Exactly. My concern (and all free people’s concern) is that the Gubmint has no hope of reducing health care costs on the supply side.
It appears that they are reaching for straws and trying to reduce health care demand by cajoling, coercing, nagging people to take better care of themselves through increasingly draconian measures.
Polls show that voters favor plans that encourage “wellness”.
Polls also show strong opposition to plans which increase taxes, reduce choice and access to care, etc.; basically, any real restraint on supply or increase in gov. funding.
This is why nearly all “reform” initiates in MA, and proposed elsewhere, skip the cost containment aspect and focus ONLY on “mandating” coverage and access.
The existing safety net is a hodge-podge of state and federal programs, and is VERY poorly communicated and administered by the government. It is a direct reflection of the (mostly liberal) political interest groups that created it. Smart reform is possible, but government will need to go the industry and distributors, instead of insisting on micro managing every part of healthcare through programs and NGO's.