Mandated health insurance, another form of slavery?

[scubadude]

Or is it closer to extortion? I'm not sure.

I have been a bit uncomfortable lately hearing that there are some who are pushing mandated health care with no public option. Their argument is that if everybody were forced to purchase private health insurance we would all be so much healthier that costs would go down and we could all save. I admit there may be some small savings for those who already have health insurance, but I believe that what this would really be is welfare for he insurance companies, paid for on the backs of the poor.

Mandated health insurance under the current system would drive many low wage folks under cover no matter how "cheap" the coverage is and would create a black market in health care. They wouldn't be able to go to the emergency room because their lack of insurance would be discovered there. This in turn would make their health even worse.

We need single payer or at the very least a publicly funded option now! This would do exactly the opposite of mandated health insurance. Folks wouldn't be driven under cover or into black market health care. Many would be freed from using the service of the local emergency room and could actually have a regular doctor, which absolutely would help them improve their health at the same time as lowering costs for everyone.

Mandated health care is slavery to the insurance companies, or extortion at the very least.

Scuba

[ixion]

1. yeah, I'm against forcing people to buy insurance... it's a handout

to insurance companies, just like auto and homeowner's ins, also required.

[Autumn]

2. No much different from

mandated auto insurance. I think either one pretty much sucks.

[liberal N proud]

3. Except if you can't afford auto insurance you don't have to drive

What are they going to do if you can't pay? Suck all the blood from your veins.

[Autumn]

8. Unfortunately a lot

of people drive without auto insurance. Look how competitive and cheap auto insurance is since it became mandatory (not really) ,add health insurance to that and it too will depend on how far your pay check goes. Actually I think they already are sucking the blood out of us.

[liberal N proud]

10. True, and we all pay higher insurance rates because of it

Same with medical insurance. Those who don't or can't pay will still need to be treated and the cost will be passed on to those of us who have insurance.

Nothing will have changed and the media, politicians and insurance companies will all proclaim happily that they have "reformed" health care.

[scubadude]

4. Hey, you two are right! I see reform coming in all insurance markets!

Public auto and home owners insurance! Thanks! :bounce:

Scuba

[Autumn]

9. Isn't it great

look how well the auto insurance companies bent over to help us all by making it affordable to all.

[Romulox]

5. It's just another form of corporate welfare. nt

[Lars39]

6. I've not seen anything about current medical debt.

Sure, just looking at a person's income it looks like they could pay, but what about the medical debt they already owe and are trying to pay off? How is this going to be accounted for? Are they going to be allowed insurance at no cost because they are paying off debt, then when the debt is payed off they have to start paying for the insurance? The problem with that is that the X in the equation, the 10 or 20 percent you're liable for isn't a manageable sum for anyone but millionaires. I want health care, not insurance that can send me to the poorhouse because of a hangnail.

[theoldman]

7. Here is a thought.

How about letting each state control their own insurance with state insurance for house, auto and health. That way you get rid of the for-profit insurance companies and each state can set up their own rules. It gets the federal government out of the way so everyone should be happy.

[kdmorris]

11. It's just another way to screw the poor

Do you know how many poor people are driving around without mandated auto insurance because they just can't afford it?

"Mandated health insurance under the current system would drive many low wage folks under cover no matter how "cheap" the coverage is and would create a black market in health care. They wouldn't be able to go to the emergency room because their lack of insurance would be discovered there. This in turn would make their health even worse."

Exactly!!

And I ask... what exactly would the penalty be if you were not able to get health insurance? You can die in the parking lot next to the ER door? Jail time? A fine that you can't pay, anyway? What more can you do to someone who is already so far in the hole that they can't even afford health insurance?

(My daughter would be one of these people. She got laid off from her last job, cannot find another one in the pitiful economy that is South Florida, and ends up having to go to the ER for health care because regular doctors won't see her without insurance. She's run up thousands in medical bills, but can't pay those, either. She's depressed, feels worthless and no amount of mandating health care will get blood from that turnip. She is not eligible for Medicaid because she is "able to work" and doesn't have a baby to care for. So.. tough luck, you're screwed. The only thing mandating health care will do for my daughter is just give her one more thing to feel ashamed of, to feel worthless about).

Disclaimer, for all the people that are going to come out of the woodwork: My daughter is living with us again, at 21, and we provide food and clothes for her. We didn't leave her in the street to starve, but being forced to move back in with your parents, no matter how much you love them, is NOT a real self-esteem booster.

[Oregone]

12. It necessary and just

So long as its a single-payer system. Yes, otherwise, its tantamount to slavery