Schwarzenegger: Everyone must have health insurance

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 8 January 2007 | Steven Harmon

[P-Marlowe]

It's something alright. Maybe Arnold could also put billboards up on our southern border saying "Come and get it!"

I think that sign is already up. It is up in every state in the Union.

[Chili Girl]

A simple answer would be NO. Arnie needs to practice saying it.

[GSWarrior]

That's what I'm talkin' about!

[right-wingin_It]

While I think it's un-American to force people to have health insurance. Economically speaking, the simple requirement on private companies to offer insurance to anyone (like how it's done for auto insurance) would on the whole contribute to somewhat lower premiums, and by extension medical costs.

However, I think the two biggest problems in health care are 1) Fraud, and 2) The United States is the medical R&D engine for the entire world. That is, we spend an enormous ammount of money in medical R&D (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, surgical procedures etc.), whereas the rest of the world beneifits from our knowledge, and then kicks their feet up and only has to focus on "health care delivery".

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Conservatives warned Arnold was NOT a conservative. Those warnings were shouted down on this site by movie-star worshippers.

It didn't matter then.

Does it matter now?

[sergeantdave]

What will be the consequences for not having insurance?

Your property - bank account, 401k, home, business - will be seized.

Fascism is at a very advanced stage in California. Your property belongs to the state in order to advance the Marxist common good, as defined by the state.

In 1939 a book was published titled "The Vampire Economy," relating all the problems businesses had dealing with the German socialist state. What you hear today are the same opinions that were voiced in 1939.

[spectre]

""More than 60 emergency rooms have closed over the past decade because they didn't want to keep treating people without insurance."

How about they closed because they couldn't AFFORD to treat people for free..At least be honest, Arnold.

sw

[right-wingin_It]

Of course, I'm not saying that the state has to be involved in any way. I'm just talking about the economic concept of a simple requirement for people to have insurace (through private companies)...And ideally, to remove it from the employer-based systems. (The cost that the employer normally puts in could be put back into the employye's salary) This will allow people to freely network..and most importantly, the health insurance market will expand. I don't know what the percentage of uninsured is...but if its like 30-40%, the industry has been ignoring half a huge part of the market.

What we have now are islands of people, separated, and paying through the nose. I'm not advocating to take anything away from anyone..I'm not advocating for the government to regulate it or be in the buisiness of supplying it...I'm just saying that theire are artifical barriers that makes the industry inefficient

But I still do have the problem with the government

requiring us to have insurance. If any american doesn't want to have health insurance, they shouldn't have to...(car insurance is different on that regard though..since you put others at risk).

[sappy]

Everyone must have water too. Why not give Universal Water to the entire state?

[Aikonaa]

If any american doesn't want to have health insurance, they shouldn't have to...

The problem is that those who don't want to have health insurance will still demand that they be treated in case of a catastrophic event. People without health insurance are essentially free-riders.

[TUAN_JIM]

Conservatives warned Arnold was NOT a conservative. Those warnings were shouted down on this site by movie-star worshippers. It didn't matter then. Does it matter now?

The same people who were posing "Rove you magnificent bastard" photos everywhere (until Nov 7th)

Harrier Miers for SCOTUS = "Rove you magnificent bastard"

No Child Left Behind = "Rove you magnificent bastard"

Medicare part D = "Rove you magnificent bastard"

Amnesty = "Rove you magnificent bastard"

[TUAN_JIM]

posing = posting

[right-wingin_It]

The problem is that those who don't want to have health insurance will still demand that they be treated in case of a catastrophic event. People without health insurance are essentially free-riders.

You got a point.

[Old Professer]

"Let me be clear about something,'' he said. ``There is no debate about whether to provide medical care for people who are in California illegally."

The governor's plan would also essentially cap the profits of insurance companies by requiring insurers to put at least 85 percent of their premium revenues into patient care rather than profit and administration. He said mandatory insurance would benefit insurers by adding as many as 5 million new customers (daily).

[Brad’s Gramma]

Can we have another recall???

[Delta 21]

It would have to be a very, very , very bad something wrong with me for me to move to California to try and make it better.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Wanna buy our house?

:)

[lowbridge]

Schwarzenegger insisted covering all Californians was the key to lowering the exploding costs of health care.

And the key to raising the exploding costs of government.

[lowbridge]

Everyone must have health insurance

Everyone must have groceries.

Everyone must have a house.

Everyone must have a six figure bank account.

[Brad’s Gramma]

I'd like a new (paid for, of course) SUV.

Thanks!