It's a really bad idea to make it mandatory and require people to buy into health insurance.

[IsItJustMe]

I know many people in this economy that are barely surviving. Many of them are only working 20-30 hours a week at minimum wage jobs.

There is no way in hell that these people are going to be able to afford health insurance when they can't even afford to feed themselves properly.

And then what are going to do when they don't buy into a corporate insurance program that will probably not cover much at all to begin with?

Are you going to fine them. Fine. All you are doing with this type of approach is to make it illegal to be poor in this country.

It's hell being poor in this country. To me, the phrase "Freedom isn't free" has a different meaning in this country. No, freedom isn't free in America, the amount of freedom that you have in America is in direct correlation to the amount of money you have.

I just don't think the poor people of this country need to be subjected to more layers of burocratic bullshit that victimizes them any further than what they already are.

If my understanding of this issue is incorrect, please enlighten me.

[Cassandra]

1. We need universal access to health care...

with mandatory contributions (or subsidies for those who can't contribute), not to for-profit insurance companies but to a government plan (through taxes) or to a not-for-profit entity. Everyone must be included but we don't all have to be shafted.

[Mz Pip]

2. That's why we need a public option

I agree with Obama when he said that people who are uninsured will sign up for health insurance if it is affordable.

I think I would like to see what kind of a dent would be made in the numbers of uninsured if there were an affordable public option before we start fining people.

[stray cat]

5. some people don't want to pay anything if they can get it free anyway

[pscot]

7. That's what taxes are for

N/T

[Mz Pip]

8. I don't think pulbic option

neccessarily mean free. People who can afford to pay something should contribute to the system.

[Vincardog]

20. Who wants to pay for something they can get for free? What are they going to get for free?

[stray cat]

3. No one should have to participate or to be treated if they don't participate

that is freedom. if you don't have car insurance I'm not going to pay to fix your car. Would you pay to fix mine?

[Donnachaidh]

13. but we DO pay for uninsured motorist's accidents

With our rates going up, depending on how many uninsured motorists have wrecks in our area. And the hospital costs of people involved in those accidents - if they have no health care. It ALL comes back to smack us one way or another, taxes or higher rates.

I don't want mandated insurance either - we should have universal HEALTHCARE. Period. But to say others don't pay to fix problems caused by the uninsured is just naive. :shrug:

[blondeatlast]

4. Many states require mandatory auto insurance. How do you feel about that? nt

[TxRider]

9. That 15% of people still don't buy car insurance, even with mandate

Or they buy it for one month, get their car registered etc. then drop it.

I see this as useless and unenforceable.

Just something to make criminals out of those who cannot afford insurance and duck buying insurance, and keep them quiet. As a criminal they will not risk complaining or risk fines speaking out...

[bullimiami]

10. there is a difference. you dont have to drive or own a car its a choice.

i agree mandatory private health insurance is very wrong.

[gristy]

12. Your analogy does compute.

States require only that one buy liability insurance. No requirement that one insure oneself or one's own car.

[Quantess]

22. Do you really, honestly, not see the difference?

We choose to drive a vehicle. We do not choose to have bodies.

If you can't afford car insurance, you don't drive. If you can't afford health insurance...then what? Kill yourself?

Do you really equivocate the two?

[dhpgetsit]

6. It creates a bigger insurance pool, but OTOH

you are right, the fundamental problem is that many people can't afford the cost. Presumably these people will be covered through subsidies or tax credits. So once again we are faced with the fact that Society always ends up paying for basic health care.

To me it just underscores the need to go single-payer.

[OHdem10]

11. They specifically do not require Businesses to provide health insurance.

Baucus had to take the Mandate for Businesses off the table.

Just as a Republican Bill, this bill is ending up giving the
people the shaft.

[Czar One]

14. It's like stabbing a turnip repeatedly.....

...and then smashing it to pieces for refusing to bleed!

[alc]

15. I agree it's a bad idea to mandate insurance

But you can't force insurers to cover pre-existing conditions without the mandates. Otherwise nobody has to have insurance until they need it (i.e. have a condition) and insurers are forced to accept them. It also leads to all packages needing to be pretty much the same or you can get the cheapest until you need something then upgrade. If "upgrading with a condition" can result in extremely expensive policies, then pre-existing conditions aren't really covered.

At that point (mandated, almost identical policies) the only thing that makes sense is single-payer. So if you want pre-existing conditions covered you should be for single-payer.

[Vidar]

16. K&R

[Thickasabrick]

17. I would support a mandate if the profit was taken out of it. Otherwise,

I don't.

[madville]

18. Even if they get the mandatory insurance for free, what will the deductibles and co-pays be?

n/t

[dajoki]

19. K&R

[debbierlus]

21. You are correct. That is why the only solution is to remove profit from the equation

Human health needs to be placed on a higher level then industry profit.

Single Payer Now.

[Laelth]

23. You sound like you're already enlightened to me.

The individual mandate is a disaster waiting to happen. It will seriously damage the Democratic Party. It is patently unjust and probably unconstitutional.

:dem:

-Laelth