California determined to save Obamacare program. Proposals may include a state mandate in California requiring... (insurance, credit card)

[TheFlats]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

You've got that right. Some of the health care/insurance threads have been moved to the Politics forum, though.

True. And actually I'm pretty OK with political threads in our sub-forum, I like discussing these things with a more selected group of people (even the trolls are kinda fun). But I do wish we just had a single mega-thread for each important topic and the mods mercilessly shut down duplicate threads and banned posters who are repeat offenders.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by Rakin

To help it out, Every Politician in CA should be required to sign up for an Obamacare Policy and pay for it of of their own pocket.

They might find out it's a very expensive POS HMO Policy that does not let you keep your own doctor.

Good idea and add to it every politician should be paid what the average pay is in CA. They can't improve it, they don't get more.

Same with health care, they get the ACA plan that is bought by the most people, not the top notch plans from anyone and they can't buy additional health care plans either.

Now paying for it out of their own pocket is meaningless as their pocket is the CA tax payers pocket. The CA tax payers would simply pay less to and for them.

[KC6ZLV]

Originally Posted by expatCA

Good idea and add to it every politician should be paid what the average pay is in CA. They can't improve it, they don't get more.

Same with health care, they get the ACA plan that is bought by the most people, not the top notch plans from anyone and they can't buy additional health care plans either.

Now paying for it out of their own pocket is meaningless as their pocket is the CA tax payers pocket. The CA tax payers would simply pay less to and for them.

Politicians don't make their money from their salaries.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by Rakin

To help it out, Every Politician in CA should be required to sign up for an Obamacare Policy and pay for it of of their own pocket.

Since the ACA was implemented, all health insurance policies fall under the Affordable Care Act (there is no such thing as an "Obamacare Policy"). Before the ACA passed in 2010, members of Congress were eligible to be covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and some continue to be covered under their spouse's employer's policies. The Washington, DC exchange has many insurers and policies from which to chose.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by KC6ZLV

Politicians don't make their money from their salaries.

No, but they pay for as much as they can from their salaries. Yes they get a LOT of money in various others ways that also cost the tax payers. Now it is true some own businesses, have stock in valuable companies, etc, but their benefits come from ... you.

[CA4Now]

We definitely need a different type of health insurance program.

Good explanation of why the current one isn't working:

Originally Posted by Tulemutt

The “demand side” IS the market, in this case, as with nearly all cases. Suppliers respond to demand ... or, when they can, they create a demand. With the level of health care our society has now arrived at being increasingly out of touch and out of reach of the “average consumer”... the marketplace is killing itself soon because the actual market (consumer) can't buy the goods.

In the case of non-discretional need, the market (consumer) is now increasingly demanding the marketplace be dismantled in favor of universal healthcare being provided by the government as it is in virtually every other developed nation in the world.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by CaliRestoration

People "demand" universal healthcare. Okay, at what costs? Suppliers look at the cost, and then say, "Gee, that seems pretty expensive, and not much potential for profit." Hence there is no market for Universal Healthcare.

No one is demanding health care without having to pay something for it.

If the market wanted such a thing, why is there no product or service or company offering "universal healthcare"? Why do insurance companies take blood tests, and determine pre-existing conditions?

We don't need insurance companies. They are what drive up health care costs. And the fact that they need to make a profit off of all of us adds to the exorbitant cost of our health care.

[CaliRestoration]

Why did you quote me from another thread?

Are you asking for my input on this thread? I have no opinion on a California individual mandate except for the fact that it's bound to fail just like the ObamaCare national attempt.

Originally Posted by CA4Now

No one is demanding health care without having to pay something for it.

That "something" is the entire debate.

And the fact that they need to make a profit off of all of us adds to the exorbitant cost of our health care.

Non-profit healthcare is a myth. Without a profit motive, you don't have AIDS drugs, you don't have the artificial heart, you don't have Fosmetpantotenate, and on and on.

You can say "profit driven healthcare" is evil, but can you say that to the faces of the tens of thousands of people saved by cancer treatment drugs, or those who have debilitating nervous system disorders currently hoping the drug company that could save their quality of life gets through Phase 3 clinical trials?

You don't get innovation without incentive. It simply does not happen.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by CaliRestoration

Why did you quote me from another thread?

Because you started discussing health care on a thread about pensions.

Non-profit healthcare is a myth. Without a profit motive, you don't have AIDS drugs, you don't have the artificial heart, you don't have Fosmetpantotenate, and on and on.

You think that consumers don't already pay for research and development of new medications?

We don't need health insurance companies as our middlemen, driving up those costs.

[CaliRestoration]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

Because you started discussing health care on a thread about pensions.

My overall point was about the market decisions vs government intervention, but Healthcare is a big topic of that debate.

You think that consumers don't already pay for research and development of new medications?

We don't need health insurance companies as our middlemen, driving up those costs.

Good, you're arguing for more price transparency. I agree. The solution to more price transparency though isn't more government, it's less government and regulation. Let pharma companies sell their goods directly to the consumers, prescribed or not. Let them compete on the open market.

Ted Cruz wanted to pass a bill that would allow easier importing of pharmaceutical drugs across our borders. That would help create an environment for lower prices as well.