Health Insurance for All Children

[Risiko]

I am both naive and ignorant on the detailed pros and cons of providing Health coverage for all children. From my perspective, this is a no-brainer - what could a child do to not deserve health insurance? I asked my stepfather today this very question: do you think all children should be covered by health insurance (as Kerry has proposed)? "No", he answered, "it is the responsibility of the parents". This, I do not understand. There are so many horribly deviant parents, and so many who simply cannot afford it, that there are many millions of children in the US without health insurance covering them. I cannot fathom why this should be. Not all parents are responsible, so the government should take over and provide it, for all who cannot afford it (in the least).

As far as adults, that is a different issue. But there's nothing a child could do to not warrant him having health insurance. That's how I see it now. Of course, as I've said, I'm woefully naive, so I ask: Can I have people provide a nonpartisan and clear list of the Pros and Cons? This is what I know now:

Pros: Gives all children health insurance (which leads to many positives).

Cons: Is a slight economic negative (some inefficiencies since the government is taking over).

Thanks

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Insurance isn't a "right". People need to understand that before we can think about having a health system that protects kids like you are talking about.

CsG

 

[ReiAyanami]

here's an argument against it: children might then live long enough to become a burden to social security.

how to put this in a way: some people are worth more than others. human equality does not apply to poor humans. children are worthless, because they simply are a draw on resources for two whole decades before becoming productive. plus, in 3rd world countries children work for very very low wages, proving their worthlessness.

or as Bush would say (in the debates) your entire family is not worth $7,700.

 

[cpumaster]

because insurance cost money and children can't pay for it themselves so it will fall on other member of the population to pick up the tab. I'd agree if someone propose a free limited health service for children, ie immunization, but if parents want their children to be insured fully, they gotta pay for it. It should be somewhat affordable of course...

PS: I don't think John Kerry is talking about health insurance for all the children for free. It's more about affordable health insurance for everyone that everyone will pay for it if they want to.

 

[Infohawk]

Have you heard lordtyranus's argument about welfare brats? How he doesn't want to give them handouts? Oh... he wants to be a doctor too.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Insurance isn't a "right". People need to understand that before we can think about having a health system that protects kids like you are talking about.

CsG

The dying of children will continue till all know that insurance is not a right.

 

[Moonbeam]

I think us compassionate conservatives should show some mercy and shoot the ones that get sick.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Insurance isn't a "right". People need to understand that before we can think about having a health system that protects kids like you are talking about.

CsG

Unfettered suppy of oil isn't a right but we waste billions upon billions subsidizing it each year. Fundamentally you do not need a RIGHT in order to invest resources. It just has to be important. It's indeed a troubling lack of morality amongst the foes to universal pediatric healthcare.

Sadly it could be done on the cheap as well. I believe Medicaid is the largest single provider of healthcare for children but the largest expense in Medicaid is providing services for old people. In essence, kids typically are quite healthy and they are easy to keep healthy. Kerry's estimates for covering children are largely in the ballpark. Despite the our fat, Xbox-playing populace of prepubes . . . healthcare for children is relatively cheap. It's the old bastards that cost mad money. Yet where did this administration drop half a TRILLION?!

Pediatrics is fundamentally a preventative/health maintenance profession. Unlike the armies of general internists, cardiologists, pulmonologist, gastroenterologists, neurologists and geriatricians that merely manage expensive maladies; a good pediatrician can change a child's world . . . on a dime no less. But of course . . . there's no money in children growing up that don't smoke, do not drink in excess, do not eat at KFC, do exercise daily, do wear seatbelts, do avoid firearms, do not use excess illicit drugs, do avoid unsafe sex. That's just a few of the things covered by a good pediatrician that are NEVER compensated by public (Medicare/Medicaid/CHIP) or private (insurance) payers.

Universal child healthcare will work b/c it is by definition universal preventative medicine/health maintenance . . . assuming provider reimbursement doesn't sux like Medicaid. But drug companies, hospitals, and certainly insurance companies will really take it on the chin as we deny them future consumers. Medical specialties will also take a beating. But ultimately it will allow the development of a healthcare system premised on health maintenance/preventative healthcare instead of sick care. A system we could offer to everyone at a substantial discount to the current wastecare system.

Take note the reason why insurance companies love to sell family plans is that covering kids has huge margins.

 

[HalosPuma]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Insurance isn't a "right". People need to understand that before we can think about having a health system that protects kids like you are talking about.

People have been so conditioned to believe that so many things are now "rights" such as health care, college education, employment, etc.

No, it is an absoutely terrible, horrible idea for the government to provide health insurance for all children. Anything and everything the government handles becomes bloated down with bureaucracy and inefficiency. Just look at our "publik skule" system.

The proper way is to reduce the cost of healthcare so that it is affordable to more people, not tax everyone to pay for other's health care issues. And the way to reduce the cost is (a) stop frivilous lawsuits; (b) crack down on the trial lawyers; and (c) dramatically reduce the size of government. When more poeple have more money, they will spend it more wirely than government will.

Lastly, and sadly, not every child can live. On a global scale, there are only so many people that our planet can support. The #1 resource that is in scarce supply is... clean, fresh water. Just like any other species of animals, when the population overruns the resources available for it, there is a huge die-off in the population until it balances again with the ecosystem. The same applies to humans.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Normally I allow noob trolls to wallow in their ignorance but you desperately need help.

The proper way is to reduce the cost of healthcare so that it is affordable to more people, not tax everyone to pay for other's health care issues. And the way to reduce the cost is (a) stop frivilous lawsuits; (b) crack down on the trial lawyers; and (c) dramatically reduce the size of government. When more poeple have more money, they will spend it more wirely than government will.

Uh aren't you cracking down on trial lawyers to stop frivilous lawsuits? Being a little redundant, eh?

Even Bush's wholy inakurate characterization of defensive medicine is dwarfed by the expense of unregulated pharmaceuticals. As for dramatically reducing the size of government . . . I'm all for it. I would disband homeland security and restore reasonable leadership (and resources) to the component parts. Cut DOD by at least 50%. Make Medicare means-tested with a higher threshold than Medicaid but still forcing old people with decent incomes to pay for their own damn healthcare. Whacking away at Medicare and DOD would save mad cheddar.

 

[Risiko]

Lastly, and sadly, not every child can live. On a global scale, there are only so many people that our planet can support. The #1 resource that is in scarce supply is... clean, fresh water. Just like any other species of animals, when the population overruns the resources available for it, there is a huge die-off in the population until it balances again with the ecosystem. The same applies to humans.

What are you talking about? We have plenty of resources to keep children alive and covered. Anyway, I can't stand the argument that the government should stay out. There are too many negligent parents. Let all people start out on more equal footing, with fewer troubles, by giving children health insurance, period. Compassion is sadly absent.

 

[Aimster]

Health insurance for Aimster. Thanks

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Insurance isn't a "right". People need to understand that before we can think about having a health system that protects kids like you are talking about.

CsG

The dying of children will continue till all know that insurance is not a right.

Nice try moonie but your little game is silly.

Insurance isn't a right - for anything or anybody. Should we make car insurance a "right"? How about House insurance? Hell, why not life Insurance?

Do you even understand the concept of INSURANCE moonie? You all can continue to live in your little fantasy world where the gov't is where good stems from.

CsG

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Insurance isn't a "right". People need to understand that before we can think about having a health system that protects kids like you are talking about.

CsG

You're a disgusting animal if you think children don't have a right to see a doctor or anyone else for that matter if they have cancer or any other illness.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Insurance isn't a "right". People need to understand that before we can think about having a health system that protects kids like you are talking about.

CsG

You're a disgusting animal if you think children don't have a right to see a doctor or anyone else for that matter if they have cancer or any other illness.

Insurance isn't a right - for anything or anybody. Should we make car insurance a "right"? How about House insurance? Hell, why not life Insurance?

Do you even understand the concept of INSURANCE barnetfife? You all can continue to live in your little fantasy world where the gov't is where good stems from.

CsG

 

[Infohawk]

Ckg, check out normative vs. positive on your rights statement.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
Ckg, check out normative vs. positive on your rights statement.

And you'd be on which side of that?
What would Nietzsche say? Or how about Zukav?

CsG

 

[Martin]

I'm with CsG and HP. The little brats should pay for their own insurance or die.

:roll:

 

[digiram]

So you guys are against abortion that would save these neglible parents from having to bring a child into this world to suffer, but don't want to provide and care for the children that born from neglible parents??

I don't know how that is supposed to work. I thought the main reason for being against abortion is b/c you want all children to have a chance at life. However, if they are given the chance you want to throw them in the gutter. That's just great, Mr. Passionate conservative!!!

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: digiram
So you guys are against abortion that would save these neglible parents from having to bring a child into this world to suffer, but don't want to provide and care for the children that born from neglible parents??

I don't know how that is supposed to work. I thought the main reason for being against abortion is b/c you want all children to have a chance at life. However, if they are given the chance you want to throw them in the gutter. That's just great, Mr. Passionate conservative!!!

That's my biggest rub against legislating against abortion.

 

[Wag]

Insurance isn't a "right". People need to understand that before we can think about having a health system that protects kids like you are talking about.

Insurance might not be a right, but since hospitals can't turn away sick from Emergency rooms, having insurance (in the long run) will be cheaper than not.