Health-care ‘choice’

Can those who are in favor of President Obama’s plan to take over the national health-care industry please refrain from using the argument that “If you like your current insurance, you get to keep it?” This statement has no basis in reality.

Once health insurance is available to all through the government, do you really think Wal-Mart will offer health insurance benefits to its lowly cashiers? Why would they? It would be a very poor business decision for them and every other company. Likewise, the labor unions (like the one to which I belong) have already decided to quit negotiating health-care benefits if national health care goes through.

The only people who will be left with this “choice” we keep hearing about will be the CEOs and upper crust. Maybe that’s the group with whom Obama is trying to curry favor.

John Theisman
Gardner

Comments

[JUNGLEJACK]

We need MORE free market principles attached to the health care system - not less.

The government's wholesale takeover of the system will remove choice because it will no longer be logical to offer it. Plus - the exponential increases in cost due to government intervention will make insurance too expensive for most citizens.

The system isn't perfect now - and frankly the insurance system is largely to blame - but Obama is offering a "frying pan into the fire" solution.

[preservation hall]

What you just said is a complete negation of free market principles. Why do you hate capitalism?

[JUNGLEJACK]

"If the "DMV health insurance" turns out to be as bad as you expect, then why wouldn't companies offer good plans to attract talented employees?"

Eventually we as a nation will get used to the second class coverage and treatment we receive. We've gotten used to crappy public schools and endless welfare programs, not to mention stimulus plans that don't stimulate anything but unemployment.

Soon, health care will be the latest issue that we will turn an apathetic ear toward. We will assume that since the government is involved it's either getting done as well as can be expected, or it is too complex to change.

... but you're right - the CEOs will probably be offered private physicians as a benefit.

[JUNGLEJACK]

"John really should get informed before he writes such ignorant letters."

... well, John probably wrote and sent his letter before July first - which is the date of the story to which you link. Said story admits that Wal-Mart may be making some concessions "After years of strenuous opposition..."

This by no means is an ironlock guarantee that all who are currently covered will have a choice to keep their insurance - it merely states that large corporations may be required to contribute toward their employees health benefit - likely by paying more taxes.
Paying more taxes is likely to be far cheaper than continuing to provide health insurance.

BTW - one of the reasons that the Teamsters gave for supporting Obama was so that national health care would be enacted - why would they care? Their members all have coverage - but they're tired of earning their dues by negotiating this benefit, and will discontinue that practice asap.

[Jim]

"Once health insurance is available to all through the government, do you really think Wal-Mart will offer health insurance benefits to its lowly cashiers?"

WalMart joined Obama and SEIU in supporting a health insurance mandate for employers. John really should get informed before he writes such ignorant letters.

How's that for "logic" Prof. IggyT??

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-na-walmart-healthcare1-2009jul01,0,5327013.story

[preservation hall]

If the "DMV health insurance" turns out to be as bad as you expect, then why wouldn't companies offer good plans to attract talented employees?

[Kee]

Dammit John don't speak logically to folks like gg (gone goofy?) it just pisses them off.....They want that DMV health insurance don't you know...

[ggbridge]

Ummm, Walmart doesn't have a great track record of offering it's lowly cashiers health insurance. Walmart keeps the majority of those folks as half time or less employees, therefore getting out of any requirement to provide benefits. Hence the need for a government-provided insurance option. Especially for the working poor whom Walmart employees tend to be. Grim...