[TheGame]

Originally Posted by Bond

Republic. That form of government in which the powers of sovereignty are vested in the people and are exercised by the people, either directly, or through representatives chosen by the people, to whome those powers are specially delegated. [NOTE: The word "people" may be either plural or singular. In a republic the group only has advisory powers; the sovereign individual is free to reject the majority group-think. USA/exception: if 100% of a jury convicts, then the individual loses sovereignty and is subject to group-think as in a democracy.]

Democracy. That form of government in which the sovereign power resides in and is exercised by the whole body of free citizens directly or indirectly through a system of representation, as distinguished from a monarchy, aristocracy, or oligarchy. [NOTE: In a pure democracy, 51% beats 49%. In other words, the minority has no rights. The minority only has those privileges granted by the dictatorship of the majority.]

Ok.

Healthcare being a right is your personal opinion, although it is currently not defined as a right by law. The question that arises form a belief that healthcare is a right is: where does that right begin and end? If someone is dying of terminal cancer is it their right to receive continuous and costly treatment to prolong their life by only a few months? If someone chooses to live an unhealthy lifestyle and take on extravagant risks, is it their right to receive continuous and costly care?

In my opinion, yes its their right.

Correct, but if the plan were to cover all sorts of varying health risk exposures, then the premium would not be able to cover the aggregated expected loss of the risk pool. This is how insurance operates. As I said before, because this law of insurance would not hold in a public option, the option would not operate as an insurance company. Therefore, the option would have to derive money from an alternate source in addition to premiums, ie. taxing those who do not opt-in.

That is purely speculation. I agree that tax dollars will be used to help create this program, and I agree that in the long run there is a possibility that it could rely on tax dollars. This is something that I've said both directly and indirectly multiple times before.

I don't understand how a public option would be "going about it a different way" than medicare or medicaid, but I will concede this point, as I don't think it is especially pertinent.

Ok.

I'm not asking you, I am telling you this is the case. Private health systems must bear the burden of sixty cents on every dollar of medicare and medicaid coverage of health consumers. Because these consumers do not pay anything into the private health system, the health system must raise the premiums on paying members to generate additional revenue. This is a fact. I have worked in a health system and know it to be true.

Ok ok, so it was rhetorical question? Understood.

As I have stated previously, risk pooling (which insurance is based upon) lowers the average premium of consumers by aggregating similar risk exposures. If insurance companies (risk pooling agents) did not lower said premiums, then no consumer would pay the premium. Rather, they would decide to not pool their risk exposure.

From your last few paragraphs, I am unclear as to how familiar you are with the concept of risk pooling and insurance? It is hard to have a proper discussion on the health insurance industry if you are no familiar with the key tenants that ground its operation.

I completly understand the concept of risk pooling and insurance. If I directly said something that conflicts with this understanding feel free to point it out directly.