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I thought the problem was the out-of-control inflation in health care costs....

But isn't the real problem that our government, rather than limiting itself to those specific tasks set for it (which are hard enough that government isn't doing them adequately), has set itself to solving all of the people's problems?

If congress holds hearings, we can hear from participants in the current system how this proposal would effect plans. I doubt companies would drop their plans, they would probably cut them down to size, or at least offer plans that were cut down to size. Then the workers could decide for themselves if they want a cadillac or a ford plan, and if they want a better plan than 90% of the country, they wouldn't get tax incentives for that last few thousand.

That allows the government to provide the same tax deduction to those who choose their OWN health care plans as is currently given only to people who choose government-favored employer plans.

I've been saying for YEARS that the solution is to forbid companies to offer health care plans, or at least to tax it as ordinary income, and then provide the tax deductions to individuals, but only to a limit . That gives people the incentive to look for the most cost-effective insurance provider, gives the insurance companies a direct stake in pleasing the people who are USING the insurance (right now, employer plans primarily are focused on pleasing the company).

Sure, it's a paradigm shift, and could be painful in the short run, but in the long run we will be better off if every individual picks their own health plan the same way they pick their own car insurance and homeowners insurance, or for that matter their own cars, houses, and TVs.

When government says "We'll give you other people's tax money if you spend it the way WE want", that is government control and socialism. We'd be better with a flat tax and virtually no deductions. Let people spend money based on their own perceived value, without government skewing the valuation using my tax dollars.

Alright I'll try this again.

If we had REAL WELFARE REFORM, healthcare, among other things could be affordable for ALL. How is this possible. Simple trickle down economics.
I'll illustrate using Ohio as an example. The business climate in this state SUCKS, for lack of a better word. Why? Because the taxing rates in this state are ridiculously HIGH. The reason for that is because we're taking care of too many people who get paid NOT TO WORK, along with a workers' comp system that's a joke, putting more able-bodied people off the payrolls.......everyone knows what I mean!!!!!!
And I don't even mention in this argument those who mentally or physicially cannot sustain themselves. Those we take care of, simple as that!!!

OK. You force people to work for a living. Companies looking to house new or existing business take notice and set up shop in our great state. Employees find said jobs, become taxpayers. Local, state and federal tax revenues go way up, while spending goes way down because you've eliminated the welfare benefit(for the most part).
Now companies have lots of new employees who need health insurance. Health insurance companies recognize this and must attract new clients. How? By climbing over one another offering better plans, lower premiums and services. Again, with fewer people not having access to healthcare, hospitals aren't absorbing as many people that can't pay their bill, leading to seemingly LOWER PRICES and better services.

So now we have tax revenues up, spending down more people with health coverage who NEVER had it before. Now premiums fall for everyone. I'd be willing to bet the policy I have with my sister(she's 51, I'm 41 in a couple of months)wouldn't be over $800/month, but somewhere in the $500/month range with better co-pays and deductibles to boot.

Oh, one last advantage of all of this. Instead of 28-33% tax rates, how about 15% flat rate????? Remember all the new taxpayers on the payroll. And property taxes wouldn't have to be raised every time a school levy is put to vote, as it's done in this state!!!
More local and state taxes to take care of this too!!!!!!!

I think this makes much sense!!!!!
Don't you???????