[Alberta's Child]

He makes some legitimate points, but it seems that both sides of the political aisle overlook a very important consideration when the subject of the U.S. health care system is discussed.

There is absolutely no reason to discuss "free-market solutions" in the context of almost any insurance coverage. ObamaCare only magnifies a problem that already exists in the U.S. and isn't going to get any better no matter how hard we try to convince ourselves otherwise. The REAL problem with our health care system is that it is built on third-party payment as the norm -- regardless of whether that third party is a government or a private company.

All of the basic principles of economics get thrown out the window once you eliminate the direct relationship between the buyer (the patient) and the seller (the medical professional). Once you have a third party involved, the buyer no longer considers pricing and quality together, and the seller no longer worries about quality because payments are made under a rate schedule that has nothing to do with quality.

[MV=PY]

Is that you, Milton? ;)

[El Gato]

The REAL problem with our health care system is that it is built on third-party payment as the norm -- regardless of whether that third party is a government or a private company.

Third party is an issue, but at least with a private employer, they have choice in what sort of plan, or plans to offer, and work to get the lowest cost plan that will still meet the needs of their employees, present or future. A medical savings account, an expanded Flex plan sort of thing would probably be better, I'd agree, but still private employers paying all or part is still better than the government doing it. In the end, you can leave your employer, you can't leave the government.