[OHelix]

Health-care officials, meanwhile, representing insurers, hospitals, doctors, county health services, academics and think-tank groups said California's, and the nation's, health-care system was broken and costs are spiraling out of control ---- in part because too many people don't have health insurance.

How can too many people NOT HAVING insurance drive costs up? Too many people not having insurance would drive costs DOWN!

Medical costs are spiraling BECAUSE of medical insurance, not for lack of it. Back when people had to pay out of their own pockets, the costs were more reasonable. But now that it's the "insurance company" that pays, not the patient, why not charge $100,000 for an operation? Or $1,000 a night stay in the hospital? Or $100 a pill?

People would not tolerate such high prices without the dynamic of people thinking that "who cares if it's so expensive, the insurance company will pay for it."

I understand there are some arguable benefits from overpricing in terms of better health care. But mandating health insurance will NOT lower medical costs... It will RAISE them. And insurance rates will subsequently increase, as well.

[chris1]

I am 29 and have not had health insurance for about 8 years. My total medical costs have been about $1,500 max! The rest of the money has been put into the bank. Do the math.