Monday, April 11, 2011





  1. . . . it works pretty well (the premiums are still high and rising . . . ) but it is currently limited to people of a certain age who were "already healthy enough to get a job" before they became eligible for the system.

    I'm inclined to think that if you threw open the door to everyone, the rates would jump.


  2. I covered that concern when I first discussed the Kingston/Issa proposal,

    "If you recall, John Kerry proposed something similar in 2004, but his formal proposal involved creating a parallel pool comparable to the federal employees' insurance program rather than in fact allowing the nation's unwashed masses into the federal pool. I expect this was because somebody told him what would happen to the group rates available in the federal pool if, in fact, any American with a pre-existing health condition were allowed to buy in and get immediate, full coverage."

    I don't agree with the suggestion that the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program would be a magic cure, but if a Republican operative wants to take that position I'm more than happy to run with it.