NBC Fans Flames for Big Government Health

Posted by admin in Health Care, Insurance Regulation on Nov 13th, 2008 | no responses

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I know what you're thinking: "A network television program favors more government intervention? Why are you surprised?"

OK, so I'm not surprised. But it does remind me how much advocates of freedom of choice in health care, not to mention economic sense, have to overcome in educating the public.

Health Insurance Blogger, a blogger who, well, sells insurance, pointed me to an NBC "Nightly News" broadcast story about how women might have to pay more for a policy in the individual market. Why? "But according to some women, the costs should be spread equally." In technical terms, they're calling for community rating–charging everyone the same premium regardless of how likely it is that the person will file a claim.

That's like making safe-driver Sally pay the same auto insurance premium as reckless Rod, the 17-year old with a penchant for running red lights.

Thinking of the NBC story reminds me of the times when I've heard people a few decades older than me talk about how their parents wrote a check–no insurance involved!–to the doctor for their delivery.

Insurance costs were a low lower then, too. And I bet there was no community rating.

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