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Individual coverage by corax 08/14/2003, 1:23pm PDT
Zebco Fuckface wrote:

Lizard_King wrote:

here is a universal health insurance option worth thinking about.


That Reason came up with it is bad enough, but doesn't it strike you as kind of wierd to require everyone to self-insure when the current, actual problem is that insurance companies won't offer insurance to some people at any price at all?


Access to individual coverage is an enormous problem right now, and it will only get worse as more people find themselves without access to group coverage through their employers. In many states, you have to be in near-perfect health to purchase full individual coverage at any price. If you're lucky enough to get an individual policy, you can expect your rates to climb steadily into the stratosphere over the years, due to the dreaded "death spiral" effect.

Here's how it works: your provider can't legally raise your individual premiums if you get sick, but he can base your premiums on the overall risk of a relatively small pool of customers. As people in your particular pool get sick, the premiums for your pool start to go up. Eventually, your provider will lure all of the healthy people in your pool away into cheaper policies. But unlike the group market, individual coverage isn't portable, so people with health problems will be stuck in their current pool. If you happen to get sick, you'll end up trapped in a shrinking pool full of nothing but other increasingly sicker people.

The ultimate effect is that you could buy into a decent policy at $150/month, and ten years later, when you start to have some relatively minor health problems, you end up stuck with $3,000+/mo. premiums. Even worse, your provider may simply go out of business (this happens more often than you might think) leaving you without access to coverage at any price.

In some states, including NY, individual rates are regulated, but this approach simply turns the entire state market into a death spiral. As rates go up, healthier and/or poorer people drop out of the system, driving rates up further, causing more people to drop out, etc. An individual policy in a heavily regulated state such as NY or NJ can easily cost $1,000+/mo. for a single person. Other states allow for some separation of risk, diverting the sick into "high-risk pools" where rates are moderately higher, but coverage is always available. It remains to be seen whether this approach will work in the long term; many states have already closed their HRPs due to spiraling costs (Florida's HRP has been closed for more than ten years).
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What do you commies make of this? by Lizard_King 08/12/2003, 8:25pm PDT NEW
    caveat by Lizard_King 08/12/2003, 8:30pm PDT NEW
    Re: What do you commies make of this? by Fussbett 08/13/2003, 2:11am PDT NEW
        Re: What do you commies make of this? by Lizard_King 08/13/2003, 2:08pm PDT NEW
            Re: What do you commies make of this? by Fussbett 08/13/2003, 4:31pm PDT NEW
                Re: What do you commies make of this? by Lizard_King 08/13/2003, 10:41pm PDT NEW
                    Re: What do you commies make of this? by Chairman Mao 08/14/2003, 12:03am PDT NEW
                        Re: What do you commies make of this? by Lizard_King 08/14/2003, 12:37am PDT NEW
                    It's as if I never paid income tax... by Fussbett 08/14/2003, 12:08am PDT NEW
                        Re: It's as if I never paid income tax... by Lizard_King 08/14/2003, 12:42am PDT NEW
                            Think of it as insurance insurance by Senor Barborito 08/14/2003, 2:56am PDT NEW
                                I do by Lizard_King 08/14/2003, 3:51am PDT NEW
                                    Well why didn't you just say that in the first place? by creativepig 08/14/2003, 6:50am PDT NEW
                                        Because that wasn't the point by Lizard_King 08/14/2003, 7:13am PDT NEW
                                    You are assuming you will never be poor by Senor Barborito 08/14/2003, 11:33am PDT NEW
                                        Seconded. by Chairman Mao 08/14/2003, 12:10pm PDT NEW
                                            Directed at L_K, not SB... NT by Chairman Mao 08/14/2003, 12:10pm PDT NEW
                                            Re: Seconded. by Lizard_King 08/14/2003, 4:14pm PDT NEW
                                                Awwwww by Chairman Mao 08/15/2003, 3:39pm PDT NEW
                                                    Re: Awwwww by Lizard_King 08/15/2003, 10:42pm PDT NEW
                                                        Re: Awwwww by Chairman Mao 08/15/2003, 11:19pm PDT NEW
                                                            Re: Awwwww by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 2:41am PDT NEW
                            Re: It's as if I never paid income tax... by Fussbett 08/14/2003, 3:04pm PDT NEW
                                Ferenginar, not Vulcan, but yeah NT by Senor Barborito 08/14/2003, 3:27pm PDT NEW
                                Re: It's as if I never paid income tax... by Lizard_King 08/14/2003, 4:18pm PDT NEW
                                    Re: It's as if I never paid income tax... by I need clarification 08/14/2003, 6:01pm PDT NEW
                                        Re: It's as if I never paid income tax... by Lizard_King 08/14/2003, 9:37pm PDT NEW
                                            Re: It's as if I never paid income tax... by foogla 08/15/2003, 4:44am PDT NEW
                                                Re: It's as if I never paid income tax... by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 4:53am PDT NEW
                                                    Re: It's as if I never paid income tax... by foogla 08/16/2003, 6:59am PDT NEW
                                            Do you even read the posts you respond to? Or just choose not to respond? by I need clarification 08/16/2003, 5:04am PDT NEW
                                                Re: Do you even read the posts you respond to? Or just choose not to respond? by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 5:08am PDT NEW
                                                    Re: Do you even read the posts you respond to? Or just choose not to respond? by I need clarification 08/16/2003, 1:48pm PDT NEW
                                                        Re: Do you even read the posts you respond to? Or just choose not to respond? by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 1:59pm PDT NEW
                                                            Re: Do you even read the posts you respond to? Or just choose not to respond? by I need clarification 08/16/2003, 6:29pm PDT NEW
                                                                Re: Do you even read the posts you respond to? Or just choose not to respond? by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 6:39pm PDT NEW
                                                We Now Pause for a Word From Our Sponsors by Bitter 08/16/2003, 8:30pm PDT NEW
                                                    That did sound a bit high. NT by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 8:43pm PDT NEW
                                                        Fucking subheadings vs titles by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 8:47pm PDT NEW
                                                            Re: Fucking subheadings vs titles by I need clarification 08/16/2003, 10:17pm PDT NEW
                                                                Re: Fucking subheadings vs titles by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 11:08pm PDT NEW
                                                                    Creexul by Fussbett 08/16/2003, 11:14pm PDT NEW
                                                                        Re: Creexul by Flurgendorf J. Creexul 08/17/2003, 12:09am PDT NEW
                                    I snipped your insulting ending. by Fussbett 08/16/2003, 4:31am PDT NEW
                                        Re: I snipped your insulting ending. by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 4:50am PDT NEW
                                            What? by Fussbett 08/16/2003, 5:28am PDT NEW
                                                Re: What? by foogla 08/16/2003, 7:06am PDT NEW
                                                    Oh! by Fussbett 08/16/2003, 1:31pm PDT NEW
                                            If we're going to make broad generalizations and metaphors by Senor Barborito 08/16/2003, 7:20am PDT NEW
                                                I LIKE PIRATE METAPHORS NT by Entropy Stew 08/16/2003, 9:29am PDT NEW
                                                Are you abandoning Nazis for pirates? by I need clarification 08/16/2003, 1:43pm PDT NEW
                                                That's beautiful. I WANT TO BE A PIRATE 2!!!! NT by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 1:48pm PDT NEW
                                            Movie Targets! by I need clarification 08/16/2003, 1:35pm PDT NEW
            This is why the UK and Canada are now moving towards Swedish-style HC by Senor Barborito 08/13/2003, 4:39pm PDT NEW
                Re: This is why the UK and Canada are now moving towards Swedish-style HC by Lizard_King 08/13/2003, 10:47pm PDT NEW
                    Good questions, glad we more or less agree on the basics, though. by Senor Barborito 08/14/2003, 2:53am PDT NEW
                        Re: Good questions, glad we more or less agree on the basics, though. by Lizard_King 08/14/2003, 3:58am PDT NEW
                            Re: Good questions, glad we more or less agree on the basics, though. by Senor Barborito 08/14/2003, 11:31am PDT NEW
                                Re: Good questions, glad we more or less agree on the basics, though. by godamit 08/15/2003, 5:06pm PDT NEW
                                    Re: Good questions, glad we more or less agree on the basics, though. by Lizard_King 08/15/2003, 5:49pm PDT NEW
                                        How about this: once you've got a greencard, you get healthcare by Senor Barborito 08/15/2003, 8:31pm PDT NEW
                                            Within the framework you suggest by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 2:44am PDT NEW
                                                It's more of a 'welcome to America, now stop coughing up blood on our sidewalks' NT by Senor Barborito 08/16/2003, 3:06am PDT NEW
                                                    Can we get that printed on the Statue of Liberty? NT by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 4:55am PDT NEW
                        Re: Good questions, glad we more or less agree on the basics, though. by Zebco Fuckface 08/14/2003, 1:33pm PDT NEW
                            I don't believe that for a second. Prove it, link it, and I still won't. NT by Senor Barborito 08/14/2003, 1:45pm PDT NEW
                                Overseas outsourcing? by Chairman Mao 08/14/2003, 1:56pm PDT NEW
                                    IBM moving 5% of it's work force, as Mao said: fuck you. NT by Senor Barborito 08/14/2003, 1:58pm PDT NEW
                                        He was being sarchastic, Barbie... by Chairman Mao 08/14/2003, 2:18pm PDT NEW
                                            What is this sarcasm you speak of? NT by Senor Barborito 08/14/2003, 2:23pm PDT NEW
                                            Re: He was being sarchastic, Barbie... by Zebco Fuckface 08/14/2003, 7:00pm PDT NEW
    Re: What do you commies make of this? by Zebco Fuckface 08/14/2003, 12:02pm PDT NEW
        Individual coverage by corax 08/14/2003, 1:23pm PDT NEW
    Komrade BDR responds. by Bill Dungsroman 08/14/2003, 1:07pm PDT NEW
        Re: Komrade BDR responds. by Lizard_King 08/14/2003, 4:22pm PDT NEW
            It sure sucks to be rich. by Mischief Maker 08/14/2003, 7:11pm PDT NEW
                That is the least funny thing I've read in a while. NT by Lizard_King 08/14/2003, 9:40pm PDT NEW
                    Couldn't you at least use Invisible text in your fake NT post? NT by Mischief Liberatzi 08/14/2003, 9:47pm PDT NEW
            Re: Komrade BDR responds. by Bill Dungsroman 08/14/2003, 9:52pm PDT NEW
                Re: Komrade BDR responds. by Lizard_King 08/14/2003, 10:46pm PDT NEW
                I disagree!! by I need clarification 08/15/2003, 1:44pm PDT NEW
            Re: Komrade BDR responds. by godamit 08/15/2003, 5:15pm PDT NEW
                Hint: by Senor Barborito 08/15/2003, 8:35pm PDT NEW
                    I'm glad that was cathartic by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 5:13am PDT NEW
                        Oh shut up by Senor Barborito 08/16/2003, 5:36pm PDT NEW
                        AND J00 THINK FIGHT CLUB IS ABOUT 2 BOSOM BUDDY TERREASTS!!!!!@@!!!!!! NT by Flick Filosopher 08/16/2003, 7:06pm PDT NEW
                    what I was getting at... by godamit 08/18/2003, 2:19pm PDT NEW
                        Good post. by Fussbett 08/18/2003, 2:31pm PDT NEW
                            Re: Good post. by godamit 08/18/2003, 3:54pm PDT NEW
        Re: Komrade BDR responds. by Lizard_King 08/14/2003, 10:43pm PDT NEW
            Re: Komrade BDR responds. by Bill Dungsroman 08/15/2003, 6:56pm PDT NEW
                I forgot my favorite quote by Bill Dungsroman 08/15/2003, 8:08pm PDT NEW
                    Re: I forgot my favorite quote by Lizard_King 08/15/2003, 10:39pm PDT NEW
                Medical Savings Accounts by Bitter 08/16/2003, 8:45pm PDT NEW
                    Huh. So, who clears the expense as justified? by Lizard_King 08/16/2003, 9:45pm PDT NEW
 
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