[MD] Down the road of mediocrity

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Platt]
Much of those "costs" are red tape and paperwork caused by government 
interference in medicine. But let's pretend, would you have paid for 
her medical treatment if I couldn't?  (Your last sentence is 
factually wrong. Insurance paid her bills.)

[Arlo]
First, right, that last sentence should have read "No one without 
insurance can afford this." Technically, Platt, I would also have 
been unable to cover such huge expenses, but would favor my tax 
dollars assisting, most certainly. Recall that in our conversation 
over the Schiavo debacle, I supported fully my tax dollars keeping 
her alive (if this is what the family wanted). In essence, my money 
was doing just that, because I seriously doubt that Ms. Schiavo or 
her caregivers paid more into insurance than was being used to treat 
and sustain her. So what happens? My insurance premiums go up. The 
insurance companies don't just eat those losses, they pass them on by 
raising rates, raising deductibles, limiting coverage and denying 
claims. So anyway you look at it, even in insured cases involving 
mammoth costs, we are all paying for it. If you totalled up 
everything you had paid into your insurance, and then add up all the 
bills you incurred over this time, I'm sure the second is far larger. 
And that extra money comes in my rates going up and my deductibles 
being raised. But even this I am in favor of, if it provides care to 
someone who needs it.

As for the red tape and paperwork, not to mention shyster litigation 
that raises costs, yes, I agree. But certainly that doesn't explain 
the bulk of it. My neighbor several years back died from bone cancer. 
Before he was diagnosed, he required an emergency life flight from my 
then hometown to Reading, PA. (about 20 mins by air). His wife 
received a bill, the insurance had denied the claim, for $120,000 for 
the helicopter flight alone. Now, you tell me, what on earth is 
someone to do in that situation? Do we make them lose their home, 
their life savings, their retirement, and end up homeless and on 
welfare? What about when he needed round the clock care but the 
insurance would not pay for hospitalization? If the wife stops 
working, how do they eat?

[Platt]
If it's not a great system, why do you favor imposing it on Americans?

[Arlo]
Because a system that places human life over market forces is better 
than one that does not. A system that ensures the sick will get 
medication, poor or not, is better than one that lets the poor 
suffer. I am not a social Darwinist, Platt, all human life is sacred 
to me, not just those with wealth.