in any democrat plan that I know of is doing any of the below, to lower health care costs, they just want 0bamaCare to absorb it all.

we could drastically lower health care insurance by:

1. Allow private insurance companies to cross state lines. (Only 0bamaCare will be able to cross state lines)

2. TORT Reform, stop frivolous law suits that drive up medical costs. (Doctors and hospital spend hundreds of billion a year paying for malpractice insurance)

3. Lower college tuition, it can cost up to $500,000 to become a doctor. (and subsidizing college tuition with taxpayer money does not lower the costs, it absorbs them, and even encourages higher tuition fees.)

You cannot afford health care, and that is just the way 0bama wants it. Look at you, he has you begging him for help.

[pghquest]

Originally Posted by Wapasha

3. Lower college tuition, it can cost up to $500,000 to become a doctor. (and subsidizing college tuition with taxpayer money does not lower the costs, it absorbs them, and even encourages higher tuition fees.)

And some can argue that the college tuition costs is expensive because of government involvement, but thats another topic.

[Wapasha]

Originally Posted by mohawkx

How can private insurance companies survive if they just abolish the pre existing condition clause? They either charge an outragous amount for those with PEC or they need a pool of healthy people to spread the cost. Mandatory coverage and covering pre existing conditions go hand in hand. Can't have one without the other.

Bear in mind that nobody ever gets sick on purpose. Nor do they decide to have a chronic, incurable illness.

Some people are leaches, they can afford health care, but waste money on selfish prospects, and when they get sick. They would take advantage of the system to get treated, then drop the insurance again, once they were cured.

The previous medical condition clauses, are sometimes too strict, as if all their other clients are 100% healthy. Everyone is going to get sick, so baring someone from getting insurance because they are sick, or were sick in the past is dishonest. But so are the leaches who purposely go w/o insurance until they get really sick.

IMO, a leach like I describe above, aught reap what they sow. They made the personal choice to forgo health insurance. Maybe they could be required to sign a five year contract, as a requirement before getting health insurance.

But if a person has been on a health care plan before, then they should not be denied health insurance, and possibly the insurer could get a tax break for taking on a person like that.

[Greatday]

To those who favor mandating health insurance AND assessing fines for non compliance, what sort of fines would you / do you support? Monetary only. Jail only. Monetary and Jail

Thanks in advance for your responses.

[mohawkx]

As no one will get caught without health care until they need it to pay a medical bill, the fine should be equal to the cost of care. Bankruptcy shouldn't discharge the debt. In some cases they will pay forever.

[EinsteinsGhost]

Originally Posted by Greatday

To those who favor mandating health insurance AND assessing fines for non compliance, what sort of fines would you / do you support? Monetary only. Jail only. Monetary and Jail

Thanks in advance for your responses.

I support mandate, but solely to hold individuals accountable if they abuse the system. People should have the choice to buy or not. However, if they didn't, and didn't pay for their visit(s), two things should happen:
1- Pay fines (monetary)
2- They are not covered under pre-existing condition protection applied retro-actively for the period they chose not to be covered.

Originally Posted by pghquest

And some can argue that the college tuition costs is expensive because of government involvement, but thats another topic.

Only in America. Now look at "socialist" European countries and India... government institutions don't turn students into bankruptcy before they start their career.

But, of course you can't!