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For those who think that the government can’t do anything right, I would take a look at private health insurance vs. Medicare. Private health insurance operates at anywhere from 28-33% overhead, which goes toward operating costs as well as profits. Medicare operates at about a 3% overhead, meaning 97 cents of every dollar goes right back out into paying benefits. They’re not as bad as you think.

found the info,

thanks,

I looked on your website but did not find survey information, only reported results.
I’m glad someone is looking into this, but what was your study sample and what were some of the questions ? Can you post them (no, I’m not being condescending, I would actually like to know). Or can you direct me to the page where it shows that data?

My feeling, as you can tell from above, is that government needs to play as small a role as possible otherwise I feel that we’ll end up with another medicare. But I am interested in what others think.

And to Anonymous: Just to be condescending one last time – were you shooting for securitization?

Josh – I am glad you know enough of Econ 101 to condescendingly offer advice to others, but you could certainly use a class on secrutization.

They don’t want tax-based, government run health care nor do they think health care should be totally a personal responsility like automobile insurance. They do however want a larger role in managing the system and more accountability from all involved.

Kathleen

SAYS WHO? I’m an American – I don’t remember being asked my opinion? Where do you come up with this rubbish?

Let me explain this once and for all – nothing done by the federal government is done as well as the private sector. For an example see Walter Reed Scandal of ‘07. And for those of you saying “that was a military hospital”, no kidding – who do you think the military is run by.

Fact: The organization responsible for the largest reduction in medical costs to consumers in our nation over the last decade is…Anyone?…that’s right, WalMart. With their $4 prescriptions. If you think that is my opinion look it up on MSNBC’s money section.

Take away regulation, take away standards set by the feds and states that require all sorts of mandatory coverage on little things like Port Wine stains (written into almost every health insurance coverage in the US) and allow health insurance to act like car insurance and costs will come down and service will get better because of competition.

One thing that you need to understand about regulation; it hurts competition. Large companies, like oil companies and insurance companies, like regulation. It keeps other companies from entering their market. Regulate it more, that just means that you’re stuck with the big 5 or 6 insurers and their plans. Deregulate and watch smaller, more agile companies come in, offer more personalized health plans with better service and watch the big boys scramble to keep up. Competition brings down costs makes service better.

RICK – as for the financial sector. You believe that deregulation got us in this mess – but you’re wrong. Banks want to stay in business. Because of that they don’t make risky loans to people. That’s why they check your credit score, income level and other data before giving a loan. In the late 90’s congress passed the Community Redevelopment Act which encouraged banks (through legislation) to give loans to lower income people who would normally not qualify for these loans. Banks began making poor loans. Standards got worse. Then those people, who would never have been given those loans without government interference, couldn’t pay back those loans. And now you understand Econ 101.

So yes, deregulation would have worked better for the financial industry. keep the government out of it.

I DON’T WANT TO BE TAXED MORE!

Oh by the way – that would mean that the government could decide whether or not you were actually “sick”, what and how much food you would get, where and what kind of housing you get, what kind of car you could have, etc.

The other fallacy to these plans is that anytime the government gets involved, the politicians in Washington can’t seem to keep their hands out of the cookie jar. That’s why Social Security and Medicare are such a financial mess already, and we saw what happened with all the pork that was added to the (socialist) “bailout” bill that the pols told us needed to be passed to keep the financial world from imploding.

Get the vulture trial lawyers under control and let people set up interest bearing Medical Savings Accounts (that can be rolled over year to year with no taxes on interest gained). Couple that with some reasonable reforms otherwise and we’ll be well on the way to solving the health care “crisis” without needing the government to get involved and make a bigger mess of things.