Comments on: Not All States Have A Guaranteed Issue Option

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:29:05 +0000

If you do not have health insurance, with or without the mandate, impose a tax equal to 3% of gross income. Or make it 5%. Something other than a $750 fine as proposed in the Senate bill.

Face it, $750 is a joke.

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:34:16 +0000

Thanks for the reply Bob. You said “And I disagree with mandated health insurance, but those who choose not to participate should not be able to do so with impunity.”

If you wouldn’t mind giving me a “For example…”

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:53:30 +0000

Jay, those that want a guaranteed issue option either aren’t aware of the cost, or simply don’t care . . . especially if the taxpayer is picking up the tab.

Actually the car analogy falls apart. They are only required to buy liability coverage if they are going to drive on the streets.

And I disagree with mandated health insurance, but those who choose not to participate should not be able to do so with impunity.

The proposed penalties for “failure to comply” in both the House and the Senate are a joke.

Those who currently abuse the system are subject to having assets seized to pay their bill. Many who voluntarily go without health insurance have little to lose, much like those who drive without auto insurance.

But there are plenty of people who can afford and can qualify for a medically underwritten health insurance plan that simply choose to opt out.

Other than stubbornness or stupidity (you decide) there are only two valid arguments for not purchasing health insurance.

They truly can’t afford it, and there are some, not many, but some who meet that criteria. But we also see reports of many who say they cannot afford health insurance, yet qualify for Medicaid, SCHIP or other programs but simply choose not to participate. Other than forcing them to sign up for Medicaid, SCHIP, etc there is not much you can do.

And there are those who cannot qualify medically for health insurance, but guess what? If you are disabled, qualify for SSDI, you can go on Medicare after 2 years. What is wrong with allowing folks to BUY IN to Medicare even if they do not meet the SSDI criteria or have not met the 2 year waiting period?

Between Medicaid, SCHIP, Medicare, HIPAA, risk pools, carriers of last resort, open enrollment and the existing GI plans, we have ways to cover everyone. Yet for some stupid reason the folks in DC feel a need to scrap what works for 85% of us that are insured in something other than an existing government program and create a whole new way of doing things.

Makes no sense.

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:12:03 +0000

Bob,
Well said, but I don’t think the horse and buggy analogy addresses the point. The people are overwhelmingly shouting for guarantee issue health care in some form. (And as Louise pointed out, there are currently some states where people don’t have that option). The only way to accomplish that is to accompany it with a mandate. Even without guarantee issue, should somebody making over $50,000/year be able to make the conscious decision that the rest of us will pay their medical bills if something catastrophic happens?
Your car analogy… people who buy cars are required to have liability coverage so any large liabilities are covered by an insurance pool they helped to fund. But with health care, people that choose to not have health insurance will still get emergency health care if something catastrophic happens to them. How do you suggest we solve that situation? I only see two options:
1) Require them to sign a contract that if something happens to them, they will not ask for handouts or receive care that they cannot cover with their current assets. Of course what if they get hit by a bus in public? How are we to know they had already made the decision for nobody to call an ambulance? Wear a wristband? It gets pretty complicated.
2) Require everybody to have health insurance coverage.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:57:54 +0000

Thanks for the plug, Louise. For certain, the current system isn’t perfect, and people fall through the cracks all the time, but there are ways of addressing these situations without dismantling the entire system.

It’s like saying automobiles are dangerous. Thousands of people are injured or killed every year as a result of auto accidents. So the government, in their infinite wisdom decide to mandate that everyone drive a horse and buggy. Those who refuse are taxed. Those who cannot afford a horse and buggy will receive one from the government, courtesy of the taxpayer. Those who insist on keeping their cars will be severely taxed.