[Izzle]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

There is a significant difference between not being able to afford healthcare (with the implication being that they cannot afford any healthcare at all) and not being able to afford a small health care premium.

Quite simply, if something is completely free to you, you likely have no concern for its costs or its use, and are completely insulated from the costs that are incurred by others to provide you with the item that you so freely use and consume---all of which leads to excess use of the item by the free user.

In this respect, I propose that everyone should be required to pay something for health insurance. Make it a sliding scale based on taxable income, with a minimum payment of $12 due from everyone, perhaps. But to expect--or better yet, demand--that primarily the "rich" should pay the health care bills of "society" is crazy.



People have, and find, money to purchase and consume the things that they find necessary or enjoyable. If people wish to spend their scarce dollars on consumables in such a way that cause them to be unable to pay for healthcare when they need it later, well, that's on them.



If only there was a way people could enhance their skills to obtain a higher-paying job than the one that they currently have....

Or, if only there was a way people could move to a place that offered public transportation, thereby negating the need to own a car and pay for all of the costs that go with one....



I agree that "we as a society" do pay, and should pay, for everyone in the society to obtain healthcare.

I just believe that "we" means "everyone," and not "that "rich" group of people over there..."



As things are now, there is no "small fee" being paid by the alleged wealthy-enough-to-pay-for-another's-Medicare.

I welcome you to try this game: http://playspent.org/

This is an unfortunate reality for many Americans.