Why can't the Gov't repeal the law that doesn't allow them to do so. That in itself would ... oh nevermind.

Very true. And that fits the capitalistic model. Volume pricing will always get a better deal than you can get on your own.

True, but they can charge you higher premiums based on your individual case to offset the standard and set fee the employer pays for your insurance. The employer certainly is not going to pay more. And each year the insurance company can and does increase premiums to the employee with little change or in many cases less coverage.

For a side by side comparison of all the plans floating around congress, select all in each of the two boxes. It will come up as a PDF file.

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/sidebyside.cfm

You mean everyone but the uber rich, right? Because you always defend them, no matter how wrong they are.

Bull shit. They should pay the same percentage as I have to pay, 33%. Eveyone should pay the same.

I disagree. I think the more money you have, the higher a percentage you should pay. I know we will NEVER agree on this subject though, so I'm dropping it now.

Good, but don't post bull shit that I support the uber rich. They, and you, and everyone else should pay the same percentage, what ever that is...

I don't understand your point ... You support a plan where only the wealthy can choose their only treatment, while the middle class is stuck with the federal standard treatment? I'd prefer a system where everyone can choose their treatment.

This automotive comparison really doesn't work. The government mandates liability insurance, which covers your damage to other people's property. Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your own property, and is totally optional. Health insurance is like comprehensive. And yes, I really believe it should be optional.

No, you're paying $1000/yr for your own wrecks. I pay $350/yr for mine. It might be a kind of socialism, but it's arguable -- only people with cars pay car insurance. Conversely, people who have no children still pay for public schools.

No, it's not true at all. Negotiation may be able to get a good deal (depending on the skill and drive of the negotiators) but only competition can get the best price. (And there's no guarantee the government negotiators will be any good.)

And wait, there's another gaping hole in this meme -- Who is this single seller we're having such a hard time getting good prices from?

One more thing -- The USA is already running an annual deficit. Every dollar a health plan would require must come from at least one extra dollar in taxes.

Me too, but I don't expect medical care to be free any time soon. The next closest thing would be single payer, which is a non-starter at this point. So my choices are going to be made through a health plan of some sort. And if someone is going to be in charge of deciding what treatments I can get, I don't want it to be someone who gets to keep any money they don't use to pay for my treatment.

That is the system we already have. If you pay for insurance that is what you get now. Same in an HMO. Same for any plan the Federal government is going to offer.

Yes, yes, yes, and probably not.

We don't know yet exactly what the government plan is going to be, but I don't think it is a big stretch to hope that it isn't going to be paying shareholders out of the money they don't spend on medical costs.

No, they will be paying for it out of our taxes. And if you think this is going to be better I have bridge in Arizona to sell you.

The Federal plan will be paying shareholders? So they'll have both tax funding and investors? Like I said, nobody knows what it will look like at this point, but IMHO that's unlikely.

Meaning the share holders, us the US public, you know the portion that pays income tax, will be paying for it.

And the latest news is that the major hospital associations will be chipping in a huge portion in savings for the federal plan as well. Guess who is going to pay for thier missing bit? All the rest of those who pay for their health care now, not the portion who get it for free, as they do now. Guess what, costs are not going to go up for the rest of those who pay. You think the CEO's and hospitals are just going to cut their profits? Don't count on that. They will be protected under any new plan.