Posted: 7/14/2009 5:14:55 PM EDT
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I can't claim credit for this - I heard the idea mentioned on a radio talk show a while back.
It is said by those on the left that there are 45 million people in this country without health coverage. I heard that breaks down into roughly thirds. 1/3 are people who can't afford health insurance, 1/3 are people who can afford it and choose not to, and 1/3 are illegal aliens. First thing off the top, no more non-emergency freebies to criminal aliens. Boom. There goes 1/3 of the problem. As for the rest, give clinics, doctors' offices, and hospitals tax breaks based on the market value of the services provided. With a tax break, there is now an incentive for the health care provider to treat people pro bono, at no cost to the taxpayer. Voila - everybody gets the treatment they need. Of course, the .gov would never go for it because: - It involves a tax break instead of a tax increase. - It would eliminate the need for the bureaucracy they are getting ready to unleash on the system. - It would decrease, rather than increase, government power and control. - The market would take care of itself, rather than being micromanaged by .gov types. I'm not an economist nor a hospital administrator, but it seems to make a bit of sense. What do you guys think? |