Reply #29

Government mandates contribute to as much as 50% of insurance costs, by mandating that certain things are covered by all employers. Some of these mandates can honestly be argued for, but some are ridiculous to the extent of covering elective cosmetic procedures.

The insurance companies, for the most part, aren't the problem. They often have smaller profit margins than most other industries. Interstate competition could help some, but probably only a few percentage points.

We have higher salaries(50-200%) compared to other developed countries, and this contributes to high costs. That's probably just not going to change, unless the government starts mandating physician salaries.

Malpractice insurance needs to be addressed with tort reforms.

I would like to see more free-market work as far as what employers can provide.

I'm not dead-set against a public option, but I am set against the government forcing me to buy insurance.

Sorry, just some points on healthcare in general, was there anything else you would like to hear?