Skullsessions wrote on Thu, 30 July 2009 05:05 |
... why do you suppose the government would mandate an employer purchase health insurance for an employee?
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Every kind of insurance works in a simple fashion: the majority who don't get anything back pay for those that do. We seem to be forgetting this.
In today's system, employers are culturally expected to provide coverage for employees. This stems from WWII and the post-war period, when providing sickness insurance was actually cheaper to the employer than actual monetary compensation. Now, it's more expensive than money - things change, deal with it - but we're stuck with a system where employers provide group coverage, get a tax deduction for this, the coverage doesn't stay with the employee if he or she leaves, the coverage gets expensive for all if one employee gets sick, people die when insurance company bureucrats deny coverage or cancel policies, insurance companies exist to enrich their C-Level execs, board members, institutional investors, etc. leaving nothing for the sick who need the coverage, etc., etc., etc.
I agree, employers shouldn't bear the burdon. The majority of us are employed by small employers, and healthcare costs are rising astronomically. The insurance companies provide no added value to the employer or the insured, they just add to the cost. Employers these days are having to choose between keeping the doors open, keeping people employed, or keeping employees insured.
And, no, malpractice insurance does not significantly raise costs - this is simply hysteria, do your own research.
But, an insurance plan can only work if the maximum number of peopole are covered. There is a linear relationship - as more people pay in, care and better care can be given to all. The car insurance mandates are actually a good example - auto insurance rates are down, across the board more than 40% since the introduction in the '50s of mandatory auto insurance (and yes, most of us pay for a few knucklheads and uninsured there). If employers are mandated to provide coverage, more people means lower rates.
The only plan that can really work to lower rates and improve service is single payer. Since that doesn't appear to be on the horizon, and the market isn't going to make this happen, the public opetion with strict regulation, portability, no-cut clauses, high public participation, etc. might work.
Doing nothing doesn't, and can't, work.