Monday, November 2, 2009
by Hoyt Banks
Ben Cohen’s “Politically Correct” column in favor of the public option is an ever more frequent insight into stage-five liberal dementia. The public option is not a good idea. It will not “guarantee us coverage until we could afford it ourselves.” If coverage is defined as the government telling you what sicknesses you can be treated for, long waits for simple surgeries and small businesses collapsing because of mandatory health coverage costs, then, empirically, coverage will be guaranteed.
These problems didn’t arise in some distant land, they occurred in Massachusetts within one year of state law mandating health insurance for all. Within two minutes of searching on ehealthinsurance.com I found more than 70 health insurance plans for $27 a month and more, or four hours of work if you make minimum wage. Most 19- to 29-year-olds forgo purchasing health insurance because they don’t think they will get sick, not because they can’t afford it.
Lastly, the public option will not create competition — it will destroy it. How can private insurers compete with this “new player” who doesn’t have to worry about costs or having a profit margin? It’s simple — private insurers can’t charge a price below their costs and then tax all of us to make up the difference. The government can.
President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have spoken of their desire for single-payer government health care on record several times. The public option is not a mere player — its Obama’s stepping stone to socialized health care. Competing with the public option is comparable to wanting to go to Quinton’s tonight but realizing you have insufficient dinero in your ATM to finance another night of debauchery. Meanwhile, the government also wants to go to Quinton’s, checks their bank account at an ATM, realizes its overdrawn $11 trillion and decides to buy all of Massachusetts Street anyway.
Politically Correct: The public option
Columnists weigh in on the health care debate.
Cohen: Public option opponents’ ideas lack substance
The 'liberal loudmouth' explains why he believes public healthcare isn't so bad.
A guide to the proposed health care ...
A look at the health care bills that are being passed around ...
Robinson: Health care law not best option ...
New health law falls short of expectations.
Thompson: Democrats’ reform needs strength
President Obama’s healthcare reform pushes for momentum with help from unexpected endorsements.
Editorial: Show support for health care, but ...
The new package benefits students but the public option should have been ...
Two sides of healthcare
Health insurance is one of the major issues this year.
Cohen: Healthcare debate represents a problem with ...
Bitter battle between parties stands in the way of government efficiency.
Public option makes a leap toward socialism
Government-run health care could crush the operations of the free-market .
Letter to the Editor: Pro-choice protection
New amendment would make it hard for insurance companies to cover abortion.
Earles: Students suffer under health insurance costs
I applied, got accepted and paid for the coverage. Then I got ...
Forum teaches students about American health coverage
Students talked about their experiences regarding insurance companies and what must be ...
Graduates gamble on health insurance
One third of college graduates are uninsured after graduation; experts advise being ...
Editorial: Increases in ATM fees unreasonable
With banks considering following Bank of America’s decision to raise prices, alternatives ...
Compton: Win the battle, lose the war
Even with healthcare reform passing, Democrats face a long road ahead in ...
Katz: Rein in insurance companies for health ...
Insurance companies' abuse American's.
Regents may revise student health insurance
A new health insurance plan from the Board of Regents would decrease ...
Overdraft fees affect student finances
New bill could change the way banks deal with people who overdraw ...
Some graduates in insursance limbo
Many insurance companies drop coverage after graduation, find out what you can ...
Editorial: Health care reform and students
Students should consider impact of health care legislation.
Regents provide far more for far less
The Board of Regents has dramatically increased the available insurance coverage for ...
Insurance essential but often unaffordable
Students without health coverage hope for changes in policy.
Students contemplate Sebelius’ future
Obama aides say Kansas governor might be next Health and Human Services ...
Cohen: Grim predictions reflect flaws in system
Difficulty in passing legislation complicated by partisan politics, checks and balances.
Platt: Affording the unaffordable
Individual stories relating to health care.
Governor’s departure poses problems
Sebelius’ acceptance of HHS secretary leaves Kansas’ future and Obama’s health care ...
Title X funding up in the air
A proposed bill would cut $317 million in reproductive health care and ...
Willbanks: Life without insurance
Individuals share their stories dealing with personal health care issues.
Free: Corporate tax avoidance just one reason ...
Even if we weren’t facing these difficult economic times, corporate tax avoidances ...
Health care could affect student insurance
The new bill could allow some students to stay on their parent’s ...
Contributed column: Get busy on health care
Public preference absent in news commentary on health care.
Birth control prices could decrease
A new law opens up the possibility for lower prices on birth ...
Group helps students grasp health care
Concerned Active and Aware Students to raise awareness about national debate in ...
Cohen: Abstinence-only education insane
New bill is a waste of money and won't improve health of ...
‘Generation Debt’ afflicting students
KU students are finding it difficult to foot the bill of increasing ...
Robinson: Government expansions limits choices
New health care law will limit individual choice.
Editorial: Students pay for bank policies
Overdraft fees are too high.
Cohen: Hopes for health care reform
Health care legislation is nearly ready for vote.
The risk of going without health insurance
Because of high costs, unemployment or ineligibility many students are uninsured, putting ...
Politically correct: Obama’s report card
Columnists weigh in Obama's progress. Cast your vote in The Kansan's poll.
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Letter to the Editor: Public option
An analogy is like a beautiful woman. Your analogy is comparable to you meeting this beautiful woman, locked her in a basement, throwing acid on her face and then cutting her with razor blades. Then, later, bringing her out and defecating on her and introducing her to your parents.
Letter to the Editor: Public option
I had knee surgery a couple years ago. The wait times for the insurance-mandated hoops I had to jump through to get from "I can't walk up stairs in winter" to actually having a surgeon fix the problem meant that it took almost an entire year. Two months waiting for an appointment to see a primary care doctor. Three more months waiting for my appointment for the MRI the doctor set up for me. Two months after that to get back to the primary care doctor, who did nothing but glance at the MRI and set up an appointment for a surgeon four months later. Oh, and when I lost the job that paid for the really good insurance that meant the whole thing only cost me two grand instead of forty, they gave me the option of continuing on it for $946 a month.
I'm told that the wait time in Canada for the same procedure averages four months. And I'm fine with that if it means that somebody who's had his leg smashed in a car accident gets right in (which they do). But let's not pretend that the public option is bad in any way other than that it doesn't go far enough, or that the wait times in places whose health care system isn't based on the American "help as few people as we can get away with" idea are worse than ours.
Letter to the Editor: Public option
Is the public option bad because it can also be called "socialized medicine," which sounds like socialism? If it helps more people (which it does everywhere it exists), then why is it a bad idea? If Europe/Canada/Asia can do it, why can't we?
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID