Quote Originally Posted by Dark Sage View Post
You're breaking my heart.

Ten years ago, I got hit by a car and broke both my legs. The driver had no insurance, and it caused me and my family a whole lot of trouble because of it. My family health insurance, but we still had to pay extra because this idiot had none.

He was breaking the law, and I got a hassle because of it.

I repeat: If we can be required by law to buy auto insurance, why not health insurance? There should be no reason why people who do buy health insurance should have to pay the price because of uninsured people who don't.

Heck, here's an idea for a health plan that I'm sure the GOP would agree to: Make it optional. But if you chose to reject it, and you get sick or injured, you're on your own. That means that even if you crawl into the emergency room bleeding with both your legs broken, if you have no insurance, too bad.

That would solve a whole lot of problems.
Sorry to hear about what happened to you in the past, mate - that sucks.

Both Jeff and I have offered an answer to that question, though. That is, not all people can afford private health insurance, and health is hardly a luxury that can be done without.

As per the Australian Medicare system, we pay a Medicare levy as part of our taxation system that funds this universal health care for all Australians. It's hardly a contentious issue: I don't think I've ever heard anyone complain about paying that levy - the benefits of universal health care far outweigh a small tax, IMHO. And if you have Private Health Insurance, there is a minimum rebate of 30% paid back to you by the Government. That is, for each dollar you contribute to your private health insurance premium, the Government will give you back at least 30 cents.

I think this system is pretty fair and I rarely, if ever, hear complaints about it.