Two things:
First, I agree completely about private insurance. Even if you are in a "standard" profession that offers health insurance as part of a benefits package, it can pay off in the long run to get private insurance, rather than the company policy, especially if you will be changing jobs.
All the companies I worked for required me to work at least 60 days before I was eligible for insurance anyway, and a two month gap can be a big deal when you have kids, or any kind of health problem. When my husband got a new job that didn't offer insurance at all, and mine through work didn't cover him, we got private insurance. Two jobs later, and me quitting to stay home with the baby, our insurance has been the same price, what is covered has stayed the same, we haven't been one of the short-term uninsured, and the best part is the private insurance we got costs almost exactly what the company insurance would have cost at the last job that did offer insurance.

Second, is there a profession that does pay in big chests of gold doubloons? Perhaps chauffeuring people to work in your pirate?

France doesn't ban soft drinks.

Just sayin'.

Well la-de-da for France. They also eat snails and frogs legs. Ban the big gulp!

Oh, and bow before the awesomeness that are donuts and gals who gave out donuts to troops almost 100 years ago.

Someone should check Bloomie's bloomers to see if he's gotten any kickbacks stuffed in there recently (perhaps covered in Entemann's frosting).

For you heathenous soda rebels:
http://www.zazzle.com/come_and_take_it_nanny_staters_postcard-239889461302506193

I am on the side of of letting people die.

There are those who will never be able to be self supporting for whatever preexisting medical conditions (mental or physical) from birth or a young age.

But it is government meddling in business that tied insurance to businesses, instead of the individual, years ago. When the government decided to give businesses tax breaks for paying their employees health insurance they naturally went for it.

If the government had said each person in the household gets a up to $x or a 10% credit (whichever is less) for health insurance off their taxes, the private health care market would look like the fliers you get in your mailbox for car insurance.

Also health care costs would have some control, by the simple fact that those who bought major medical and it doesn't kick in until $20K, would be asking "How much does this MRI cost?" very often. As it is now, they don't have to care that the MRI in the hospital costs $900 but $250 over at this outpatient center.

Just my $0.02.

My apologies for not finishing my thought on this paragraph:

There are those who will never be able to be self supporting for whatever preexisting medical conditions (mental or physical) from birth or a young age. The government should probably provide medicaid/medicare for them. Autism, MD, MS, CP, other retardation etc, can not really be helped. Juvenile diabetes should have a waiver for insurance coverage.

But once you get to 18 and generally healthy you should be able to get major medical on your own and walk into the doctor's office and pay cash for your yearly checkup, with no penalty.

As it stands if you walk into a doctor's office, the Standard & Customary rate may be 50-66% higher than the person who walked in behind you with insurance.

I agree Jim P. My libertarian side is getting angry. Real serious disabled people and seriously long time sick people should be helped. By who is the question? Who? The are many choices government, charities, community, family, nature, business, church.

Another problem is that the bar of what is to be treated has been lowered and lowered. It is sinking so much. That the government is almost reached bottom and is looking for a shovel. Come on was it not some European country that decided that pedophilia was disability. (I have the cure for that 13g of lead from Colt medical device injected at the back of the head.)

Watched the little clip Jim P. posted. Do not know how Ron finished the answer. The basic answer again to is responsibility. The answer I would have given to "What should society do for hypothetical young man?" Easy - society should do what every it can to help. The question is what is society to the CNN (I think) reporter. To him society means government. The thing is the is what the answer to ALL problems has become - government.

Crime is rising what is the government going to do?

This country far away is having troubles what is society I mean government going to do?

An epidemic of semi serious disease - what is the government going to do?

Kids are listening to the darn rock'n'roll/hiphop/jazz/raves? What is the government going to do?

Men are doing unspeakable acts with other men? What is the government going to do?

My feelings are hurt? What is the government going to do?

People abrogate that choice to government tend to forget it solves that problem with a very limited set of tools.

Duct Tape of throw money at it. - Which works for a little while but problem comes back and in worse condition.
The hammer of force. You will do it, there in no opting out.
The wrench of laws and regulations. More of these does not always make better.
The screwdriver of decision. But that decision is not yours to make.

Sorry to rant on. Once again I have to think about being more responsible. Really should get that supplementary insurance.

I work for Kaiser and we charge the uninsured $125 for a regular office visit, $195 for specialty care and urgent care, and $250 for the emergency room (they are supposed to pay up front at least a portion of that but many are refusing lately and we can't turn them away). I am currently being seen for some things with third party coverage (PIP on auto insurance) and see that on the invoice statements from my auto insurance Kaiser billed them $234 for my primary care visit as it's the going market rate versus the $125 we otherwise have been charging.

And I agree that people truly disabled with certain conditions and can't support themselves need to be cared for, but that encompasses far too many people and conditions than it needs to. And so many people who should be able to work in some capacity receive disability payments and really shouldn't be. My stepmom gets $1800 a month disability for having chronic anemia that requires a blood transfusion every 6 weeks. There is no good reason she can't work as she manages to do tons of housework, all the yard work including extensive gardening/landscaping, takes trips, and goes out dancing at least twice a month with friends. She even admits she has no real limitations with her condition other than tiring faster than she used to and that she could hold down a job, but said that since the government says she qualifies and is willing to pay her disability and early Medicare, there is no reason to interrupt her leisure time with a job.

I met a woman aat the airport the other day, we got to talking, long story short she has to take some cancer medication for the rest of her life, it costs $6000 a month, just for that one prescription, and she has over a dozen she has to take for all her various aliments.

Shes retired, doesnt work, own her homw outright, get SS and aimony from a man she hasnt been married to for over 25 yrs, and doesnt pay a dime out of pocket beyond the copay for her meds.

Given this woman desnt work I dont see why she should be getting nearly $100,000 dllars a year in 'free'(to her) medical care to keep her alive for no good reason

Drug companies were trading support for obamacare with promises to keep their business plans alive.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-31/drugmakers-vowed-to-campaign-for-health-law-memos-show.html

It's government piracy. If Coca-Cola and Pepsi paid their protection money like Entenmann's, they wouldn't be having these problems.

(P.S.: Entenmann's are the most godawful donuts on the face of the Earth. Just sayin'.)