I see the need for the mandate, but I think they are going about it in the wrong way. The penaltys should only apply to the uninsured that actually check into a hospital, receive treatment, and then don't pay the bill.
I do not feel that someone who chooses to be uninsured should be fined, when they have used no hospital services. At best, I think there should be a minimal opt-out fee every year a person chooses to opt out. Somewhere in the ballpark of $50-$75, which would be refunded (Prorated) if and when they decided to get insurance.
I also think the Statute of Limitation should be changed to unlimited for collecting on medical bills, and that the derrogatory account should stay on ones credit report until the bill is satisfied, and that unpayed medical bills should not be able to be included in Bankruptcys. Maybe even allow for jail time for those who don't pay. Right now, the hospitals can only legally collect on a bill for about 4 years, and the negative information about the bill will only stay on a credit report for 7 years. This should be changed to give hospitals unlimited time to legally collect from those who do not pay, and allow them to report all unpaid debt to the credit reporting agencys indefintely. I also feel that if federal money is used to pay for treatment of someone uninsured, the government should then be allowed penalize the individual.
Mandating hospitals treat everyone, but not mandating people pay for services hurts all, especially those who are insured. Why do you think an asprin in a hospital costs $65? Because you're paying for the asprin, of those who have shafted the hospitals, as well as your own asprin.
Because of the law passed under Reagan, hospitals can't turn anyone away who needs care. This plays a major factor on why the government now spends so much money on medical bills. So because hospitals are mandated to treat everyone, everyone needs to at lease be mandated to pay for treatment they receive. Being insured is the more effecient way to pay for hospital services. But it is not the only way.
Re: And it begins
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