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Politics : A US National Health Care System? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Koligman who wrote (5485)	4/16/2008 7:50:54 PM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

That Balkanization is a huge obstacle to lowered prices, more variety, and particularly to make insurance portable. I liked the idea of having a Federal alternative for regulation. It would make a good demonstration project, at least.

To: John Koligman who wrote (5485)	4/16/2008 7:57:17 PM
From: TimF	Respond to of 42652

A federal alternative doesn't amount to total deregulation, not even close. And it would probably lower costs (unless the federal regs are so expensive that the companies keep the "state charters" to avoid them) Allowing them to "pay claims when they feel like it" (and so presumably not pay them when they don't feel like it) would go beyond even extreme deregulation. It would be allowing fraud. The countries in the Frontline piece do it by more regulation More regulation overall? Probably. More regulation of health care insurance? I'm not so sure about that.

To: John Koligman who wrote (5485)	4/17/2008 9:15:49 AM
From: Peter Dierks	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

While I have concerns about the long term potential for the insurance industry to become yet another target for Congressional lobbying funds the fact that the industry is so Balkanized flies in the face of efficiency. Imagine where America would be today if Henry Ford had been forced to set up a manufacturing plant in every state he sold cars in. What if instead of the National Transportation Safety Board automobile had to deal with over fifty local jurisdictions? Even the states network of Balkanized tractor testing labs was broken up and nationalized over twenty years ago. Do you worry that nationally inspected and certified cars are more dangerous than ones your state might test with its limited resources? We are talking about inefficiency robbing you through higher premiums. Don't you want to save money? Don't you want better service?