From: tcox@ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu (Tony Cox - (415)926-3105)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.medicine
Subject: Re: HIAA and Reform
Date: 14 Dec 92 14:14:30 -0800
Organization: SSRL, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lab
NNTP-Posting-Host: ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu

   In article <50388@shamash.cdc.com>, rjv@a2.cim.cdc.com (Rene Valdes) writes:
> In article <1992Dec8.171033.1@ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu>, 
> tcox@ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu (Tony Cox - (415)926-3105) writes:
> |> In article <50269@shamash.cdc.com>, rjv@a2.cim.cdc.com (Rene Valdes) writes:
> |> > I am not going to defend the health insurance companies, but I find
> |> > the above statement concerning people who are or are not health risks,
> |> > extremely myopic.  The whole concept that I should pay little for my
> |> > health care now because I am young and healthy only to be priced out
> |> > of the market or flatly denied insurance later when I really need it
> |> > is one of the most ridiculous ideas in the current debate.  Young healthy
> |> > people and old ailing people are not apples and oranges.  They are one
> |> > and the same, given a couple of decades.
> |> 
> |>    Ridiculous or not, it is founded upon the simple fact that as
> |>    people get older, they _tend_ to have more medical problems.
> |>    Young, healthy people are quite simply less costly than old
> |>    ailing people, so if you pay for your insurance on a monthly
> |>    or an annual basis, the premiums tend to increase with age.
> 
> Have you ever heard of something like a budget plan for gas or electricity
> bills throughout a longer period of time?  Here, in the Northern USA, it 
> is very common for people to pay a fix amount for gas or electricity that
> is higher than they really consume in the summer in anticipation of costs 
> that will be higher in the winter.  

   Yes. So what? This method of payment isn't coerced. You can opt for
   it if you want. No problem.

> 
> Why can't we all pay a fixed amount for health care today in anticipation 
> of costs that will be higher when we grow older? 

   `We' can. All that is necessary is a law to make it compulsory.
   This is what you are arguing for. _You_ want to compel _me_ to
   join your plan. I refrain from telling you what to do. This is the
   difference between us.

> |>    My advice is start saving now for those higher insurance
> |>    premiums which come with old age, and find a health plan which
> |>    wont deny you insurance when you become ill.
> 
> This is a hopeless proposition.  Nobody (except for the very rich) can 
> save enough to guarantee that they can cover all the premiums and all
> the out of pocket expenses they might be stuck with if they become
> seriously ill.  

   Probably true. But death comes even to the very very rich. You are
   not trying to tell me that in the new Clinton golden age of prosperity
   (coming soon to a paypacket near you) will cover all the premiums
   and all the out of pocket expenses if you become ill eh?

   You need a reality check. Many many millions of Americans are
   getting the best health care on the planet, only a few of them are
   very rich. Who do _you_ think is paying the bill now, the tooth fairy?

> 
> Fortunately, our president-elect Clinton, the HIAA, and now the AMA all 
> disagree with you and have acknowledged that we must provide universal 
> coverage for all Americans in a way that each individual can rely on it 
> throughout their lives.

   I'm _so_ relieved. What the hell to they know about what health
   care I want? They just want my money, and yours too. You'll see.

Tony Cox, Stanford, CA
Newsgroups: talk.politics.medicine