Could the United States afoord to NOT have medicare/medicaid?

[Tupac Shakur]

As opposed to our system, where our rationing is done according to the socioeconomic status of the recipient, which is also largely arbitrary.

There's very little rationing in the US healthcare system.

[Lorizael]

The ability for insurance companies to reject claims and deny coverage would seem to suggest otherwise.

[Tupac Shakur]

1. Your point is factually inaccurate. Insurance companies can't deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, thanks to Obamacare.

2. Your point does nothing to prove that rationing in the US healthcare system is widespread.

[KrazyHorse]

As opposed to our system, where our rationing is done according to the socioeconomic status of the recipient, which is also largely arbitrary.

Is this supposed to contain an interesting insight?

[KrazyHorse]

If by free market it is meant free of government influence, control, or intervention...

Food has been the subject of government intervention and management since before the nanny state. Even before the King was the state.

Do you only deal in absolutes? The distortions in the market for food are far smaller than in the market for health care in the US. Moreover, I don't see many people yelling for direct government provision of food.

[Lorizael]

1. Your point is factually inaccurate. Insurance companies can't deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, thanks to Obamacare.

Based on pre-existing conditions, yes. But we have other methods of denying coverage.

2. Your point does nothing to prove that rationing in the US healthcare system is widespread.

No, but the enormous number of people without any form of health insurance might.

Is this supposed to contain an interesting insight?

No. I post merely for my own entertainment. I would think you of all people would understand that.

[Tupac Shakur]

No, but the enormous number of people without any form of health insurance might.

Many of those people are young, healthy individuals that don't want health insurance. That will also be solved by Obamacare, of course, as those individuals will be forced to purchase health insurance or face a penalty.

[Zevico]

1. Your point is factually inaccurate. Insurance companies can't deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, thanks to Obamacare.

Weird. Why?

[Aeson]

Just wondering... When do we have to purchase health insurance? I was uninsurable from the time I was 18. Now I guess I have to pay for insurance that is never going to do me any good?

Is there an exception for people living outside the US, or am I going to be extradited and given AIDS for not having health insurance?

[Tupac Shakur]

Just wondering... When do we have to purchase health insurance? I was uninsurable from the time I was 18. Now I guess I have to pay for insurance that is never going to do me any good?

January 1st, 2014.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act

Is there an exception for people living outside the US, or am I going to be extradited and given AIDS for not having health insurance?

I don't know for sure, but I'm pretty certain you won't have to buy health insurance if you reside overseas.

[Aeson]

Thanks Drake

This article may be too long to read and navigate comfortably.

[Kuciwalker]

I think every serious person agrees that a system that rations healthcare would be superior to America's current cluster**** (Obamacare included). The disagreement is about whether individuals should rations their own healthcare (in response to price signals) or whether the government should make the rationing decisions instead (most likely through some bureaucratic body).

The most convincing argument I've seen on the government side is that a free market in "healthcare" existed long before it actually did anything. The "I know what I want more than you know what I want" principle seems uniquely inapplicable.

[notyoueither]

Do you only deal in absolutes?

Just thought I'd point out that food has been politicised, managed and interfered with many times before and since Rome. Hunger tends to lead to broken china.

The distortions in the market for food are far smaller than in the market for health care in the US.

Sure. The same would be true in Canada, but from the other end. There are a lot of different ways to deliver care at a high standard though. PBS (I think) did a really good show on systems in 1st world nations around the world. I'll see if I can find the link if you want.

Moreover, I don't see many people yelling for direct government provision of food.

They do when there are shortages and famines. North Americans haven't had to deal with that much since forever (just about) so we take things for granted that many people in other places and times have not had the luxury to do.

[giblets]

The most convincing argument I've seen on the government side is that a free market in "healthcare" long before it actually did anything. The "I know what I want more than you know what I want" principle seems uniquely inapplicable.

The argument you posted isn't a coherent sentence.

[Kuciwalker]

I was missing a word; edited.