Do We Need Obamacare To Cover The Uninsured?

Lily's argument is a perfect example of what is wrong with some people's conception of healthcare: they think it is the job of someone else to prevent them from dying. They also don't want insurance, really. They want someone else to pay for their healthcare.

No, Lily, insurance companies are not at fault here. Without insurance many people would die today, but it is not the responsibility of any company to keep the American public alive. If people want to live longer, they can do what they can to make it their priority(nutrition and exercise), but currently we do not have the technology and resources to keep people alive indefinitely. You seem to think we do... and furthermore that it is someone else's responsibility to keep us that way.

Richard Nelson: so basically you don't want insurance, you want someone to pay your wife's health bills. That's not insurance, that's passing the costs off to someone else. I am sorry that your wife has a disease, but compare this to any other sort of insurance, and no wonder the insurance companies don't want to cover your wife. IMAGINE a world in which we actually had a market for healthcare! The insurance companies are the problem, but not in the way you think; they drive up costs because health companies, hospitals, and doctors can charge the insurance companies much more than the market price--what you would pay out of pocket. But please, don't try to tell me you want insurance, when you really just want discounted costs. That's not how car, home, flood, or any other kind of insurance works. Why should it be so with your wife?

Muser: wait, so insurance companies do their best to make a profit? What a surprise! Why don't you go read another blog that demonizes business. The point is that we want health costs to respond to the REAL market, not the inflated costs of the insurance companies. You don't like insurance companies? Fine, but don't get mad because people want to make money.

Justin of MA 11:22AM August 13, 2009