Reply #84: The biggest problem will be the cost via taxes falling on the middle class and no benefit to economy

[clear eye]

There is a lot of admirable language in H.R. 3200 that prevents exclusion for pre-existing conditions, being dumped when you get sick, etc. There is even half-decent language preventing skyrocketing deductibles and copays. ($5k max for individual & $10K max for family per year) The mandate will mean more healthy people insured, lowering the average costs. There is at least stability for the premiums even if there will be a pretty high amount above cost charged.

The big problem is by allowing that very high amount above cost to satisfy private insurers, the continued expensive paperwork of dealing w/ multiple insurers added to provider costs at every level, and requiring the gov't to partially subsidize the premiums to a level of "affordability" for all formerly uninsured allowed into the exchange, the program (as in MA) will cost A LOT. While a middle class person or family will get partial subsidies for their insurance, the bill for all that expensive insurance will have to fall somewhere. With no prospect in sight of restoring higher rates for the top incomes, that burden will fall where it always falls--on the middle class. So though you might be given a credit for insurance on the one hand, you are likely to have an overall higher tax bill on the other, as gov't tries to satisfy the demands for the program to stop increasing the deficit, especially with the planned depreciation of the dollar raising your bracket (you'll get paid nominally higher amounts that will buy less). As the cost of insurance to a working person would still be considerable, even w/ subsidies, there will still be pressure for employer-based insurance, continuing U.S. businesses' disadvantage vs. businesses in the rest of industrialized countries.

If this was the only option, I wouldn't object. But, of course, it isn't. Single-payer would cover us all completely for much less, and take the pressure off U.S. businesses to provide health insurance, expanding the economy. Despite losses of jobs in the insurance industry, economists have determined that the net effect would be a jobs increase and lower unemployment.