This is a fascinating article but the author leaves out one important point: fraud. Insurance fraud in a $100 billion a year industry and damn little is done about fraud prevention. I used to work as an insurance investigator, so I speak from experience. If I were to become a criminal, Medicare/Medicaid fraud is the route I would choose because it is so safe. There is very little chance of getting caught. If you do get caught you probably won't be convicted. Even if you do get convicted you probably won't do much (or any) time. If you were smart and squirrelled away your money where the goverment can't find it easily, it will be waiting for you when you get out because the goverment isn't going to look that hard for it.

Medicare/Medicaid is incredibly easy to get away with because almost no resources are allocated to stop it. This is true any time the government gets involved with giving away money to people who apply for it, whether it is welfare or aid for Katrina victims or goverment contractors. Personally, I think far to much of my taxes go to crooks as it is.

The best book I have read on the subject of insurance fraud is "License to Steal" by Malcom Sparrow. I heartily recommend it.

"I've set down a rule for my staff, for my team -- and I've said this to Congress -- health-care reform must be, and will be, deficit-neutral in the next decade." If we're honest, that means tax increases are inevitable.

If we're honest, we admit that Medicare and Medicaid show that we cannot actually afford to do this. Raising taxes is not sufficient, because everybody in this country together doesn't make enough money.

I struggle to understand how proponents of government health care explain Medicare and Medicaid. Why do they believe a new system will work better? If the problem is that some Americans can't afford health care coverage, why not use these existing programs that are designed to cover the needs of poor people?

Insurance fraud in a $100 billion a year industry and damn little is done about fraud prevention.

I hear Gerald Walpin is looking for a job.

We all know how successful government run programs are.

This is another idealistic versus realistic plan.

Idealistic plans always sound good rolling off peoples tongues.

Reality always comes to visit these idelistic government programs.

Ask Canada and England.

Why do they believe a new system will work better?

Well, that all depends upon the value of "better".

If by "better" you mean a high standard of care for everyone at low cost, well, they know that can't be done.

But, if by "better" you mean "allowing greater opportunity to meddle in the affairs of the individual", well, there's no better way I know of.

Once health-care becomes a shared cost, everyone gets a say in how everyone else lives.

Won't it be great to tell your neighbors to get off their fat asses and exercise because you're paying for their health care now?

What do you mean I have to get appointed to do that?

"Revenue Neutral" by the way is code.

It means either "disband the defense department and reallocate that money", or "raise the fuck out of taxes".

If it's the first, we're all gonna die, but at least we'll be healthy when the bombs go off.

If it's the second, I won't be able to afford to pay my taxes AND my mortgage, so I'll end up on the street or taking in a boarder.

Maybe this is Obama's secret plan to get all the ugly chicks the husbands they crave - make it too expensive to live as a single man any more.

According to an econ textbook by Harvard economist Greg Mankiw (and others), Medicare and Medicaid are unaffordable at current levels. Never mind any expansion of government health care.

Social Security, which got a lot of ink in the 2000 election and W's first term, is actually reasonably affordable by comparison.

Unfortunately, Obama is going in the wrong direction with this thing. He should be trying to abolish Medicare and Medicaid, not create a new, bigger program. And by the way, W should never have put through that drug bill for seniors, either.

make it too expensive to live as a single man any more.

The Obamacare solution: government-funded gender reassignment surgery. Add some government-funded adoptions and you'll be in their preferred demographic. You might have to move to an inner city. You won't have to quit your job because the massive taxes will drive your employer out of business.

You won't have to quit your job because the massive taxes will drive your employer out of business.

I AM my employer.

Greetings from Seattle, Amy! This is Day #1 of a 2-week vacacation throughout Seattle & Oregon.

This morning I was waking my friend's dog and listening to my little portable radio. The topic: Obamacare. I was incredulous listening to those callers holding Canada up as a shining example of what America should be striving for! It's pretty easy to recommend something for which you know NOTHING about, isn't it?!

Even with the massive amount of informaton available, this truly is the Era of Ignorance, isn't it?!

Ah yes, the inevitable cry for more regulations and intrusion of government into private affairs following the failure of regulations and government intervention into private affairs.

I love it.

@Miss Alkon, "There couldn't be a worse time to sock everybody with new taxes."

But don't you see? The taxes will be paid by other people. People who can afford it. People who need to (finally) pay their fair share. People who make more than, well, whoever is listening to the speeches.

I happen to know from a reliable source that their latest hampering of the healthcare budget is a new bill that requires health insurance companies to reconcille and bare the brunt of administrative costs associated with being sure that employees are not double dipping with workers' compensation AND medicare/cal.

Since the government is inefficient, inept (whatever) they pass this administrative burden now off to the healthcare companies (shouldn't they be doing it?) which will in turn, increase healthcare costs. (All the while overpaying their employees to have yet one more thing delegated elsewhere). What DO government employees do these days?

So, he who has the *solution* also has the control to bleed these companies dry in order to eventually take them over...

Oh, okay I get it.

If government would get the hell out of the way, costs for insurance would be down, down, down, down...(and for good measure) DOWN.

Obama is leaking oil. I don't believe this will come to fruition (not yet, anyway). Still, this puckerhole has done enough damage to keep costs high and on the rise.

Thank you, Obama voters!!! Hopey Changey.

Ok, totally need to clarify what I just said.

In a recent bill, Insurance companies are now required to do the foot work and provide administrative resources and support for Medicaid/Medicare to determine if their members (medicaid/medical) are also collecting workers compensation benefits for medical costs associated with a work related injury.

Where the Insurance Company providing these resources also is the plan and provider, increases will have even more of a financial impact.

OKay, sorry folks. Hit send too soon.

It boils down to -- if Obama gets his way, we are so screwed.

I truly don't think that there would be any way to go back even after as little as 3-5 years.