I read that the health care summit was good in that at least the republicans came prepared to actually debate and be part of the process rather than just shout propaganda and make irrational arguments AKA “death panels”.
Let’s have our own summit…
Point one, Right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Is access to health services without being buried under insurmountable debt a right? If you have a genetic condition that prevents you from getting health issurance should you be left to die, or burdened with millions of dollars of debt that you would never be able to repay?
Is afordable health care a right that everyone should have access to? If it is does out current system provide that right?
Point two, consumer protection. Does any feel that legislation is not needed to protect consumers from unethical practices by insurance companies, such as; raising the rates on sick and at risk people till they can no longer afford health insurance and default on their coverage. They can’t get insurance anywhere else because now they have a pre-existing condition. Or, denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, or for being at risk, such as; deny coverage to babies who are healthy but outside the average weight for their age. Fat baby & Skinny baby
Does anyone feel consumer protection is not needed? Why?
Point three, mandatory insurance. Making insurance mandatory means that consumer protection will not drive insurance companies out of business, because they will have a larger pool of customers, more customers should also drive the price of insurance down. Insuring everyone will drive down the cost of health care not just insurance, and get more people to take more preventive health measures, like seeing a doctor before they collapse. However mandatory health insurance is not like mandatory car insurance, sure it’s good for everyone who drives, but you can opt out of owning a car and getting car insurance. There would be no option to pass on health insurance.
Is mandatory insurance really needed or not? Why?
Point four, public option. If you are going to mandate healthcare, how would you guarantee that everyone can afford it? If you’re living near or below the poverty line you can’t afford the basic (rent, utilities, food) bills you have let alone another one. A government option would be able to subsidize the insurance for the poor as well as drive down costs for the entire industry.
If you mandate health insurance does that make a public option necessary? Why?
Point five, piece mail or all at once. Since each of the major sections of health care legislation is connected, can we afford to do health care reform a piece at a time? Can we do some reform just skip the rest?
Keep it civil.