Visitor Comments
Ohio Governor Does Not Understand SCHIP
Rather than expand yet another government program, perhaps we ought to ask why insurance has become so expensive, and address that problem first.
- posted by John LaPlante
- August 15, 2007 @ 11:28 am
- Permalink
Well, employers don't use SCHIP, their employees do, but I get what you are trying to say. Yes, some employers may be dropping health insurance to stay competitive. I know that's what a lot of folks claim, although I haven't seen a study that gives good numbers on how many employers are doing this (anyone have such a study?).
However, if this is widespread, it simply speaks to the notion that we need to re-orient health care policy to end the tax benefits that come with employer-sponsored health insurance and not individually-purchased health insurance. There is no reason why tax policy should give employers a subsidy to purchase health insurance for their employees but deny such a subsidy to individuals looking to buy their own insurance. This has created the screwed up system we have today, where most people's health insurance is tied to their jobs. Health insurance and employment should be separate.
However, if this is widespread, it simply speaks to the notion that we need to re-orient health care policy to end the tax benefits that come with employer-sponsored health insurance and not individually-purchased health insurance. There is no reason why tax policy should give employers a subsidy to purchase health insurance for their employees but deny such a subsidy to individuals looking to buy their own insurance. This has created the screwed up system we have today, where most people's health insurance is tied to their jobs. Health insurance and employment should be separate.
- posted by Marc Kilmer
- August 15, 2007 @ 11:27 am
- Permalink
"Clearly there are people who are using SCHIP who can afford private insurance but prefer taxpayer-subsidized coverage." Yep, they are called employers who drop dependent coverage for employees because they can't afford health insurance if they are going to compete with the Chinese and others in the world market.
Post Your Comment Here
| SPN Headquarters: 2020 North 14th Street Ste 250 Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: (703) 243-1655 | West Coast Office: PO Box 5208 Richmond, CA 94805 Phone: (510) 965-9700 |
