National Insurance (single Payer?)

I'm not against National Health Insurance.

As an experienced Health Insurance agent you would think I would hate it, but I don't.

Here's why:

1. America is all about freedom of choice.

An intelligent national plan will not eliminate choice. Think of Medicare. It's national, it's automatic (you get Medicare at age 65 whether you apply or not), but you can still choose which Medicare supplement you want if any. You can even stay employed and not take Medicare until you really retire.

2. Getting the uninsured people under some kind of coverage would save us all money.

People without insurance cost us all money. Think of the uninsured drivers (there are plenty) you hit drivers, causing accident or injury and who pays the cost? We do, in higher rates for those of us who buy.

3. Health Insurance today is not portable.

Move from state to state, go ahead, but don't plan on taking your Health Insurance with you. For one thing, the carrier you have may not offer coverage in your new state.

Leave your job, go ahead, but you have 18 to 36 months of COBRA, and then you had better be insurable, or you won't get coverage again unless you find a job with group coverage.

Now let me modify my approval a bit. I don't like Single Payer without competition. The ability to choose your own plan, or supplement to the National plan.

Here's why:

1. Rationing, see here...

If you have no choice, well, you have no choice. The videos at Freemarketcure.com do a good job of illustrating that nightmare.

2. Higher costs.

If you take away competition (choice) Health Care costs will escalate even faster.

Take a procedure that has dropped in cost for the last few years, Laser Eye Surgery. It isn't covered by most health plans, so people must pay out of pocket. The cost has dropped over 50%!!!

Why?

Competition, and consumer choice. You can select where you want to go to Laser your Eyeballs, and you can shop for value.

Summary:

So, here is a list of things that Obama, Hillary, McCain or whoever wins can do.

1. Make COBRA permanent.

If you can't work, but you can manage make your insurance payment, why should you lose the coverage?

It isn't fair, you joined the insurance pool, you paid your dues, you drew the short straw and got sick or injured, so now (under current law) you only get 18 to 36 months to get better or you lose the care?

Shame!

That is my personal number 1 peeve!

2. Make any National Plan open to competition from plans that offer equal or better benefits and let the shopper choose!

3. Get on with it! We know what you want to do, be bold, be balanced (especially with our budget!) and propose something, we are ready!