Comments on: The individual mandate may collapse health reform http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/04/individual-mandate-collapse-health-reform.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jodyhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/04/individual-mandate-collapse-health-reform.html#comment-129654 Jody Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:32:01 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=43281#comment-129654 DrLemmon, Amen, that's what I say. People had better wake up, because the goverment has only just begun. The kind of power that is being grabbed in this whole healthcare issue is frightening. I have been thinking exactly what you stated, what will the left leaning citizens feel when all this control is put in the hands of the evil right. Wow, I can hear them screaming now. This power and control in dangerous no matter what side of the political spectrum you fall, and everyone should be very concerned. DrLemmon,
Amen, that’s what I say. People had better wake up, because the goverment has only just begun. The kind of power that is being grabbed in this whole healthcare issue is frightening. I have been thinking exactly what you stated, what will the left leaning citizens feel when all this control is put in the hands of the evil right. Wow, I can hear them screaming now. This power and control in dangerous no matter what side of the political spectrum you fall, and everyone should be very concerned.

]]> By: ninguemhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/04/individual-mandate-collapse-health-reform.html#comment-129317 ninguem Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:18:42 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=43281#comment-129317 DrLemmon ".....What will they compel you to buy?....."Guns come to mind. Seems to me, that's been tried before. DrLemmon “…..What will they compel you to buy?…..”

Guns come to mind. Seems to me, that’s been tried before.

]]> By: DrLemmonhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/04/individual-mandate-collapse-health-reform.html#comment-129296 DrLemmon Tue, 06 Apr 2010 02:01:27 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=43281#comment-129296 This issue is not one of approval or disapproval with the healthcare reform bill. Do you think the Federal Government has the right to compel it's citizens to purchase something for the greater good? That is the question and it has far reaching implications. This question should not split along the same lines as the healthcare reform debate did. I cannot imagine people from the left, the right or the middle wanting the government to have that kind of power. Remember, one day another party will control congress. What will they compel you to buy? This issue is not one of approval or disapproval with the healthcare reform bill. Do you think the Federal Government has the right to compel it’s citizens to purchase something for the greater good? That is the question and it has far reaching implications. This question should not split along the same lines as the healthcare reform debate did. I cannot imagine people from the left, the right or the middle wanting the government to have that kind of power. Remember, one day another party will control congress. What will they compel you to buy?

]]> By: ninguemhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/04/individual-mandate-collapse-health-reform.html#comment-129288 ninguem Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:05:12 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=43281#comment-129288 http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/04/04/short_term_customers_boosting_health_costs/Seems Massachusetts is already seeing the "moral hazard" effect of prohibiting pre-existing condition denials, while allowing a relatively low fine for failure to insure.Sure as night follows day, the rational response is to pay the relatively cheap fine, get insured when you need healthcare, then drop it when the treatment episode is done.Read the article. Looks like Massachusetts is looking seriously at re-instituting "pre-existing condition" denial or delay in insuring someone with a pre-existing medical condition. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/04/04/short_term_customers_boosting_health_costs/

Seems Massachusetts is already seeing the “moral hazard” effect of prohibiting pre-existing condition denials, while allowing a relatively low fine for failure to insure.

Sure as night follows day, the rational response is to pay the relatively cheap fine, get insured when you need healthcare, then drop it when the treatment episode is done.

Read the article. Looks like Massachusetts is looking seriously at re-instituting “pre-existing condition” denial or delay in insuring someone with a pre-existing medical condition.

]]> By: Dr. Mary Johnsonhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/04/individual-mandate-collapse-health-reform.html#comment-129234 Dr. Mary Johnson Sun, 04 Apr 2010 12:59:33 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=43281#comment-129234 Mark, while nothing would make me happier than the Congress using and abusing the dental profession in the way it has the medical profession (it might wake even more people up), you're missing an important point: Good dental hygiene in childhood - which one could very effecitvely argue is brought about by good preventative medical care and simple parental responsibility (I know, it's an alien concept these days) - would prevent a great deal of the "pain, shame and embarassment" so many of these "poor children" endure.Such care (or at least the insurance for it) has been mandated now. And, in this utopia the Congress has imagined, access (a separate matter from payment) - is not going to be a problem as Obama does everything he can to drive doctors away from primary care.So. It's already "covered".Here's a thought for the parents of all those poor children: Buy a toothbrush. Use it. Floss. And cut out the sugar & milk bottles at bedtime.It's much cheaper and less shameful/painful than the alternative. Mark, while nothing would make me happier than the Congress using and abusing the dental profession in the way it has the medical profession (it might wake even more people up), you’re missing an important point: Good dental hygiene in childhood – which one could very effecitvely argue is brought about by good preventative medical care and simple parental responsibility (I know, it’s an alien concept these days) – would prevent a great deal of the “pain, shame and embarassment” so many of these “poor children” endure.

Such care (or at least the insurance for it) has been mandated now. And, in this utopia the Congress has imagined, access (a separate matter from payment) – is not going to be a problem as Obama does everything he can to drive doctors away from primary care.

So. It’s already “covered”.

Here’s a thought for the parents of all those poor children: Buy a toothbrush. Use it. Floss. And cut out the sugar & milk bottles at bedtime.

It’s much cheaper and less shameful/painful than the alternative.

]]> By: markhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/04/individual-mandate-collapse-health-reform.html#comment-129227 mark Sun, 04 Apr 2010 02:47:41 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=43281#comment-129227 Everyone deserves dental care as well. Think of the poor children who go without and the adults as well and the pain and shame and embarassment of poor dental hygiene. Why isn't dental care mandated as well? It should be universal also. Everyone deserves dental care as well. Think of the poor children who go without and the adults as well and the pain and shame and embarassment of poor dental hygiene. Why isn’t dental care mandated as well? It should be universal also.

]]> By: Yioushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/04/individual-mandate-collapse-health-reform.html#comment-129223 Yious Sun, 04 Apr 2010 01:30:24 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=43281#comment-129223 The IRS has already come out several times and let people know that they will not be going after people because of the insurance only.They don't have the time or money to do that anyway. They already are behind on just tax issues alone. The IRS has already come out several times and let people know that they will not be going after people because of the insurance only.

They don’t have the time or money to do that anyway. They already are behind on just tax issues alone.

]]> By: Wellescent Health Bloghttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/04/individual-mandate-collapse-health-reform.html#comment-129221 Wellescent Health Blog Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:28:12 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=43281#comment-129221 The individual mandate can work if enforcement is increased just to the point where it makes not paying more of a hassle than paying. Then it becomes like speeding tickets where some people will try to fight the ticket while the majority will just pay. Unfortunately, this is really is the Achilles heel of the plan at this stage. The individual mandate can work if enforcement is increased just to the point where it makes not paying more of a hassle than paying. Then it becomes like speeding tickets where some people will try to fight the ticket while the majority will just pay. Unfortunately, this is really is the Achilles heel of the plan at this stage.

]]> By: RDhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/04/individual-mandate-collapse-health-reform.html#comment-129208 RD Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:09:55 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=43281#comment-129208 I remember reading somewhere that when the risk pool size reaches a certain threshold that adding more members (even if they are all young and healthy) doesn't actually decrease the costs that much if any...and that threshold was around 10,000! That's why larger companies can insure themselves. So... adding 15-40 million more to the existing pool won't change the risk cost at all! Does anybody else remember reading something like this? I remember reading somewhere that when the risk pool size reaches a certain threshold that adding more members (even if they are all young and healthy) doesn’t actually decrease the costs that much if any…and that threshold was around 10,000! That’s why larger companies can insure themselves. So… adding 15-40 million more to the existing pool won’t change the risk cost at all!
Does anybody else remember reading something like this?

]]> By: Yvonnehttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/04/individual-mandate-collapse-health-reform.html#comment-129218 Yvonne Sat, 03 Apr 2010 20:52:00 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=43281#comment-129218 As a healthcare professional, I totally agree with Obamacare. Something has to be done. The abuse that I see daily is atrocious. Why wouldn't everyone want to have health care anyway? I agree with the earlier poster that just make sure that you don't show up at the ER needing care. As a healthcare professional, I totally agree with Obamacare. Something has to be done. The abuse that I see daily is atrocious.
Why wouldn’t everyone want to have health care anyway?
I agree with the earlier poster that just make sure that you don’t show up at the ER needing care.

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