Did you ever wonder how we got from a national concern about the cost of health care to a political punishment of an important American institution? And have you wondered how a series of taxes on providers of medical appliances will actually reduce the cost of health care?
I think that a number of us in the same room with a bag of burgers could solve this issue. Stop and think for a moment; this is really a mathematical issue. Setting all of the political bull s**t aside this should be doable if we take it a step at a time.
What are the overall cost components? bandages, tape, and on and on. Doing this would take a long and concerted effort that our federal legislators are incapable of doing in the three-ring circus in which they perform.
I would also like to weigh in on what I think are red herrings in the national debate.
1) Buying insurance across state lines - first, if any of you are getting your insurance through an employer with locations in several states who has purchased coverages from an out of state insurer. You just can't cross more state lines than this! It's being done and no one is going to jail because of it.
2) Insurance rates are developed on regional costs so someone in Wisconsin where a semi-private room charge is $400. vs. $800 in New York City. This concept has a lot to do with premiums in different parts of the country. If you were an insurer would you be willing to sell a Wisconsin policy to a New Yorker?
3) A number of states have mandated that any policy issued in their jurisdiction must include certain provisions and/or coverages. This would also have a bearing on the premium charges.
4)Executive compensation is a huge canard. If you compare the compensation numbers to total sales you will soon recognize the fallacy of this argument.
5)In order to maintain the financial strength required by each state in which they do business the premiums must keep pace with the claims demands they must meet.
6) Cherry picking is a political convenience. Risk selection is critical in meeting state financial requirements.
Sorry for the length of this but there is so much misunderstanding generated by our illustrious politicians.