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TOPIC: "Who Doesn't Want Health Insurance?" (Cohn, TNR 10/20/10)


Diamond

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"Who Doesn't Want Health Insurance?" (Cohn, TNR 10/20/10)
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Good article here.

Full article @ TNR Blog

Who Doesn't Want Health Insurance?

The individual mandate continues to be health care reform's most controversial element, both in the courts and on the campaign trail. And many of the mandate's critics see this as a matter of principle. Requiring people to carry health insurance, they say, compromises individual freedom. I don't agree with that argument, but I understand it.

What I don't understand is why the requirement scares people without such strong libertarian instincts.

[SNIP]


There are obviously some people who don't have health insurance and, furthermore, don't want to have health insurance. They'd rather take their chances and pay out of pocket. But I think that's an awfully small group of people and, quite honestly, I don't think they have the right to make that choice--unless they feel like relinquishing their right, under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), to stabilizing or life-saving care in case of an emergency. This is the essence of the constitutional case for the mandate.

It's true that the Affordable Care Act does more than require people to get insurance. It sets minimum standards for what that insurance covers and requires community rating, under which insurers can't vary premiums based on an individual's propensity to get sick. This means that some people--mostly young, healthy men with cheap, bare-bones policies--may have to pay more to keep their benefits than they would otherwise pay. But plenty of these people are older and/or sicker, which means they should benefit from the new regulations. And that's not to mention the fact that, between subsidies and reforms designed to reduce the cost of care, many of these people will end up paying less for their insurance anyway.

Full article @ TNR Blog

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First time that I see a succinct article of this type with a reaonable rationale on the foundations on which the mandate can stand.  Interesting. Got to check Jonathan Cohn's more recent articles as well.


-- Edited by Sanders on Thursday 21st of October 2010 02:53:30 AM

-- Edited by Sanders on Thursday 21st of October 2010 03:12:12 AM

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Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010

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SuperModerator

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Sure, I want health insurance. But I also want to eat. I want to keep my car. I want to pay my bills. With the $$ these insurance companies are charging for premiums, I can't afford to pay for anything else. And I STILL can't afford to get sick.

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Diamond

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Yes, Jen, I agree.

Just yesterday (Wednes), I went to the doctors' and waited for over an hour after I checked in.  It got so late that it got very close to school bus time... and if you know me... I will NEVER put ANYTHING ahead of my kid.  I left the doctor's office and said, so, I suffer a few more days.. let me just take OTC meds and suffer and save that copay. 

I am looking for any news today on that meet up in Florida on the Insurance constant of 85%/80% MLR.  I have big hopes for that to reign in the insurance costs in the long run.

-- Edited by Sanders on Thursday 21st of October 2010 11:56:12 PM

__________________
Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010
Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010

Madam Secretary Blog at ForeignPolicy.com
Project Vote Smart - Stay informed and engaged!
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