Reply #17: A recounting of current problems

[kristopher]

Do you really think everyone else is so uninformed?

A recounting of our current problems does nothing to substantiate your conclusion regarding the mix of the two systems. The downside of our present system isn't just costly medical care due to high management costs. It also involves a deficit of informations due to high information costs for individuals. Large corporations do not face that obstacle, they are in a position to negotiate from both financial strength and knowledge. If the costs of an outside agency managing their risks becomes too high, they have the option of self insuring. At the same time, they are in a position of having a financial motive to push the health care delivery system for improved services and efficiency.

I think Obama's plan heads us in this direction and I find that acceptable. Another plus for it is that it doesn't directly confront insurance companies. It simply shrinks their pool of insured; thereby avoiding the war cry of over-interference in private business by government. Lots of people have had to sacrifice for the 'improvements' of globalization, the people are going to feel little empathy for insurance companies facing tougher times and having to be more competitive. They might (I think would), however, reject direct move to strip the insurers of all access to the market.