The horizon is not so far as we can see, but as far as we can imagine

The moral case against a plan without a good public option

A friend asked for the case against a plan with no public option, a mandate, and regulations.

I assume he means a plan where companies may not rescind policies and they must accept everyone no matter what the pre-existing conditions they have.  No effective cost controls are put in place, subsidies exist, but cut out at a relatively low level 3* poverty level or less.  Without effective cost controls, costs will be expected to rise faster than inflation or wages.  Assume premiums of about 10K/year, with a deductible of about 5K.

Here’s the case, put as simply as possible.

Forcing people to pay money they don’t have for high deductible insurance they can’t afford to use is not moral.

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6 Comments

  1. “Forcing people to pay money they don’t have for high deductible insurance they can’t afford to use is not moral.”

    It’s also politically suicidal. I hope the Democrats can figure this out.

  2. S Brennan

    “It’s also politically suicidal. I hope the Democrats can figure this out.”

    Apparently, the administration has, important features don’t kick in until 2013

  3. jacksmith

    NO CO-OP’S! A Little History Lesson

    Young People. America needs your help.

    More than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone.

    Our last great economic catastrophe was called the Great Depression. Then as now it was caused by a reckless, and corrupt Republican administration and republican congress. FDR a Democrat, was then elected to save the nation and the American people from the unbridled GREED and profiteering, of the unregulated predatory self-interest of the banking industry and Wallstreet. Just like now.

    FDR proposed a Government-run health insurance plan to go with Social Security. To assure all Americans high quality, easily accessible, affordable, National Healthcare security. Regardless of where you lived, worked, or your ability to pay. But the AMA riled against it. Using all manor of scare tactics, like Calling it SOCIALIZED MEDICINE!! :-0

    So FDR established thousands of co-op’s around the country in rural America. And all of them failed. The biggest of these co-op organizations would become the grandfather of the predatory monster that all of you know today as the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry. And the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry.

    This former co-op would grow so powerful that it would corrupt every aspect of healthcare delivery in America. Even corrupting the Government of the United States.

    This former co-op’s name is BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD.

    Do you see now why even the suggestion of co-op’s is ridiculous. It makes me so ANGRY! Co-op’s are not a substitute for a government-run public option.

    They are trying to pull the wool over our eye’s again. Senators, if you don’t have the votes now, GET THEM! Or turn them over to us. WE WILL! DEAL WITH THEM. Why do you think we gave your party Control of the House, Control of the Senate, Control of the Whitehouse. The only option on the table that has any chance of fixing our healthcare crisis is a STRONG GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION.

    An insurance mandate and subsidies without a strong government-run public option choice available on day one, would be worse than the healthcare catastrophe we have now. The insurance, and healthcare industry have been very successful at exploiting the good hearts of the American people. But Congress and the president must not let that happen this time. House Progressives and members of the Tri-caucus must continue to hold firm on their demand for a strong Government-run public option.

    A healthcare reform bill with mandates and subsidies but without a STRONG government-run public option choice on day one, would be much worse than NO healthcare reform at all. So you must be strong and KILL IT! if you have too. And let the chips fall where they may. You can do insurance reform without mandates, subsidies, or taxpayer expense.

    Actually, no tax payer funds should be use to subsidize any private for profit insurance plans. So, NO TAX PAYER SUBSIDIZES TO PRIVATE FOR PROFIT PLANS. Tax payer funds should only be used to subsidize the public plans. Healthcare reform should be 100% for the American people. Not another taxpayer bailout of the private for profit insurance industry, disguised as healthcare reform for the people.

    God Bless You

    Jacksmith — Working Class

    Twitter search #welovetheNHS #NHS Check it out

    (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)

    Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)

    (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbWw23XwO5o) CYBER WARRIORS!! – TAKE THIS VIRAL

  4. You can get a mortgage for a house that costs $10k a year. Who in his right mind who isn’t a congressman or an insurance company employee thinks this is a good idea?

  5. Apparently, the administration has, important features don’t kick in until 2013

    Which means that either they pass something good and a Democrat succeeds Obama or else we might as well dissolve the Democratic party.

  6. Apparently, the administration has, important features don’t kick in until 2013

    Which means that either they pass something good and a Democrat succeeds Obama or else we might as well dissolve the Democratic party.
    BTW I love your blog!

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