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Here are the 2 myths I continue to hear and completely disagree with:
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I have to agree with you. As America continues to debate on
Obama's healthcare plan other countries around the world are already
starting to provide medical insurance to all citizens. In the US 15% of
citizens lack healthcare coverage and internationally the drive for
healthcare for everyone is leaving the US behind. Mexico for example a
decade ago only covered less than half of its population and with
recently completing an eight year drive for universal coverage has
dramatically increased life saving treatments for diseases such as
leukemia and breast cancer. Sadly, today the US is among the richest
nations who is not providing healthcare coverage to all citizens.
More on this topic can be found in this article: Global push to guarantee health coverage leaves U.S. behind found at: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/may/12/nation/la-na-global-health-reform-20120512 |
The issue of "forcing someone" to purchase something needs to be in context. The
government is not mandating that everyone buy a product or service. It
is mandating something that it is very likely everyone will need. The
case for it here can be made mainly because healthcare is not a natural
market with conventional economic functions at play. For instance if a
person wants to purchase a computer that is $1000 and comes to find
out the price for that type of computer has risen to $3000 they are
likely to not purchase it anymore. The 300% increase would be enough for
the person to decide on another item.
Now suppose this is applied to a
scenario where a son or daughter needs a medical procedure. If the
family is ready to pay $1000 and the price is later changed to $3000 the
family will likely pay for the critical procedure. The family would pay
if it were $10,000 or more. The normal market forces do not apply to
health care. Situations like this occur too frequently and the bills
cripple the finances of unprotected families. These families are then
burdened by debts and unable to consume other goods in the market as
they would have been able to otherwise. When considering consumption is
the main economic driver for the US economy the affect of crippling
debt is exacerbated.
The truth is the US population already has a social medical welfare program, medicare. The mere fact that even examining taking this program away is politically detrimental goes to show how critical it is in out society. There is certainly room for improvements in terms of efficiencies and efficacy of its programs. That is where the focus should be and not whether people in a country of our means should be precluded from a right that many poorer countries do much better. Re: 2 myths of healthcare law Jun 26, 2012 8:27 PM |
I agree...it's amazing that this is even a debate in our country. It
saddens me because it's become so politicized that the true focus,
ensuring that everyone who needs it has access to affordable healthcare, has been lost. But if the choice is pay or perish, you hit the nail on the head - we will pay, no matter the costs. And the individuals and corporations that profit from allowing the cost of healthcare and insurance to rise unchecked, can't seem to see past the dollars.
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