[freemarket_kenshepherd]

See more here: http://www.freemarketproject.org/news/2006/news20060405b.asp

[spikeytx86]

If they took out the employer mandate and penalties for not purchasing it would be an o.k. law. Though I do have to agree with newt in his book that those who do not buy insurance for libertarian reasons should have to post a bond or provide proof of adequate savings to cover an unexpected illness so that they don't stiff the tax payers by picking up there hospital bill.

[Gordongekko909]

I heard a story about Governor Romney. One day, he was sitting in his office with his window open when a stiff breeze blew a leaf through the window. It landed on his desk. He immediately grabbed his pen and signed it.

[L98Fiero]

The government should NOT have the power to force individuals to do business with certain private companies. I can understand car insurace since driving is a priviledge but mandatory health isurance? Sounds like someone got bought out by the insurance companies.

[kingu]

Incredibly stupid move on the part of the state, and a guarantee for increases in the cost of health care. I can negotiate my price with a doctor; I can't with an insurance company. Without free market pressures, prices always rise. There's no competition.

And if you handed every employee the amount of money that the companies are forced to spend, I'm sure they could figure out what to do with it.

[HangnJudge]

Those of us living in Tennessee have a subvarient of this called TennCare. It has been a severe money sink. People moved to Tennessee to be on the insurance, commercial carriers denied coverage to people with higher risks with impunity, and Physician behavior raised cost by unlimited prescribing and excessive use of procedures. I do not recommend interfering with the free market system. In addition, generally the use of "insurance" as an intermediary payer, has increased the cost of rendering care precipitously, greatly increasing the personnel cost of doctor's offices, drug stores, and hospitals. The only winners have been the proliferation of insurance carriers.

It may sound radical, but the system would be much better off returning to a cash business, with charity care being properly called what it is.