Say Anything Blog

And I’m sure she’s right if we’re talking about government health care plans driving all private insurers out of business.  I’m sure some private insurers would stay in the market offering plans over and above the government plan for people who can afford them.  But they’ll likely be expensive luxury plans that most Americans can’t afford.

All of the insurance plans priced where the average American can afford them will, in fact, be driven out of the market by Obama’s “government option.”  Which is the whole point.  More government dependency.

WASHINGTON – The insurance lobby won’t be able to block a public health plan because most Americans realize they would be better off if the industry had competition, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday as congressional committees worked to shape legislation.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Sebelius said that President Barack Obama does not want to drive health insurers out of business, but make them more competitive by offering working families and small businesses the option of a public plan without the high overhead costs of marketing, administration and profits.

“I think there is a lot of understanding that the private market has really failed to provide affordable coverage to Americans,” Sebelius said. The industry has had “a lot of opportunities” to get rid of coverage restrictions and other unpopular policies, Sebelius said, and really “hasn’t served Americans very well.”

Actually, while the current health care system in America is far from perfect, it has actually served Americans pretty well.  Despite leading violent, workaholic, caffeine addicted, fast food lifestyles Americans keep living longer and longer.  Most of the innovation and invention that keeps extending our unhealthy lifestyles happens in America.  Canadians who can’t get the care they need in their government health care system swarm across the border to get it in ours.  The only reason places like Canada and Great Britain can keep prescription drugs at controlled low prices is because the drug companies can make up the profits they need to sustain invention, research and development in America.

And when the world’s leaders get sick and need best-in-the-world care?  They come to America.  Like Silvio Berluscioni.  Canadian MP Belinda Stronach.

The State Department even has a specific medical visa program which allows people from other places in the world to come here specifically for medical care.

That’s how poorly served Americans are by our health care system.  It’s so bad, America is a global destination for health care.

Do you think the sort of innovation and invention it takes to be a global destination for health care is going to happen with the government trying to control costs and access to health care?  What drives advancement in medical procedure and technology - much as in any industry - is the market.  Supply and demand.  People want to live long, healthier lives and the medical industry rises to the challenge.

That won’t happen under any government program, because the only way a government health care program can remain solvent is by restricting access to health care.