Comments on: Sometimes it’s cheaper to just pay the fine

By: dave

dave — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:20:39 +0000

If it could “pay for itself”, private companies would have lined up to attract the same clients years ago.

Sure… you are probably right, as soon as you can point out those non-profit insurance companies out there.

The public option will be designed so that premiums cover the cost of the insurance. That is actually why some (the CBO, for example) have said that the public option will actually be more expensive than some private plans.

And this week’s election results will have nothing to do with whether health care reform passes or not.

By: harmonicminer

harmonicminer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:23:02 +0000

Dave, you don’t really believe that, do you? Of COURSE it is subsidized. If it could “pay for itself”, private companies would have lined up to attract the same clients years ago.

I’m glad for one thing: it looks more and more like the whole thing is going to crash and burn, especially after the recent election gave lawmakers a serious hint about the futures of those in tenuous districts who vote for Obama/Reid/Pelosi-care. So that means I won’t have an opportunity to say “I told you so” in 10-20 years….. but I can live with that.

By: dave

dave — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:16:33 +0000

Yes, I read the opinion piece.

And the “subsidized government healthcare” a) doesn’t exist in any of the different legislations, and b) what I assume that you are referring to (the public option) will not actually be subsidized. It actually will pay for itself with the premiums that people pay to receive it.

Now… the feds will also subsidize health insurance for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. But that is separate and distinct from the public option.

By: harmonicminer

harmonicminer — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:38:21 +0000

Dave, I wrote poorly… sorry. What I mean is the subsidized government healthcare that costs less than it’s worth, because it’s tax payer funded. And then there’s the other, bigger problem… young people who will just pay the fine and take their chances until something major turns up, then force an insurance company to take them on when their likely costs will be very high, since the “previous condition exclusion” will then be illegal, and companies will have to take on pretty much whoever applies.

Did you read the article I linked? It’s all described there.

By: dave

dave — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:46:14 +0000

a lot of young people are going to simply pay for the fine for not being covered and then use the free government health care

What free government health care?