Thank you for your thorough and well thought out reply. While I did not actually have a “life and death” issue at the emergency room (impaled my foot with a random piece of wood at 10 pm), it cost me 1500 dollars..which I finally paid off in bits and pieces because I was in that in between place where I did not qualify for any of their programs.. I’m not frankly sure if it was actually worth 1500 dollars for the miniscule amount of work they did, especially since they seemed to think the whole thing was rather hilarious and showed me off to their co-workers like some kind of circus freak. My issue here is, I feel like the health care industry has us over a barrel, since they know there are times when we all will need them, and we can’t get along without them.
That is why I like Health Savings Accounts or Catastrophic Injury Insurance plans. The problem with insurance plans is that the government has done everything they can to FORCE insurance companies into businesses which they do not wish to participate: mental health, chiropractic care, etc...
Imagine if all car dealers were told that they HAD to have a service department! Many dealers have contracts with local shops to provide these types of services, but instead they are told they MUST provide those services. More importantly, they would be required to have licensed, trained mechanics for each and every part of the car. The dealer’s prices would go UP to pay for a department that may or may not make money. Have you ever noticed that those dealers have higher sticker prices than dealers that do not have service departments? Obviously, some people like to have a full service dealer and those people shop there, but others would prefer to pay a lower price for their car and take the chance of finding a good dealer later.
Anyway, catastrophic insurance is like hurricane insurance: your home (you) gets repaired (medical treatment) only if a hurricane (specific illnesses or cost triggers) strikes! All other repairs, fixes and regular up keep is at your own cost!
The HSA’a are even better, because it would allow consumers to shop around and find a better price. I will give you an example: lasik eye surgery. For the longest, lasik surgery was expensive and not covered by insurance. Now, the cost has dropped dramatically and you can choose from several different providers and insurance even covers some procedures. You don’t like the price at Key-Whitman, you can go over to Tylock.
I am sorry for taking such a long trip to my point of view, but I needed to let people understand my view on this subject. Let me start by saying that if you can help your fellow man, then you should do so. The morally correct thing to do is always help when you can and whoever you can. I give money to charity, I give money to the homeless and I have even paid for other peoples meals at restaurants. I had the money, I had the want in my heart and I did it.
But, it is NOT the job of the US Government (see US Constitution), to mandate morality. More importantly, I do not always HAVE the money to pay for other people’s meals. Government involvement means that no matter what, I have to pay for other people’s meals and I have to eat less or even worse, my kids have to eat less - all because it is the “right thing to do.” Last time I checked, taking from one person, even if you give it to another for a good cause, is still THEFT!