Perhaps making this mandatory isn't the right thing to do. Here's an idea: allow two opportunities to sign up for "reform coverage". Say, at 26 (when a person would be off their parents' coverage and maybe again around 40. The next time they'd be eligible for any sort of open coverage would be when they hit Medicare age (65, for most people). Anyone who declines to be included in "reform coverage" would be ineligible to reap any of the benefits of having such coverage, but they also wouldn't have to share the costs. But here's the kicker that I would include. One of the major problems in my area is the costs borne by ER's, because of uninsured people using the facilities as doctors' offices and not being able to pay. My local hospital is in serious (very serious) financial trouble right now. Well, once an opportunity is there for people to have insurance (or not have insurance), we change the law that requires ER's to treat people no matter what.
Here's how I see this working. A 28 year old declines to be covered under the reforms. He loses his job. If he'd signed up to be covered under the reforms, he'd be able to get coverage that wouldn't be based around pre-existing conditions, etc. But since he declined, he can get COBRA (if he can afford it) or he rolls the dice and goes without insurance until he finds another job. He has a car accident. He is taken to the ER. Before he can be admitted, he (or his family) have to show proof of insurance or the financial means to pay the bill. If they can't show either of those, they roll him back into the lobby and his family has an hour or two to remove him from the premises (you can't hang around a restaurant if you can't afford to eat there, can you?!). He either gets better on his own (at home)... or he dies. If he can limp along until he's 40, or find a company that'll hire a crushed up 28 year old and give him insurance, he'll probably be OK.
Otherwise... :dunno:
An opportunity to sign up at 26 and/or 40 seems fair enough to me. But I'm open to other suggestions. But my plan saves ER's from going under because of uncollectable debts and it doesn't force "socialism" on anyone. People who make wise decisions get care and live. People who don't make wise decisions (or can't see past their nose) don't get care and they die. Yeah? Likey? Darwin wouldn't want it any other way :thumbsup:
I've also got some ideas to end the (creeping) socialism known as public education, the VA, NASA and social security (none of those things are mentioned in the Constitution - Will E Worm can confirm that for you!!!). I'll post that manifesto later.
