Announcing the Anti-Universal Coverage Club
Inspired by National Review's recent editorial and Andrew Sullivan's embrace of same (as well as by Greg Mankiw), I have decided it would be fun and educational to keep tally of those who reject the idea that federal or state governments should strive to provide every American with health insurance. Call it the Anti-Universal Coverage Club.
Here are the guiding principles of the Anti-Universal Coverage Club:
1. Health policy should focus on making health care of ever-increasing quality available to an ever-increasing number of people.
2. To achieve "universal coverage" would require either having the government provide health insurance to everyone or forcing everyone to buy it. Government provision is undesirable, because government does a poor job of improving quality or efficiency. Forcing people to get insurance would lead to a worse health-care system for everyone, because it would necessitate so much more government intervention.
3. In a free country, people should have the right to refuse health insurance.
4. If governments must subsidize those who cannot afford medical care, they should be free to experiment with different types of subsidies (cash, vouchers, insurance, public clinics & hospitals, uncompensated care payments, etc.) and tax exemptions, rather than be forced by a policy of "universal coverage" to subsidize people via "insurance."
If you'd like to join the Anti-Universal Coverage Club, let me know by posting something to your own blog, or by emailing me here. Feel free to forward items from other like-minded individuals.
I predict that neither the American Medical Association, nor the Federation of American Hospitals, nor America's Health Insurance Plans will join the Anti-Universal Coverage Club.
posted by Michael F. Cannon on 06.27.07
cato-at-liberty.org
Anti-Universal Coverage Club in National Journal
The Anti-Universal Coverage Club was written up in National Journal (subscription required) just nine days after it was launched. The article notes that former Medicare trustee Tom Saving is among the club’s members.
It also notes that the club is “at odds not only with liberals but also with some conservatives.” For example, it quotes Galen Institute president Grace-Marie Turner on why she does not plan to join:
It’s perception. If people think we’re against having everyone have health insurance coverage, what kind of statement is that?
Turner is right about those opposed to “universal coverage” facing a perception problem. In my experience, the health policy community is characterized by:
1. A pervasive opinion that the best way to protect people’s health is for government to pursue health insurance coverage for all, and
2. A common perception that if you do not support universal coverage, you are an uncaring person.
Another word for #2 is prejudice. Which is bad enough by itself. But if #1 is incorrect — and there is ample reason to suspect that it is — then #2 commits another sin by preventing people from questioning #1.
Turner values freedom and thinks that markets outperform government. If such people believe that #2 is too difficult to overcome, that makes it even more important that the Anti-Universal Coverage Club challenge that prejudice.
posted by Michael F. Cannon on 07.10.07 @ 2:59 pm
cato-at-liberty.org
Also see
cato-at-liberty.org
coyoteblog.com
one comment at that last link
Well, the many many people you refer to are then overcome by the many many many more that tell exactly the opposite story.
Perhaps we can talk in real statistics. Maybe you have a good explanation for why five year survival rate for breast cancer caught early in the US stands at 98% while it's only 78% in The UK??? Why do 45% of dialysis centers deny dialysis to people aged 65 and older. Dialysis is rationed in Britain and somebody has to make who live or dies. Perhaps you can also explain why drugs available in America are banned in parts of Europe because the socialist body responsible for negotiating a price cap couldn't come to an agreement. LONG lists are well documented by the very healthcare systems that I criticize. Just take a look at their own websites.
If you want to use anecdotes, I can give you an exhaustive list. One guy's anecdote is hardly a reason to think that things are a-okay. Many people's experience suggests a trend beyond anecdotal.
Posted by: Methinks | Jun 30, 2007 10:08:35 AM |
