Mixed signals

Does anyone understand basic economics these days?  I'm thinking "no".  Consider this:  People say they like the parts of Obamacare that eliminate the $1M lifetime cap on insurance company's liability, they like the part about removing pre-existing conditions as an excuse for denying coverage, they like the part about seniors saving on prescription drugs, they like being able to keep their kids on their policy until age 26....but they are vehemently opposed to the idea of requiring everyone to purchase health insurance (the individual mandate).  "It's just un-American.  The damn government has no business telling me what I have to do.  This is supposed to be a free country!"


How do people expect insurance companies to stay in business if they take on unlimited liability, cover all the sick and infirm, and give away Rx drugs if they don't take in a lot more money to cover these costs?  There are only 2 ways to get more money....raise premiums 300-400% (?) or broaden their base of insured by signing up all those healthy 20-somethings who think they're bullet-proof and don't need insurance.  


You know people aren't going to stand for dramatically higher insurance premiums, which leaves only the individual mandate as a viable way to increase cash flow.  You can't have the perks without paying for them.  There's no free lunch. This is NOT an endorsement of Obamacare per se, but it does at least start the discussion about what needs to be changed and how we're going to pay for it. 


You want to get health care costs down?  Try this....I guarantee it will work:  Repeal the Emergency Medical Treatment Act of 1986.  That's the law that requires hospitals to treat anyone who walks in for "emergency" care, whether they can pay for it or not.  Doing that would save BILLIONS (trillions?) of dollars.  I'd love to see a show of hands of all those who would turn away a mother with a sick child or the innocent victim of an accident or a violent crime.  You can't pick and choose between the truly needy and those who can afford insurance but are just having too much fun to bother buying it.  You're the "death squad".  Anyone....?


S