Following is a recent column by syndicated columnist and host of ABC News "20/20" John Stossel.
Friday, August 10, 2007
John Stossel: Let's watch Wisconsin suffer
State's new universal health insurance can educate rest of us with its failure
By JOHN STOSSEL
Syndicated Columnist and Host of ABC News "20/20"
"On, Wisconsin ... run the ball clear down the field!"
It's time to amend the Wisconsin football fight song so we can cheer on the Badger State's politicians as they move toward health-care socialism.
The Wall Street Journal editorial page editors are upset that Wisconsin's state Senate passed "Healthy Wisconsin," which will give health insurance to every person in the state. Of course, the Journal editors are right in saying that the plan is "openly hostile to market incentives that contain costs" and that the "Cheesehead nation could expect to attract health care free-riders while losing productive workers who leave for less-taxing climes."
In addition, as the Journal put it, "Wow, is 'free' health care expensive. The plan would cost an estimated $15.2 billion, or $3 billion more than the state currently collects in all income, sales and corporate income taxes."
And, of course, down the road it will cost much more than that. Even the $15 billion is based on the usual Pollyannaish assumptions such as millions in savings "from putting more emphasis on primary care."
As usual, most of the new taxes will be imposed on employers. Progressives believe money taken from employers doesn't cost anything. Rich corporations will simply waste less on lavish perks and excess profits. But taxes on business are often paid by workers, stockholders and consumers. Businesses that can't pass the taxes on to someone else will close or move out of state.
But progressives are oblivious to this fact. They see Wisconsin becoming a fairyland of health happiness supervised by the 16-person "authority" that will oversee the plan. Socialism will work this time because the "right" people will be in charge.
Does it never occur to the progressives that the legislature's intrusion into private contracts is one reason health care and health insurance are expensive now? The average annual health insurance premium for a family in Wisconsin is $4,462 partly because Wisconsin imposes 29 mandates on health insurers: Every policy must cover chiropractors, dentists, genetic testing, etc. Think chiropractors are quacks? Too bad. You still must pay them to treat people in your state.
Want to buy insurance from another state, like nearby Michigan, where an average policy costs less? Too bad. It's against the law to buy across state lines. Your state's Big Brother knows best.
The Journal writes about a "last line of defense against" Healthy Wisconsin, but I say, let Wisconsin try it! Their suffering will be for the greater good.
As I interview people for an upcoming health care TV special, I'm struck by how many hate the current semi-free-market system America has now. I say "semi" because it's not a free market when about half the health care bill is funded by government. But it's still better than socialism. It allows for innovation like the creation of better drugs, joint replacements, artificial hearts, LASIK eye surgery, and who-knows-what-else that may reduce pain and extend my life.
Socialism will kill that, but people seem to like socialism, at least when it's sold as free stuff from politicians. Wisconsin's Capital Times reports that "two-thirds of Wisconsin residents support the Democratic plan – even when presented with opponents' arguments that it would be a 'job killer' that could lead to higher taxes."
That's why America needs "Healthy Wisconsin." The fall of the Soviet Union deprived us of the biggest example of how socialism works. We need laboratories of failure to demonstrate what socialism is like. All we have now is Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, the U.S. Post Office and state motor-vehicle departments.
It's not enough. Wisconsin can show the other 49 states what "universal" coverage is like.
I feel bad for the people in Wisconsin. They already suffer from little job creation, and the Packers haven't been winning, but it's better to experiment with one state than all of America.
John Pack
Low Cost Health Insurance
2 comments:
Medical care providers and institutions should ALSO follow a good, old-fashioned American practice of PUBLICLY listing their prices for various services.
I recently had a shortness of breath problem. Went to see my primary care physician (aka my doctor). I KNOW that his corporation charges me $163.00 per visit, no matter how short or long it takes.
He recommended a stress test. I had not had such a test for about 20 years while still in the Army Reserve. MY BIG MISTAKE WAS: I never asked how much this test was going to cost me. The bill for the test at the hospital was $4,600. The bill for three doctors to look at the results, monitor my test, etc. was $2,400. That's a total of $7,000!!!
Granted that the doctors are well educated and trained as specialists. Granted that the hospital's equipment is very expensive and the technicians running them are quite necessary.
BUT, JUST SUPPOSE that this medical care organization had published AT LEAST AN ESTIMATE of the cost. Then I would have had at least THE OPTION of getting a second opinion AND THE COSTS RELATED TO THAT FROM ANOTHER LOCAL AREA HOSPITAL.
How about some good, old-fashioned American price competition for medical services???
P.S.: To add insult to injury, the local corporate group calls in a big time cardiologist specialists from a really big city nearby. HE recommends that I have a stent inserted in one of the blood vessels of my heart. So, I take a full day to drive there, be prepped for the procedure and then taken to the treatment room. After a preliminary dye test, Mr. Big Time (and Big Paid) Specialist says: All of those blood vessels are quite clear; there's no need for any stents whatsoever!!! Duh!
If and when there is a NEXT TIME for ANY medical procedure, I'm going shopping so I at least have an ESTIMATE of the total cost and how much Medicare and my supplemental insurance policy is going to pay.
Frankly, these episode makes me feel as if I have been used by the medical professionals to make a buck at my expense!!!! I'm not trusting ANY of my doctgors as much anymore. They're (and their corporate manager buddies) are just as greedy as everybody else!!!
I now have a much more favorable attitude toward Universal Health Care than I did before. Greedy medical corporations and doctors need to be regulated and supervised a lot more than they are today!!!
Wisconsin isn't the only one gambling with the financial and health security of its citizen. California's legislative leaders are rushing to pass health care reform before the Legislature adjourns on September 14th. Their reform of choice, AB 8, would have the unintended consequences of raising insurance premiums, driving business from the state, and limiting consumer choice. In short, it does far more harm than good.
You can read more about AB 8 on my blog (www.AlanKatz.WordPress.com), but the bottom line is that health care reform is as complicated as it is critical. Rushing through legislation to score political points is bad a bad way to make public policy. And if it happens in the Golden State, we won't be so golden any more.
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