But then, you suggest changes that completely disrupt the insurance you say you like so much, and set up a strawman argument about the hidden agenda of health reform. It’s good that your imagination isn’t so crippled by your ideology that you can contemplate change, but what is it you prefer?

Private insurance might work to supply universal coverage (as it does in a few European countries) but only under strict regulation that negates the perverse incentives of the marketplace to avoid covering people who might actually need the services.

Wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprised, the government has given the insurance industry some pretty stupid incentives. But the bill discussed does nothing to change tax laws to cut insurance free from employers, and have it follow employees. Or allow interstate competition in insurance. You didn’t propose to change the incentives, you wanted to keep them in place, and just order people to not respond to them. Like that ever works…

You know what? I think that’s because you don’t WANT private insurance to work. You want it to go down the tubes, so you can replace it with a government run monopoly. So the worse, the better. That’s why you guys were so hot to pass the bill, no matter what was in it, and “fix it later”. You didn’t expect it to work.

In Canada, UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, and all other civilized countries your care would be the same.
Except that US pays the highest price for Neulasta (http://www.pmprb-cepmb.gc.ca/ENGLISH/View.asp?x=1151&mp=254) and almost all other services.

Enjoy your new insurance company friends, but don’t be surprised if they turn their back on you, if you ever get laid off or try to switch jobs, fail to make a payment on your COBRA coverage, etc.

In addition to feeling sorry for others on chemo, make a little room in your heart for the 10,000 of thousands in the US who die from lack of coverage annually, or the tens of millions without coverage who have to worry about what that lump means.

Yes, scan and post. Brett, I’ve read your postings here and on other blogs;
you do not have credibility with me.

And I’m quite happy with insurance which is putting out without complaint (Aside from the almost wistful inquiry as to whether I had any other insurance coverage to split the cost with them.) the cost of a nice car every three weeks to pay for the chemo. (Did you know that “Neulasta” costs $7000 a shot? They don’t mention THAT in the TV commercials! Don’t mention every bone in your body aching for a week after, either.)

And you are trying to outlaw my policy, it’s high deductible, with my employer kicking in towards a FSA to cover the deductible. So much for, “You can keep your current coverage!”

I know your side has this conviction that everybody who disagrees with you is some kind of sock puppet maintained on a corporate PR budget, but I’m a real guy, who really likes his insurance. There are a lot of people like me, aside from the bad medical luck. (Not all bad, I turn out to be really tolerant of chemo, hardly ever vomit. Makes me pity the people who don’t tolerate it well.)

Please, at least try for plausibility.

It is also (approximately) true that 85% of all Americans have never been seriously ill, and have never discovered how badly shafted they can be by their health care plans.

It takes an exercise of imagination to create a sense of urgency for reform. The “satisfaction” that most people have with a system which has never pinched them personally creates some political drag which has to be overcome. Maybe a political wizard can figure this out.