[cschneid]

your last line is basically a public plan like I suggest, except run by the private sector, with direct payments instead of taxes. We basically agree on the shape of the solution, if not the specific implementation.

But expecting insurance companies as they currently exist to pay for pre-existing without that kind of tradeoff is like crashing your car into a pole, then walking down to state farm and being like "ohh, I need car insurance, full coverage, and pay for my repairs. I don't expect my rates to be different because of that though".

And really, a planned pregnancy is mostly a pre-existing condition. I wonder why there aren't any supplemental policies for complications though. Something that wouldn't cover the expected stuff, but would cover real medical complications.

[lutorm]

Pregnancy might be something that's by choice, but that practically everyone will go through. Do we really want a society where only the rich can afford to have kids?

[coolnewtoy]

I suspect those plans don't exist because the premiums would have to be so high to make it profitable that it would make more sense financially for most self-employed couples to have one spouse get a job with a group plan that has to cover you even if you decide to have kids.