Why Are We Still Discussing The Mandates?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I support single payer. That being said if you compel insurance companies to insure everybody regardless of their physical condition without a mandate you will literally have people purchasing insurance after they get sick which defeats the whole idea of insurance which is spreading the risk.

[Cronus Protagonist]

1. Everyone who gets hit with them hates them

The bullshit "reasoning" doesn't help either.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Then Junk Obama's Whole Plan

It would be like buying homeowners insurance after your house went on fire.

[Statistical]

3. False comparison.

I am not mandated to have homeowners insurance or even a home.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. No, But Those That Provide You With Homeowners Insurance

No, but those who provide homeowners insurance aren't compelled to insure you after your house goes on fire.

[Cronus Protagonist]

7. Bullshit argument

If it's insurance, you need a free market. Insurance companies need to compete for your dollar, and they need to compete to entice people who refuse to, or cannot, pay higher prices - that means they need to have downwards price pressure, like in any free market system. If they can raise rates and not run the risk of losing "customers", they're not in a free market and it's not insurance. It's called fascism.

When purchase is compelled, it's not "insurance" any more, it's more like a Monopoly board where you pay cash to a system of for-profit health panels who get paid to limit care each time you pass "go". No exceptions. And I don't have cash or a get out of jail free card. I'll have to take a "chance".

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. If An Insurance Company Has To Insure Everyone They Will Just Pass On The Cost

The insurance company will just pass on the risk in the form of higher premiums for everyone.

That's why the better your driving record the less expensive your automobile insurance is, the safer your home is the cheaper your homeowners insurance is, et cetera. Without the pooling of risk insurance wouldn't exist.

[Cronus Protagonist]

11. Increasing premiums is NOT passing on risk

Come on now. Surely you're not going to claim that raising prices is passing on risk? It's passing on COSTS, not risk. There is no risk and this is not insurance. How can you make any kind of sensible decision about this if you don't understand the basics?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. What Part Of "If You Force A Company To Insure Everybody" Their Costs Will Go Up ?

What part of "if you insure a company to insure everybod regardless of their status their costs will go up and they will pass if on in the form of higher premiums" don't you understand?


I have a question . What would happen to the preiums of the safe driver if an automobile insurance company was forced to insure everybody regardless of their driving record?

[abelenkpe]

4. Is that what

happens in Mass or Hawaii?

Those state have mandated insurance, yes?

[JuniperLea]

9. You're right...

And I'm at a loss as to why this exceedingly valid point is lost on so many here.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. I'm Confused

If I understand the Massachusetts plan private insurance companies have to insure everybody regardless of their health status but every Massachusetts resident is required to buy health insurance thus spreading the risk.

Without mandates, the effort to compel insurance companies to insure people regardless of risk falls apart.

[abelenkpe]

5. Is that what

happens in Mass or Hawaii?

Those state have mandated insurance, yes?

[LetsgoWings13]

12. the mandates make this bill worth not being for.

all it does it keep the insurance companies making money off my life. yes yes i know there are good things in the bill, but now we are beholden to the INSURANCE COMPANIES!

[Enrique]

13. maybe some people are still convinced by Obama's argument

when he opposed mandates in the primaries.

A lot of people have clearly unconvinced themselves since Obama changed his position, but it's going to take some time for everyone to come over to the currently correct position.