Pay up or get out: Gov reveals health plan

The Boston Herald ^ | Tuesday, June 21, 2005 | Brett Arends

[Panerai]

Gov. Mitt Romney doesn't just want to make health insurance universal. He wants to make it compulsory.

In an opinion piece published in today's Herald, the possible presidential contender pushes the ball way upfield in the healthcare debate by calling ``for a personal responsibility principle'' in health insurance.

``Everyone must either become insured or maintain an adequate savings account to cover their medical expenses,'' Romney writes.

The argument: that would cut out free-riders who use today's system without paying for it. ``We cannot expect some citizens to pay for others who can afford to pay some or all of their own way,'' he writes.

Romney argues assistance programs he is pushing would make insurance affordable by all.

But the governor's comments are almost certain to stir controversy as a major conference on healthcare begins today.

There are an estimated 532,000 residents in Massachusetts without health insurance, or just under 9 percent of the state's population. That is the fourth-lowest rate in the country.

Response from experts to the headline-grabbing move was decidedly mixed. ``He said what?'' remarked an astonished Michael Cannon, director of healthcare policy at the free-market Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. ``It sounds like he's running for the (liberal) wing of the Democratic Party.''

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Illegal aliens are guaranteed free health care by federal law.

Who's going to make them "pay up or get out?"

[SAJ]

In answer to your Q: Only an enraged citizenry, in alliance with Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson.

Sadly, I'm not holding my breath for that result.

[Antonello]

Just curious - does he plan to deport the uninsured to New Hampshire or New York?

[Spktyr]

Should this idea somehow become law, watch ALL the major employers leave MA.

"Hey, where'd all our tax dollars go?"

[Drammach]

So what's "new" here?

Forcing citizens to make compulsory payments to a private industry has already been done..

Ever heard of Auto Insurance?

Every state in the union forces it's citizens to have insurance (or a bond)...
Drive without it and pay a fine, maybe go to jail, probably lose your license..

So now the States ( or the Feds ) will force it's citizens to make even more payments to a private industry, the health insurance industry..

Think your insurance costs are high now?
Wait until that insurance is "required by law"...

[libertylover]

I'm all in favor of "a personal responsibility principle" in health-care as with any other thing, but a proposal without an enforcement plan is really no proposal at all.

[bobhoskins]

Think your insurance costs are high now? Wait until that insurance is "required by law"...

And it's especially worrisome in Massachusetts, which for "some strange reason" has extremely high auto insurance rates. I wonder if the health insurance industry will do with Massachusetts what the auto insurance industry has --- many of the major auto insurers don't even do business in Massachusetts ... despite the high rates. Too much government hassle.

[bobhoskins]

Think your insurance costs are high now? Wait until that insurance is "required by law"...

And it's especially worrisome in Massachusetts, which for "some strange reason" has extremely high auto insurance rates. I wonder if the health insurance industry will do with Massachusetts what the auto insurance industry has --- many of the major auto insurers don't even do business in Massachusetts ... despite the high rates. Too much government hassle.

[Kozak]

Illegal aliens are guaranteed free health care by federal law.

What are you talking about?

If you are referring to EMTALA, it covers ANYONE who presents to an ER, not just illegals. Lots of US citizens free ride on that provision as well, not just illegals.