Mandatory health insurance?

[pauamma]

so it looks (from what I saw) that the final (signed into law) health bill makes health insurance mandatory. I'm curious: setting aside the "why would anyone in their right mind *not* want health insurance" justification or justification attempt, what are the reasons invoked to make it mandatory? If someone wanted to opt out for some reason (if only because it's mandatory, benefits notwithstanding), what would be their options, and would you consider that wish reasonable?

ETA: should probably get "health insurance" and or "it's for your own good" topic tags, but I can't create new tags.

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

well, yes, the analogy to car insurance isn't perfect.

but it was what i hear people comparing it to.

the problem is that if people either can't afford or choose not to buy medical insurance, and they don't have basic medicare or they're not on medicaid, when they do go to the emergency room the rest of us paying customers end up eating their bill, because by law emergency rooms cannot turn anyone away. so figuring out how to make the freeloaders pay was the hard part.

Europe solved it by making medical insurance a government benefit, like, oh, highways or water treatment plants. But of course over here we've been very reluctant to go that route for a lot of reasons.

But if you don't make it a government program, the only way to compel people to do it is to fine them if they don't, or make business do it. Overwhelmingly people got insurance through their companies here; that's the existing system. But like my husband's boss: It's a small, three-person company. They have had a heck of a time finding a policy they can afford. I think they've changed insurance companies once a year, trying to find a better deal.

And I totally agree with what you say about entrepreneurship and small business -- that is totally where the energy and buzz is in our economy. People don't go to work for a big company and stay their entire career like they used to. So portable insurance makes a lot of sense.

I heard, though I haven't followed up on it, that the bill is giving small businesses a tax break for offering medical insurance. I want to know more about that.