Insurance co-ops won’t do much good

Sadly for millions of Americans, the possibility of a public health insurance option is evaporating. In the space of a few weeks, the dialogue about access to health care has degenerated to a screaming match, pitting older Americans against younger, and the insured against the uninsured. We’ll settle for “insurance cooperatives” that will do little to stem the abuses of a private insurance market.

My suggestion is this: Those who oppose government participation in health care should sign a waiver opting out of Medicare, Medicaid, Tri-Care, SCHIP and VA benefits. They should also, if they sincerely believe that government is evil, decline the benefits that flow from the research and education efforts of the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state public health departments.

Gail Rodriguez
Lenexa

Comments

[JUNGLEJACK]

I want to opt out of everything except defense, road upkeep and law enforcement. I think SS and medicare will be broke before I can get any return on that investment anyway. Plus, if I'm not paying for any of the entitlement programs, my tax rate should be much lower no matter how much my income goes up.

[GCYL]

“One more time socialist, your EARN the right to V.A. Hospitals because of a contractual obligation called military service.” – GCYL

“You call Gail "socialist" as an insult…” – JoCo

Please read my statement again. I find it insulting that socialist like Gail could ever classify access to a V.A. Hospital as a socialistic program I should just drop. I may never use the V.A. Hospital or access a V.A. loan but I EARNED those rights by willingly putting on a military uniform. Unlike real socialistic programs currently being ran at gun point, I volunteered and EARNED these contractual agreements at the time of my honorable discharge.

I’m getting tired of the non sense called all inclusive definition of socialism.

[GCYL]

“Is SS a similar case,in that we were forced to pay in so, in theory, Sam must pay out?” - JoCo

Outside of the program finally going bankrupt what makes you think they don’t have to pay out?

“Of course, yesterday I was reminded that SS covers me and my children ( or their mother) for life and thereafter and is not a retirement investment.”

First, I would check into that SS benefits after you die thing. Life time check for your child or until he/she turns 18? You’re wife getting the exact same amount that you would have received or less? Second, my 401k will pay out all the funds, the same amount I would have received, according to my beneficiary list. Both are retirement programs and the fact that they’re now paying out to a beneficiary doesn’t change that fact.

“So no opting out there with payback, interest, etc. If one WERE able to opt out of SS, they'd just quit paying the premiums, right? Same with the Medical SS?”

So? If I refused (opted out) getting a life insurance policy then no premiums for them either. You can always opt out but why would you assume I’d opted out without adequately providing for my family? It's a liberal assumption used to justify mandatory participation.

[JoCo]

Hey GCYL,

If you opt out of a program, your payroll deduction ends and you have MORE taxable income. Are you saying then, that your personal tax rate should fall to compensate for the increase in disposable income? Or are you advocating double untaxation? Such details would be tedious in Washington with all the interests there, but shouldn't be murderous of good change.

And I must say, that last sentence could just as well apply to health care solutions, whose form and direction could be culled from the best and most widely accepted.

[JoCo]

GCYL,

Is SS a similar case,in that we were forced to pay in so, in theory, Sam must pay out? This is far from settled in my own mind and I'm on the drawing side of SS now. Of course, yesterday I was reminded that SS covers me and my children ( or their mother) for life and thereafter and is not a retirement investment. So no opting out there with payback, interest, etc. If one WERE able to opt out of SS, they'd just quit paying the premiums, right? Same with the Medical SS?

You call Gail "socialist" as an insult, but really those programs ARE the epitome of democratic socialism in that any change will affect nearly everyone. So far I'm glad to have that secure income, that I've been forced to pay since 13, as a complement to other more vulnerable funds I've invested. If I'd had the money myself all those years, I'd have blown it young(er) and invested in money or EEs old(er) anyway.

Having said all that, I'm still in support of more choice for individuals in this area of federal revenue and fiscal policy. That path could be smooth as silk or more chaotic agendizing and loss of unity and/or independence.

[Kee]

" And all of God's children said Amen" GCYL.

[GCYL]

One more time socialist, your EARN the right to V.A. Hospitals because of a contractual obligation called military service. So Gail, using your logic please give back all profit and earned services your acquired through contractual obligations made inside the free market.

Not once did Gail mentioned anything about paying back the mandatory payments made into these various government programs. With interest. When she makes them optional. Pointing out the obvious will once again make ME the bad guy in Jimmy’s eyes. To bad. The word mandatory works both ways. We had to pay in and now our government (in theory) must pay out.

Gail talks a big game so lets to it. Make these various programs optional. Those opting out get their funds back, with interest. Since funding for a lot of these programs are through taxes I would assume that my personal tax rate would also be reduced based on the number of programs I’ve chosen to opt out of. I can live with taht. Gail can't.