How Dare We Pay for the Consequences of our Actions!
by John Riet

It's such a treat to read the liberal press. I get a kick out of seeing the creation of new victims. Just recently, Lisa Cornwell of the Associated Press pointed out that the poor smokers are really getting the shaft because – heaven forbid – many employers are requiring them to contribute more to their health insurance due to their unhealthy habit.

Now, I should point out that I am very sympathetic to smokers on a certain level. With so many bars now prohibited from allowing their patrons their nicotine-laced vice, the line between public health and private property rights is officially blurred. Hey. If smokers want to inhale a semi-toxic substance into their lungs, and if a bar owner wants to permit it on his property, more power to both of them. If anyone is offended that a certain restaurant allows smoking, they are certainly free to show their disdain by going to another restaurant that does not.

But when another party – employer or taxpayer – is asked to subsidize health insurance for someone voluntarily engaging in an unhealthy behavior, my sympathy is wanting.

Much of America has been living for so long under the assumption that someone else should pay for their health care, they are unable to recognize responsibility for their own well-being. As long as someone else is footing the bill, why not gluttonously fill our bodies with anything we want? And if we should happen to contract cancer or suffer a heart attack, what's the difference? It's not our financial problem. Someone else will gladly pay to keep us alive regardless of whether or not we decide to curb our behavior.

One might think my description of this American mentality is a bit exaggerated. But I posted Cornwell's article on FreeRepublic.com and voiced my displeasure that smokers are actually offended that they are paying more for health care. Let's just say that the Free Republic members who enjoy a pack or two a day were not happy with me. These so called “conservatives,” who normally are against big government, socialism, and irresponsible behavior, tore me a proverbial new one. Perhaps some of these individuals are due for an intervention.

It simply goes to show how addicted we are to the notion that our health care is not our responsibility. “It's too expensive! We can't possibly afford health insurance and our SUVs, big screen TVs, hot tubs, iPods, GPS systems, etc.” This basically sums up the mentality. But what many people don't understand is that health insurance is not expensive… it is artificially expensive.

Government intervention, FDA regulations, and huge malpractice insurance premiums are among the reasons why health care is so costly. Let's quickly look at examples for each.

Government intervention: Every state has laws on the books that force insurance companies to cover certain types of procedures. One state might require that a company cover the cost of acupuncture, while another state might not. Instead of allowing the insurance companies to offer coverage choices and flexible premiums, they must comply with the will of bureaucracy. Of course, this is only ONE example of government looking out for you.

FDA regulations: When it comes to prescription drugs or medical equipment, the Federal Drug Administration can cause companies spend tens of millions of dollars to comply with their requirements. You could argue that this is meant to protect the consumer. But think of it this way – how long do you think a company would stay in business if they created a drug or apparatus that killed or maimed its customers? How many drugs pass the FDA inspections only to discover later that they cause harmful side affects or even death? Guess what… life isn't always perfect.

Malpractice insurance premiums: Do I need to explain this? We've all heard about the enormous compensatory awards given to patients in malpractice suits – some in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The insurance companies pay these awards, not doctors. So what do you think happens to insurance premiums for doctors? But the doctors don't pay these premiums. You do. Doctors must charge more in order to cover them. The simple solution is to limit these awards to $500,000. Premiums go down. The doctor charges you less.

If just these three problems are corrected, health insurance becomes so much more affordable. And when that happens, people won't be so scared to take on the responsibility of their own health care.

Should we not let the smokers feel the financial consequences of their own free choices? If and when the day comes when America adopts universal health care, their behavior will truly be your concern. Obligated to no more than a simple $10 co-pay, most of us think nothing of heading straight to the doctor the moment we suffer the slightest sniffle. Why not? It's only $10. And so the smokers will go on smoking, the alcoholics will go on drinking, and the obese will go on eating poorly.

They carry on gleefully knowing that if their health problems become too serious, someone will simply step in and subsidize their recovery – quitting smoking, cutting back on drinking, and changing diet habits aren't viable options.

That's why it's time to make health insurance a true free competition enterprise… just like car insurance. Think of it this way – we all will pay up to $1000 or more to a mechanic when our car breaks down. It's only when our car gets in an accident, causing several thousands of dollars in damage that we turn to the insurance company.

Is our health or the health of our family not worth the same type of arrangement? After all, as the quote attributed to P.J. O'Rourke says, “If you think health care is expensive now, just wait until it's free.”