to give up on the egalitarian principle of a single standard of care
I am aware how controversial this is. Maybe to the point of being hard if not impossible to accept. But, for example, in dentistry this is reality, as well as in some other niche areas. I know of one arrangement where a large University clinic will every day take the first 15 people in line and treat them for free. The catch is - you can't have insurance, and you must show up at 7am. If you want it bad enough, you'll do it.
It's tough, but for many it's a safety net, and a solution. And at the same time it is so inconvenient that if there is any way the patients can get some money, or get insurance, they will try to avoid it.
Doesn't have to be exactly this way, but it's an example. There must be many other ways of structuring it. Like any welfare, it should be a solid, functional safety net, but... unattractive and undesirable as a permanent solution for the recipient.
As for politicians, I don't care if they have a poor man's insurance, or the best there is. The undeserving SOBs will get VIP treatment in any case. |
