While most people agree that denying health converage based on pre-exiting condition should be reformed the original thread authors excitement over it is understandable. However, the current house legislation assumes that by mandating coverage on EVERY single American they can somehow offset their own costs by bringing in healthy young people to offset the costs of those with pre-existing conditions and high risk individuals, as well as those that tend to use Medical benefits more often. There are many problems with this, among them is the tax penalty is too low on thesse young people to act as a deterrant and motivate them into purchasing insurance. Other things assume that these young people will automatically go to the "public option" where many of those with pre-existing conditions will find themselves. Additional factors are the blatant constitutional issues associated with the mandates themselves. If the mandates are found to be unconstitutional and its likely they are and even the CBO acknowledges that the Govt. may not have the power to do this, then the whole healthcare reform bill collapses. Now, all that being said here is what could have been done without the additional creation of an entire new department within the Federal Govt. Let's assume for a moment that the goal here is to make healthcare affordable for those that need it and those that want it rather than a backdoor to "single payer" shall we. That said, the Govt. already has an insolvent medical program known as Medicare. If the Govt. wanted to reduce the cost of healthcare and promote competetion then rather than create a department that will compete with the insolvent one they already have , simply eliminate the age limit on Medicare and allow people who wish to purchase Medicare regardless of pre-existing condition. In conjunction with that allow for the sale of health insurance across state lines then add a tax on the sale of that insurance across state lines to repair the insolvent one you have. On top of that , with tort reform and an additional VAT of .05 on gas or any number of good within Federal authority you have a program that competes, that is in the black. and offers insurance to those that need it and want it. Not only that, it does not subvert the constitution in order to do it.
