FLAIT

Over the last couple of years, I've had much to say about health care (here, here and here). I had another idea.

Even though the new health care legislation is built around conservative Republican principles - tax credits for small business and "exchanges" where Americans who don't have insurance can "pool their buying power" in the "marketplace" and get better deals - Republicans attacked it, did everything they could to block it and are trying to repeal it.

As I've shown, they had to do that to protect their propaganda, "arguments" and talking points. But let's leave that craziness aside and take them for their word: "government is always bad, evil and incompetent" and "'Obamacare' is Socialism" (I wish) and "has death panels."

Fine. Here's my idea. Congress should pass a law that allows insurance companies to sell policies to anyone in the country, even across state lines, that would not be subject to any state or federal health insurance laws, regulations, requirements or mandates. Whether it's an individual policy, a Medicare Advantage policy, COBRA, the policy you have through an employer or through one of the "exchanges," all Americans would have the opportunity to purchase the same policy as if the government didn't exist.

Of course policy holders would be subject to whatever insurance companies want to do. With these types of policies, they can cover, or not cover, whoever they want; they can cover, or not cover, whatever treatments and procedures they want; they can cover, or not cover, whatever pre-existing conditions they want; they can approve or deny coverage whenever they want; they can certainly charge whatever they want, with any co-pays and deductibles they want, and can lower them, or raise them, whenever they want.

It's all up to the "free market" because no state or federal laws, regulations, requirements and mandates would apply to the policies or to the insurance company that sells them.

Of course the insurance companies would have to compete with each other to provide the the best coverage at the best price. But that's the (conservative) idea.

But this also means that if a policy holder has a problem with their coverage at some point, it's between them and the insurance company. They can't ask their Senator, Congressperson or any bureaucrat to intervene. How can they? Since the cumbersome, anti-business, "big government" laws, regulations, requirements and mandates behind these policies "don't exist," the government can't get involved, at any level, because there's nothing to enforce (since insurance companies are bound by the "free market" where "the industry polices itself," and not by law, policy holders shouldn't be allowed to sue them [hey, there's your "tort reform"]. It should also mean that hospitals shouldn't have to adhere to government requirements when they care for patients who have these policies. But I'll let that slide.).

If this is what the right wants, we should let them have it. It would allow hypocritical Congressional Republicans and anti-government/"free market" conservatives who put them into office, to be able to have exactly the type of health insurance they've been screaming for.

Keep in mind, the policies aren't necessarily changing. They shouldn't. It's the same policy, but free of all "big government" health care laws, regulations, requirements and mandates. If they do change, that's up to the insurance companies and the "free market."

So how about it, conservatives?

I don't want to hear that these policies would cost more. How can they? Without being "forced" into "wasteful" and "unnecessary" treatments, procedures and paperwork, the insurance companies will be saving a lot of money.

If they do charge more, well, that's the "free market!"

I also don't want to hear that conservatives have "always been for some government regulation on health care and insurance." Baloney! Based on the health care attacks that have come from the right on the new health care legislation - legislation that was based on Republican principles - that's a colossal lie. If it was true, how come they never, ever, said something like that before? How come they didn't mention it when they came out with their health care plan? Oh wait, they never had a plan, never mind. Oh wait, they did, my mistake. It's "get the government out of health care and let market forces work."

Fine. Here it is.

If the right opposes tries to spin their way out of this, it would prove what a bunch of hypocrites they are. Wouldn't be the first second third fourth fifth sixth seventh eight ninth tenth eleventh time.

October 2 insert: In a post well worth reading, Hunter at Daily Kos takes this even further.