| >Sure it had more bells and whistles > [...] >this same plan today is $780 a month without subsidies The problem with your comment is that your prices are very exact but the consumed goods (insurances) are described only vaguely. The country I live in, introduced obligatory health insurance 1996. The first proposition by our Democratic Party goes back to 1960. After 30 years of intense political fight we now have a system that is supported by all of the parties. So I think our system is as balanced as it gets. Plus we have a highly competitive system between insurence companies, and you are allowed to switch the insurance company every year, which then is done by lot of people. The absolute most important thing is a rock-solid legal description of the minimun that every insurance company has to deliver. Here are the + and - after 10 years of practical experience with obligatory healthcare: + High competition, disciplines insurance companies to work efficiently, and allows new, small and innovative companies to enter the market. + It's a pretty fair non-discriminatory system, nationwide and across all insurance companies + Simple system once it is established + Vulnerable persons are well protected. + The common health of the people is rising. - The costs are rising every year because the is no direct interest in keeping the costs down - The insurance companies get more powerful every year due intense lobbying, this not in our interest. - There is explosion of special health services, very expensive treatments, rising salaries in the health economy TLDR: Obligatory healthcare is good and you live longer. But it comes with a price. |