Reply #10: Private Or Public, We All Have To Pay...

[KharmaTrain]

Yes, the burden needs to be universal and proportional...just as our progressive tax system is...those with the greatest ability to pay will pay more. It will be their contributions that go to subsidize the coverage for those who aren't as fortunate...and this would be the case in a public or private system. Someone with the means will prefer a "Cadillac plan" (which will be taxed at a higher rate) than basic coverage...and thus they will be paying more.

When discussing single payer I always ask from where will the government get the thousands of people to form such a large undertaking and how long and how expensive would it be to get it up and running...and how much more efficient would it be over the current system. I get lots of hate toward private insurers (and I'm no fan of them either) but seems that part of the equation hasn't been thought through...and we risk going from one gatekeeper at an insurance company to another...a government beaurucrat. I'd prefer the happy medium.

If it's not paid through premiums, then it will be assessed as part of one's income taxes or deducted from payroll...but to make the current system work more efficiently and open it to the largest number of people. Right now our government is not equipped to handle such a task and with massive defecits is in no real position to go in that direction right now. Bring troops home and reduce defense spending and raise tax rates on the top earners is well and good, but for many, their health problems can't wait...thus the need to make the best of the existing system.

I don't see this as all black and white. We've seen with mandatory auto insurance laws it opened the doors to a new tier of competition...smaller, "cut-rate" companies that have, if not lowered premium prices, have kept them in check and competitive. Also with the subsidies and limits on what can be deducted for profits, while mandated, we will see a different insurance situation as time goes by. If this was such a sell-out, why did the Chamber of Commerce and AHIP spend so much not only to destroy the bill but now to go after those who supported it?