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I am a parent and still I am definitely with Nicole here. I don't want to pay for Healthy Kids, I would like to have the option to choose what I contribute to, and do not want gov't taking my hard earned $ and deciding for me where it should be spent. This by no means translates to coldheartedness - I have volunteered much time and $$ to specific causes I have chosen.
That said, I am actually shocked at some of the negative reactions to the original post. There were no personal attacks made, simply an issue at hand *which affects ALL OF US if we are paying taxes*, so why shouldn't it be up for discussion? It is MY money too. We need to examine and discuss (objectively, not emotionally) our govt's endless programs and countless regulations imposed on our lives unless we want the US to remain as pathetically complacent as it has become.
Between the amnesty-lite of today and impending universal health care, combined w/the indoctrination of the youth by the federally funded public school system, I don't have much hope for our liberty in the future.
We all KNOW that taxpaxers WILL foot the bill for this. It doesn't need to be stated. This is just crazy. I do see a ton of "kids" 18, 19 and up that don't work for whatever reason that will benefit from this plan. For many of them having to show up at a job three to five days in a row on a time is just not in the cards so now they can be given health insurance...thank goodness!
Once again, what we have here is a failure to communicate.
Here is part of the NH Senate bill (SB115) that addresses this proposal:
"Establish a program, with appropriate safeguards to prevent adverse risk selection, by which individuals under 26 years of age, who cannot be included in their family’s insurance plan, and whose incomes are at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level, may purchase health insurance from the healthy kids corporation."
does anyone remember, under Bush's admin, how Greenspan and other economic advisors warned about the housing market, inflatable mortgages, and big banks....thinking it was his first term.....just saw this report on CNN, the liberal news channel....anyway,
that admin warned of the possible collapse that is going on right now, but the Dems voted for it anyhoo....
Polarized, think not,
sick of big government BS, you bet...
Unless of course you like giving your money away renlouis....I'll b first in line if your handing it out....I'll liberally take your cash to pay my bills.
I wonder if those who think Healthy Kids and similar programs should exist, through tax payer dollars would step up to the plate and be willing donate their own $$ to support it. It is a much different story when it is "taxpayer" $$.
Same thing though, isn't it? Or do you mean extra money over and above taxes?
Please take a minute to read the proposed bill and also look at the Healthy Kids Website. You will learn that this is part of the "buy-in program". Once again, the Buy-In program does not receive any state or federal funding.
Nobody wants to be dolling out their hard earned money for wasteful government funded programs. IMHO this is not one of those.
Once again, what we have here is a failure to communicate.
Here is part of the NH Senate bill (SB115) that addresses this proposal:
"Establish a program, with appropriate safeguards to prevent adverse risk selection, by which individuals under 26 years of age, who cannot be included in their family’s insurance plan, and whose incomes are at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level, may purchase health insurance from the healthy kids corporation."
"May purchase" ain't the same as "be given."
Do you have any idea what "real insurance" costs. Just because you pay a tiny amount of money doesn't mean that taxpayers aren't footing most of the bill. If you knew the amount of money that is spent on the Healthy Kids Program you would be amazed. I am going to give you an example. Most insurances if you have an earache, sore throat or non life threatning emergnency you must go to your normal DR. but not if you are on healthy kids (medicaid) you just pop into the ER at any time of the day or night get your RX go to the pharmacy and pay zero dollars. A trip to the ER followed by a trip to the pharmacy is not cheap....except for the person or kid that went to the ER. Who do you think paid for the trip to the ER?
Actually, the price of the ER visit (or any medical office visit/procedure) would vary. The State pays much less than an uninsured individual or even an insurance company would pay to the hospital.
Actually, the price of the ER visit (or any medical office visit/procedure) would vary. The State pays much less than an uninsured individual or even an insurance company would pay to the hospital.
State and insurance companies do pay agreed upon rates which is much cheaper than if somebody were to pay simply out of pocket. That in no way means that the state doesn't pay huge dollars in health care though.
It is necessary to add here that the Healthy Kids program is not just insurance offered to kids (up to age 26?!) There is a Healthy Kids educational program which was pushed through our public school teaching nutrition and physical activity toward a healthy lifestyle (I strongly feel that parents should be responsible for teaching their kids this and more *independently*). This took the place of PE for around half a trimester and culminated in an event celebrating the program. The kids received recipes and HK handouts, including the registration form for insurance. Federally funded program complete with glossy printed handouts, PR and training for educational staff, etc. pushed through public school, taking up valuable time and spending valuable $.
I knew I said I was going to stay off this page, but I can't help myself! I agree that parents SHOULD teach their kids about nutrition and physical activity, but how many parents really do?? These programs are designed for kids whose parents don't teach them (and almost certainly don't live a healthy lifestyle themselves, so what the kids are learning at home is not healthy). Yes, I agree these programs do cost $$ and take up time, but what is more important than learning to live a healthy physical life so that the educational learning can have a chance to be fully expressed. It all works together, physical/social/emotional/educational. If one part is out of balance, the others are affected negatively. Unfortunately, too many parents aren't working on the physical/social/emotional parts, so there is a need for OTHER PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR ALL CHILDREN to try to implement these programs into our educational system. I know someone said earlier that I want to "give my money away", and honestly, I do feel very rewarded by giving to causes that I care about. But I don't have the time or energy to figure out everything that is needed for our society to flourish, and though I know that our tax dollars go for alot of fluff as well, I also believe that many of the programs that are funded through our tax dollars are necessary and worthwhile. I am ready for the "pollyanna" and "socialist" comments. I don't see myself that way, only as someone who strongly believes that we are all interconnected and we need to watch out for each other as well as ourselves (especially the children who don't have the ability to change their circumstances in the way adults do).
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