Unfortunately most of the protesters that don’t want the government to interfere with their health plans don’t understand the way American health care works right now. The government is already deeply involved, even in private insurance. Government involvement is the only reason our system works at all.
Private insurers deny as many claims as they possibly can, and they also try to avoid covering people who are likely to get sick or need care. Their efforts to avoid paying medical bills or medical losses, the industry code language for paying out claims. Insurers spend much of the money taken in through premiums not on medical treatment, but on screening out people likely to make insurance claims.
Where people buy insurance directly rather than getting it through their employers, so much money goes into screening or underwriting and other expenses that only around 70 cents of each premium dollar actually goes to care. The only reason that the majority of people who have health insurance are reasonably satisfied with their insurance is government intervention.
The government already directly provides insurance via Medicare and Medicaid and although not perfect, surveys indicate that Medicare patients are generally much more satisfied with their coverage than Americans with private insurance.
Most Americans under 65 get insurance through their employers. The advantage of this method is that you and your employer get a tremendous tax advantage because the contributions are not considered taxable income. In order for your employer to get this tax break, they have to follow the rules that and they can’t discriminate based on pre-existing medical conditions or age. So for instance the only reason that I can get health insurance at my age of 58 with high blood pressure and a stint in an artery in my heart is because of government intervention.
Unregulated markets for health insurance don’t work and never have the only thing that keeps the majority of Americans insured is the government covers people over 65 and regulations and tax subsidies make it possible for many, but not all people under 65 to get decent and affordable private coverage.
So for all the disruptive protester at these town hall meetings, come up with a plan or give back your Medicare and Medicaid and try and get some private insurance that the government doesn’t regulate.
Peace, Liberty, and Prosperity through intelligence, strength, and integrity.
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