riddle me this: how does ADDING more buyers to the health insurance pool LOWER prices?

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the question of single payer aside, requiring universal coverage INCREASES demand and therefore INCREASES prices.

the kind so called "health care reform" people are talking about (it's not health care, but rather health care INSURANCE that's being reformed, and without single payer, it's not really being reformed much at that) is really just bring more buyers into the insurance market. increased buyers means increased demand means increased prices.

health care and insurance costs are spiraling out of control as is and universal coverage will only exacerbate the problem. in order to contain prices, any control mechanism must not only overcome the EXISTING upward pressures but also the ADDITIONAL upward pressures that more insureds will bring.


single payer may not be the only answer, but it's the only viable cost control mechanism being discussed. at a minimum, if all you're trying to reform is the insurance, rather than health care itself, it's the best you can do.