HEALTH CARE IS BROCCOLI IS THE CHEVY BOLT?

Lots of discussion this week on the evils of the individual mandate. Some are terrified of what the government will do next. Forced broccoli eating? No, God no, not even the Nazis...The more well heeled are terrified they'll be forced to give up their luxury imports and drive a Chevy Volt. All these arguments are rational to a degree and academically fascinating but there's a hard core reality to being human, we get sick. It's random, frequently nasty and all too often life threatening.

Suleika Jaouad's story, facing cancer in her twenties, says it all. She was "immortal". At least felt immortal as most of us do in our twenties when she developed leukemia. All of a sudden she had needs that broccoli, Chevy Volts or any other commodity couldn't solve. She needed health care and now or face death. It's why health care is unique among all commodities. It's why the individual mandate is a must. 

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A DO NOT TREAT LIST!?!

Is this the way forward? Everyone should have the right to opt out of the health care system just like everyone has the right to refuse medical treatment? Think adult Jehovah Witnesses refusing blood transfusions. In theory could work. In reality my guess is as soon as someone who's opted out really gets sick they'll demand treatment and we'll give it. It's who we are as a nation and it's what we do now.

INDIVIDUAL MANDATE

This is a really good article explaining the individual mandate. Keep this in mind when you read it. It's far cheaper for us to give basic coverage to everyone then wait until they get really sick and end up in ER. Even basic care in an emergency room is far more expensive than anything delivered in a doctor's office. Who pays for this expensive ER care we're currently doling out to all and any? The insured pay a hidden surcharge and of course the tax payer foots the bill for the County system. My point is we're all going to be patients at some point. We all should pay our way. Each and every one of us.