The logical explanation for why we don't have universal insurance: There are a LOT of people who have a lot of money invested in the current system, and they are afraid of losing their profits, or their jobs, if the system changes. As it stands now, there are people whose job it is to deal with the insurance companies (because it's complicated enough that that's how much administrative overhead is required). There are people whose job it is to deny insurance coverage to people where possible. And people are greedy, and people are easily scared.
Not that it's a good reason, mind you.
I'm lucky. I'm "insurable". Right now I have health insurance through work, but when I was self-employed, they paid me enough (and I've had few enough health problems ever) that I could afford individual insurance. But I've had way too many friends and acquaintances for whom that is not true - who either couldn't afford health insurance, or couldn't get it prior to the recent reforms. I guess the folks trying to repeal those reforms don't have anyone they care about who's in that same boat.
That's pretty much it. Your summary of the system is kind of shockingly spot on :P The first time I found out about "payment denial seminars" I almost had a coronary (where they all get together and find out how to bar medical billing from being paid, thus passing that burden onto the patient).
I like being the class of citizen who is permanently "uninsurable." It makes me feel secure in my country knowing that as long as I live here under our system, my entire career path will be shaped around: "can this job provide me with insurance? Will they at least pay some of the premiums so I can afford to use it?"
Not that it's a good reason, mind you.
I'm lucky. I'm "insurable". Right now I have health insurance through work, but when I was self-employed, they paid me enough (and I've had few enough health problems ever) that I could afford individual insurance. But I've had way too many friends and acquaintances for whom that is not true - who either couldn't afford health insurance, or couldn't get it prior to the recent reforms. I guess the folks trying to repeal those reforms don't have anyone they care about who's in that same boat.
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I like being the class of citizen who is permanently "uninsurable." It makes me feel secure in my country knowing that as long as I live here under our system, my entire career path will be shaped around: "can this job provide me with insurance? Will they at least pay some of the premiums so I can afford to use it?"
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