Competition is needed to improve health insurance options for Americans

[Peter1469]

Competition is needed to improve health insurance options for Americans

Some states have as few as three health insurance companies. Some more. But none really have true free market competition, which would bring prices down.

With all the talk of “free” everything by the far-left political candidates, it’s about time those of us back here on Planet Earth embrace what makes America so great: the competitive spirit.

Health insurance options have been limited by arcane state-line rules for far too long, and made worse by Obamacare.


In a global economy, it’s beyond comprehension that health insurers have to design plans for each state — and it’s even more mind-boggling that customers can only buy a plan that is approved in their state.


Competition brings out the best in people, and in business. Some rise and some fall by the way they conduct commerce.


The politically protected health insurance industry hasn’t competed for customers in over a decade. It’s time to put people before politics, and the solution lies in simple business smarts.


Today, most states and counties have only two to three options. Imagine if there were only three pizza stands in New York City. Prices would be outrageous!

[Refugee]

Other states have a lot more. Competition won’t lower costs, these insurance private companies will bleed you dry, have done and are doing. Non-profit NHS (National Health Insurance), is the only way to go.

[countryboy]

Other states have a lot more. Competition won’t lower costs, these insurance private companies will bleed you dry, have done and are doing. Non-profit NHS (National Health Insurance), is the only way to go.

Lol, and have severely rationed care, and extended wait times? No thanks.

[DGUtley]

There is no constitutional ability to impose a national health system. Change the constitution if you think you have the votes. Personally, I don't like the government controlling that much of my life.

[Refugee]

Lol, and have severely rationed care, and extended wait times? No thanks.

US privatized health has a lot going for it, if you can afford it. For those that can’t I imagine it’s a nightmare. I suppose you could say, 'well, I'm alright, sod everyone else', but that's not the way we see it.

Governments aren’t good at business, I think we’d all agree with that. However, not everything is socialist just because a government runs it. The US armed forces are not socialist because they’re under the command of the Federal Government. Similarly, the UK National Health Service is not socialist because it’s managed by the government and it’s actually a non-profit insurance scheme that removes the middle men corporate profiteers.

Compulsory deductions are taken from salaries at source, there is no opt out. You pay depending on your income level, which can be as low as $7 a month to those on a minimum wage, to a more realistic $300 for higher earners in the middle income bracket. Prescription drugs are charged a set rate at, I think at the moment $12, although if you’re young, old, pregnant … there’s no charge.

Co-pay and deductibles are unknown as is crowd funding for money to buy treatment and everyone gets a one level service. Those with lesser ills stand in a queue, emergencies go straight to the front.

We all complain and it’s always aimed at funding levels, but it’s a fact that in every western country that abandons privatized medicine, no population ever demands its return. We just value our health above profit, but for those who have never lived under other health care systems, I suppose it’s normal to make a profit.

[DGUtley]

We are a nation of laws. Our federal government's hands are tied by the defined powers clause of the United States Constitution. There simply is no way to provide UHC under the federal constitution. It all sounds nice and all, but it would require a constitutional change. If we 'look the other way' constitutionally, or other rights will erode.

[carolina73]

Other states have a lot more. Competition won’t lower costs, these insurance private companies will bleed you dry, have done and are doing. Non-profit NHS (National Health Insurance), is the only way to go.

You have no idea what you are talking about. First of all, the VA is the most expensive and least efficient system in the country and that is Government Health Care.
Second of all you can already take your pick:

Below is a list of major non profit providers from the AANHC's directory:

• Affinity
• American Postal Workers Union Health Plans
• AmeriHealth Mercy/Independent Blue Cross
• Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield
• AultCare Health Plans
• AvMed, Inc
• Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi
• Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota
• Blue Cross of Idaho Health Service, Inc.
• Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania
• Blue Shield of California
• BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
• BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
• BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and BlueCross BlueShield of Northeastern New York
• Bluegrass Family Health, Inc.
• Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan
• Capital Blue Cross
• Capital District Physicians Health Plan, Inc.
• CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
• CareOregon
• CareSource, Inc.
• Community Health Group
• Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc. (CHNCT)
• Community Health Plan of Washington
• Cook Children's Health Plan (CCHP)
• EmblemHealth, Inc.
• Fallon Community Health Plan
• Family Health Partners
• Fidelis Care, Inc.
• Geisinger Health Plan
• Government Employees Health Association (GEHA)
• Group Health Cooperative
• Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc.
• Hawaii Medical Service Association
• Health Alliance Plan of Michigan
• Health Care Service Corporation
• Health Partners of Philadelphia
• Health Plus (PHSP), Inc.
• Healthfirst
• HealthPartners, Inc.
• HealthPlus of Michigan, Inc.
• Highmark, Inc.
• Hometown Health Plan, Inc.
• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Hudson Health Plan
• Independent Health Association, Inc.
• Inland Empire Health Plan
• Kaiser Permanente
• Kern Health Systems, Inc.
• Lifetime Healthcare Companies
• Maryland Physicians Care (MPC)
• McLaren Health Plan
• MDWise
• Medica Health Plans
• Medical Mutual of Ohio
• MVP Health Care Preferred Care
• Neighborhood Health Plan, Inc.
• Paramount Care, Inc. (ProMedica Health System)
• Parkland Community Health Plan
• Partnership Health Plan of California
• Phoenix Health Plan/Abrazo Advantage
• Premera, Inc.
• Priority Health
• Priority Partners
• Providence Health Plan
• Rocky Mountain Health Plans
• SCAN Health Plan
• Scott and White Health Plan
• Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc.
• SelectHealth
• Sentara Health Plans, Inc.
• Texas Children's Health Plan
• The Chartered Health Plan Inc.
• The Regence Group
• Trustmark Companies
• Tufts Associated Health Plans, Inc.
• UAW Retiree Medical Benefit Trust
• UCare
• University Health Care Health Plans
• UPMC Health Plan, Inc.
• Virginia Premier Health Plan, Inc.
• Wellmark, Inc.

These are already non-profit. So what does those trying to take over your insurance really want?

[Refugee]

You have no idea what you are talking about. First of all, the VA is the most expense and least efficient system in the country and that is Government Health Care.
Second of all you can already take your pick:

Below is a list of major non profit providers from the AANHC's directory:

• Affinity
• American Postal Workers Union Health Plans
• AmeriHealth Mercy/Independent Blue Cross
• Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield
• AultCare Health Plans
• AvMed, Inc
• Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi
• Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota
• Blue Cross of Idaho Health Service, Inc.
• Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania
• Blue Shield of California
• BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
• BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
• BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and BlueCross BlueShield of Northeastern New York
• Bluegrass Family Health, Inc.
• Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan
• Capital Blue Cross
• Capital District Physicians Health Plan, Inc.
• CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
• CareOregon
• CareSource, Inc.
• Community Health Group
• Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc. (CHNCT)
• Community Health Plan of Washington
• Cook Children's Health Plan (CCHP)
• EmblemHealth, Inc.
• Fallon Community Health Plan
• Family Health Partners
• Fidelis Care, Inc.
• Geisinger Health Plan
• Government Employees Health Association (GEHA)
• Group Health Cooperative
• Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc.
• Hawaii Medical Service Association
• Health Alliance Plan of Michigan
• Health Care Service Corporation
• Health Partners of Philadelphia
• Health Plus (PHSP), Inc.
• Healthfirst
• HealthPartners, Inc.
• HealthPlus of Michigan, Inc.
• Highmark, Inc.
• Hometown Health Plan, Inc.
• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Hudson Health Plan
• Independent Health Association, Inc.
• Inland Empire Health Plan
• Kaiser Permanente
• Kern Health Systems, Inc.
• Lifetime Healthcare Companies
• Maryland Physicians Care (MPC)
• McLaren Health Plan
• MDWise
• Medica Health Plans
• Medical Mutual of Ohio
• MVP Health Care Preferred Care
• Neighborhood Health Plan, Inc.
• Paramount Care, Inc. (ProMedica Health System)
• Parkland Community Health Plan
• Partnership Health Plan of California
• Phoenix Health Plan/Abrazo Advantage
• Premera, Inc.
• Priority Health
• Priority Partners
• Providence Health Plan
• Rocky Mountain Health Plans
• SCAN Health Plan
• Scott and White Health Plan
• Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc.
• SelectHealth
• Sentara Health Plans, Inc.
• Texas Children's Health Plan
• The Chartered Health Plan Inc.
• The Regence Group
• Trustmark Companies
• Tufts Associated Health Plans, Inc.
• UAW Retiree Medical Benefit Trust
• UCare
• University Health Care Health Plans
• UPMC Health Plan, Inc.
• Virginia Premier Health Plan, Inc.
• Wellmark, Inc.

These are already non-profit. So what does those trying to take over your insurance really want?

That’s fantastic. So why does anyone bother to buy health insurance? Do they also provide cheap medicines?

[Refugee]

We are a nation of laws. Our federal government's hands are tied by the defined powers clause of the United States Constitution. There simply is no way to provide UHC under the federal constitution. It all sounds nice and all, but it would require a constitutional change. If we 'look the other way' constitutionally, or other rights will erode.

The UK too had privatized (and charity supported) medical health care previous to WW2. What happened is WW1 practically wiped out a generation. This was followed by the great depression and on top of that another WW2. Those who’d survived all that were beginning to wonder what it was they were fighting to protect and why when they wanted help the government abandoned them and threw them to the mercy of charities. The law was simply changed and I can’t think of anything in the constitution that says the US population couldn’t demand that as well. But yes, in a US society where everything has a monetary value; that would be near impossible without someone making a profit out of it.

Perhaps in the UK, we just live in a more socialized society that puts people first. For instance, if we both go to hospital and I have a broken leg and money and you’re having chest pains with no money, although I’m in pain I’m more than willing to wait while you get treated first, in fact I’d insist on it. I’d just recognize your need is greater than mine as it’s potentially life threatening.

That would happen in the UK without my being asked. I think the US is the only country left in the western hemisphere that still has the old concept of paying to keep breathing. The rest of Europe ditched that outdated idea decades ago.

A quick 7 minute look at the differences between the US and UK.



‘British Doctors Respond to American Attacks on NHS’

[DGUtley]

The UK too had privatized (and charity supported) medical health care previous to WW2. What happened is WW1 practically wiped out a generation. This was followed by the great depression and on top of that another WW2. Those who’d survived all that were beginning to wonder what it was they were fighting to protect and why when they wanted help the government abandoned them and threw them to the mercy of charities. The law was simply changed and I can’t think of anything in the constitution that says the US population couldn’t demand that as well. But yes, in a US society where everything has a monetary value; that would be near impossible without someone making a profit out of it.

Then you don't know the constitution. The powers of the federal government (the central government) are limited by the Enumerated Powers Clause. Article 1, Section 8. All other powers are vested in the states or the people. The constitution provides that protection for the citizens from the overreach of the central government. Again, they are welcome to change the Constitution. My guess, though, is that they don't have the votes or they would.

Perhaps in the UK, we just live in a more socialized society that puts people first. For instance, if we both go to hospital and I have a broken leg and money and you’re having chest pains with no money, although I’m in pain I’m more than willing to wait while you get treated first, in fact I’d insist on it. I’d just recognize your need is greater than mine as it’s potentially life threatening. That would happen in the UK without my being asked. I think the US is the only country left in the western hemisphere that still has the old concept of paying to keep breathing. The rest of Europe ditched that outdated idea decades ago.

Note: video removed by responding poster.

You don't put people first, you put government control and power first. I was in London this fall, I stayed at the Doubletree in Westminster. The Mrs. and I walked all over London. I was struck by the acceptance of their lot in life by the people I met. 'We don't have much, but we get by...' 'That's how it is...' 'Why kill ourselves, we'll never get ahead...' A lot of us grew up dirt poor and have made something of ourselves - through hard work, risk, gambles etc. For us stingy Americans, the United States' Citizens donate nearly three times the percent of GDP to charity than do our United Kingdom friends. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...table_donation In fact, the United States has been the most generous country in the world over the past decade. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/th...ity-2019-10-18