I heard Kerry say that part of his healthcare program would be to make the congressional healthcare package available to all Americans. Has anyone heard what that would cost? My wife & I just reduced our coverage, because the Blue Cross group plan that we had converted just rose to $947.00 per month excluding dental & optical. Just making the congressional insurance available does not make it affordable.
I just realized this. Supposing Kerry is elected and free health care is available to those 300% above the poverty level, here is my situation:
I am a recent graduate, 23 years old, working for a community bank that was built from one building into an organization of over 500 employees. They cover my health care completely with Blue Cross. The only thing I would ever have to pay would be premiums to cover my wife and kids. I'm not married and don't have kids so that doesn't apply. I make just over 30,000 a year. Measely in most places, but not bad for a first job in Mississippi. A pretty good job in fact. However, I would more than likely fit into the 300% above poverty.
Now, do you think my employer would pay my healthcare if the government would foot the bill? Heck no, I would be subject to what a government doctor told me. I would have no choice of doctor either. A good health care plan is part of my payment package! I earn a fairly decent salary, for where I live, and get great benefits. Kerry's plan would effectively reduce my wages! I would instantly become poorer because of his healthcare plan. Of course, I hope to be earning more later in life, but by then I will be out of the 300% and having to pay my own health care; REDUCING MY WAGES!
20% is already taken out of my paycheck. I am 23 year old who took out loans, went to college, got a masters, got a job. I did not bust my hump to have some one take what I have earned.
Sorry this was so long, but I guess I hit a boiling point. As you can tell from my last short paragraph, I am not a fan of government intervention. I actually managed to get an Economics degree from a public university and come out a free market/classical theory believer.