Can the government order individuals to purchase life insurance from private corporations?

[rug]

[dkf]

1. Maybe they should drop dependent coverage from SS and make

parents buy life insurance instead.

I'm sure the insurance companies would LOVE that.

[iconocrastic]

17. When the "private company" mandate is declared unconstitutional the government can step in

and pick up the pieces.

That's the plan.

[Hello_Kitty]

24. No, because a publicly administered program is not the same as a private corporation. eom

[golddigger]

2. That will be next on their agenda.

[treestar]

3. Can the government take tax money and spend it on private contractors?

It does that all the time.

[rug]

4. That's what Medicaid/Medicare does.

There is a fundamental difference between a government that levys a tax and spends it for the public good and a government that orders its citizens to give money to a private entity.

[treestar]

14. The government is giving money to a private entity

a doctor or hospital is as much a private entity as insurance. The government takes money to buy insurance, in essence. They buy insurance for everyone instead of just buying the health care for the limited people who qualify for Medicare. That's more efficient. The reason you insure your health rather than just pay directly is in case the bills are really high one time. The government currently pays directly for people who are older and likely to cost more.

[truedelphi]

15. Thank you for employing some logic. n/t

[depakid]

6. Not the same thing

though doubtlessly many will argue the point.

[quiller4]

5. Yes.

[JoeyT]

7. They can.

I'm not sure if it's legal. I *know* it isn't moral.
But they can still do it.

[totodeinhere]

8. Well, the GOP is planning to test that very question in court.

It's not as if they give a damn about the average Joe, but if they see an opening like this, they will run with it. If we had used our majority to pass single payer, we wouldn't have to argue this point.

[Hydra]

9. I'm sure they will at some point

After all, according to them, the Gov't can't efficiently provide such a service, so they'll have to make us purchase it from a private entity. IRAs too.

Just think- you'll pay your taxes, and still have to pay for all of the services you would have gotten from a decent one. Isn't it pure brilliance?

[ZombieHorde]

10. Bush has proved the government can do pretty much whatever it wants to do. nt

[ProSense]

11. Life insurance?

So comparing health insurance mandate to auto insurance, which also protects others on the road, is bogus, but comparing it to life insurance which has more or less nothing to do with the common good is somehow appropriate?

[rug]

16. The government can assert uninsured deaths costs society too much.

As they have argued health insurance.

[ProSense]

18. "costs society too much"

That is related to the high cost of emergency room visits. You really don't see the difference between life insurance and health insurance?

A lot of people don't even think about life insurance.

[rug]

19. It's a matter of degree but the principle is no different.

If Congress determines the cost of providing for dependents of uninsured decedents is too high a cost on society, it could, under this principle, choose to require individuals to purchase private life insurance rather than amend the survivor provisions of the Social Security law.

[ProSense]

20. No relevance whatsoever. n/t

[rug]

21. No content whatsoever. n/t

[Laelth]

12. Congress CAN pass any bill it likes.

Whether that bill is Constitutional is up to the Supreme Court. Only they can answer the question I suspect you were really asking.

Kill the bill.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed health care system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[timeforpeace]

13. The Supreme Court will be tasked with that question.

[boppers]

22. from private non-profits? from public co-ops? from publicly traded corporations?

The health bill doesn't specify what kind of entities can sell insurance, does it?

[rug]

23. Is there a public entity from which everyone can purchase health insurance?

If not, you must give your money to a private enterprise.

[boppers]

25. The IRS collects it, and puts it into Medicare and the National Health Service.

http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/

[rug]

26. You're talking about the fines for not paying the premiums to a private insurance company.