Nice summary of the philosophic difference between health insurance developed to provide care for those with illness versus insurance whose primary goal is making money.
Medicare is designed to absorb risk, serving individuals who have or may have costly and complex medical needs as well as the relatively healthy, whereas commercial insurance is required to protect its business interests by avoiding those most likely to use medical care. That’s why Medicare was first enacted. People over 65 were unable to buy commercial insurance because they use three times more medical services than working people; it was unaffordable or insurers simply refused to provide it.
and:
The belief that competition among private health insurance firms can produce cost savings or higher quality care represents the victory of illusion over evidence.
Read the rest of the piece, send it to your conservative friends and legislators.
Medicynic 