Any opinion about Shadegg's proposed health insurance bill?

[question everything]

This is what the WSJ editors say:

The idea behind the legislation, sponsored by GOP Representative John Shadegg of Arizona, is disarmingly simple: Allow Americans to buy health insurance from vendors in any one of the 50 states.

Right now Americans who aren't lucky enough to get insurance from large employers or poor enough to qualify for Medicaid find themselves at the mercy of the legislators and insurance commissioners of the state in which they happen to live. This can be OK in states that exercise this regulatory function judiciously. But in others, the young and working poor find themselves effectively priced out of the market by special-interest regulations dressed up as consumer protections.

(snip)

A 2004 study by eHealthInsurance.com found that a typical insurance policy ($2,000 deductible, 20% co-insurance) for a family of four could be had for as little in as $172 per month in a reasonably regulated locality like Kansas City, Missouri. But in New York that family's only option -- managed care -- would run $840 per month, and in New Jersey family policies run a whopping $1,200-plus. We bet Democratic Representative Frank Pallone's constituents in New Jersey would be interested in his view that insurance in his state is only "slightly" more expensive than elsewhere.

(snip)

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112224426215594373,00.html?mod=opinion%5Fmain%5Freview%5Fand%5Foutlooks

Personally, I have never liked employer sponsored health insurance. First, I am quite certain that the fact that most of us had no say in selecting an insurance carrier and even viewing the bills made us bad consumers. And I think that this is part of the spiraling costs of health care.

Second, many are stuck in bad jobs because they cannot afford to lose their employer-provided insurance for serious medical problems that would not be covered if they seek new ones.

Third is the potential, at least, for lack of privacy. As employers are the one paying the bill, they can, and do, view the bills submitted by providers. No, they don't need to know the precise cause of seeking medical care but if, say, there is an invoice from an OB/GYN who is known to be the only one still performing abortions in this town..

Of course, the ideal solution is universal health care. But since it is not on the horizon, I think that as more people are responsible for their own expenses, the push for a universal one will be larger that even Republicans won't be able to ignore.

[daa]

1. Do anyone really believe

that people in NJ or NY going to facilities in NY or NJ are going to pay Kansas City rates?? If this was reallky such a good deal all the people that couldn't get or afford insureance would move to KC. I haven't noticed anyone moving becuase they can obtain cheap healthcare elseware.