Senate Plan Would Explode Number of Uninsured Americans

American Thinker ^ | 10-26-09 | Bryan Riley

[AT7Saluki]

If recent reports are accurate, legislation being prepared in the U.S. Senate would cause nearly every healthy American under the age of 65 to become uninsured.

Under current proposals, large employers would face a fine of up to $750 per employee if they didn’t offer health insurance. Since that is much less than employers currently spend on employee health insurance premiums, most businesses would choose to pay the fine and drop their group health insurance.

Individuals who did not buy health insurance would face an initial fine of between $0 and $100. Since the biggest fine is much lower than the cost of health insurance, the bill would create an incentive for individuals to drop their health insurance and pay the relatively small fine.

Finally, individuals would be guaranteed health coverage even if they had pre-existing conditions. Traditionally, smart consumers have purchased health insurance when they were healthy to make sure they’d have coverage when they got sick. The current Senate proposal reverses the incentives: smart consumers will drop their health insurance and only sign up after they get sick.

Either the people writing the legislation are too stupid to understand that their bill would essentially eliminate health insurance for Americans under age 65, or they are smart enough to know that the problems they’re creating would pave the way for a massive dose of government control in the near future.

[AT7Saluki]

Again, only 2 choices here ... 1)Either these people don't have any concept of Newton's 3rd law (reaction to action) or, 2)they intentionally come up with this crap to make indentured servants of us all. Which is better?

[Buckeye McFrog]

Quinn’s First Law alert (Liberalism always generates the exact opposite of it’s stated intent)

Actually not true in this case. The quickest route to single payer is to manufacture a crisis where 2/3 of the population suddenly loses their health insurance.

[RC2]

One thing they never address.....If I am paying (pick a number) a $1000 a month for insurance, how much would it be under the public option? It’s my understanding that it would cost more. Anyone have the answer?

[ClearCase_guy]

smart consumers will drop their health insurance and only sign up after they get sick.

That's my favorite part. Think of it like car insurance. BANG! Major accident -- then you make that phone call:

"Hello? Yeah, I just had an accident. I'm pretty sure my car is totalled. So I guess I'd like to buy an insurance policy so I can get some cash and replace this thing. Will you send the check out today or tomorrow? I'm kind of in a hurry."

[Kimberly GG]

“The quickest route to single payer is to manufacture a crisis...”

speaking of which...I don’t recall there being any talk of a health care “crisis” before Obama took office.

[KarlInOhio]

speaking of which...I don’t recall there being any talk of a health care “crisis” before Obama took office.

You weren't paying attention to Hillarycare then. People were dropping dead in the streets because they didn't have government insurance. Well, at least that's what the Dems said.

[VOA]

bump

[Sarajevo]

Individuals who did not buy health insurance would face an initial fine of between $0 and $100.

Uh.....isn't that extortion?