He states that the Democrats will push a big reform bill that ostensibly deals with the 47 million uninsured Americans and that contains the following features:
Everyone must have health insurance, in the same way that most states mandate that all drivers have car insurance.
Private companies can write policies for people in this government pool, but they will have to meet numerous government mandates on what their policies must provide, as well as restrictions on what they can charge for premiums. In fact, the Obama Administration may mandate so-called community rating, in which everyone, regardless of age or condition, pays the same price for insurance. To mollify private insurers the feds will offer reinsurance above certain levels of liability.
At first, I balked at this plan (and it is not certain, of course, that this is the direction the Obama administration will take), but then I thought about it. Guess who pays for this mandated health care? Younger and/or healthier people.
That ain't me. The plan won't work unless the young and healthy subsidize those of us who have health problems and are older. With a heart attack, an ICD and in my forties, I'm going to be sitting pretty. I am already in the system. And now the younger, healthier people will be forced to contribute to pay for my battery changes, heart check-ups and other medical problems. Sounds good to me.
And it's not like the young liberal types are opposed to the idea of expanded health care. After all, those who are young activists are on Facebook and other sites clamoring for forced government health care. In addition, 68% of 18-24 year-olds voted for Obama as did 69% of the 25-29 year-olds (sorry to the 31-32% who did not--I sure don't want you subsidizing me). What these liberals don't realize is, they will most likely be the ones paying my way--but oh, well. As the saying goes, "Be careful what you wish for, you may receive it."