We don't need to have the government take over health care because if we
do, we will no longer be the leader in care advances. If we do, we will no
longer get the care we need when we need it. If we do, we will no longer have
the technology to properly care for our population. If we do, we will not have
the best and brightest looking to be doctors because the rewards will
disappear. If we do, we will be blamed for our problems and denied care because
of our lifestyle (look at the bill that is being written), instead of cared for
with empathy and understanding, without judgement. If we do, we will be forced
to pay for medical care that is contrary to our individual morals and beliefs.
If we do, we will sign over our FREEDOM! This is why I offer this temporary
pacht for the "hole".
It is not meant as a solution and it is not the most Libertarian idea. It
is not meant as a solution, but it can put a bandaid on the problem while we as
a nation demand a free market health system that competes not only in quality
and services, but in price. The mechanism is already in place for this
temporary idea, and while not perfect, would patch the hole in the insurance
coverage fallacy the government flies in our face every day. It would also
prove the numbers as being inflated by those who are calling for government run
health care or a single payer system.
As of today, offer Medicare to anyone who is uninsured in America who
WANTS insurance coverage. I am willing to bet that only a few miilion people
would take that offer, not 47 million. In the big scheme of Medicare's budget,
a few million more enrollees certainly would not overwhelm that already broken
program. Of course you must meet all the enrollment criteria of Medicare other
than age. You also can not drop any current coverage to opt for this coverage.
This would purely be for people who are currently not eligible for or covered
by any other insurance plan, either government or private. It would also expire
in two years and could not be reinstated. During that period, legislators at
both the state and federal level could look at ways to ease restrictions on the
health delivery industry to allow price competition. Open the health industries
books so consumers know what they are paying and allow them to shop around.
They should also look at easing restrictions on insurance to allow consumers to
shop in other states for insurance, ease coverage restrictions so consumers can
decide how much they want covered and over time phase out public insurance
(which fixes payments and inflates the cost of private coverage) and allow
charities and churches to provide for the needy and uninsured. Charities and
churches are accountable and can be prosecuted when they are wasteful or commit
fraud, the government is exempt.
While this is not the perfect solution, and it is not intended to be, it
would allow time to look at what can be done to bring down costs without
infringing on our freedom. We need to look at ways to provide humane and cost
efficient care while at the same time allowing choice and ingenuity.
