Hank's argument concerning cost is legit in my mind.
Without being an insurance guru, my understanding is that an insurance company existance is based on profit. This appears to me to mean that if it were not for forced participants the companies would all fail. The reason is simple. If all particiapants in the health insurance pot needed health care and USED it, the health care providers would quickly be bankrupt. In order for insurance to be viable, most participants MUST NOT collect on it, at least not in cost amounts that exceed their contributions. Make sense? Insurance is not a "coupon" for savings, it's a bet that you will not collect (from the insurance carrier's point of view).

With baby boomers very soon, if not already, in the "I'm falling apart" catagory, they present a huge (if not unsurmountable) problem for insurance companies. So if all of those old bastards (myself included) jump on the insurance O train, guess who will be picking up the tab?...you young, healthy, and very gullible people who have litte to no present need for insurance...and even that, my friends, can only be a viable IF you participate... which means you will have to be forced to do so. My bet is that not enough healthy youngsters will willingly kick into the insurance pot when there are new reels and rods to buy. I know I went for many years with no insurance. I was betting, albeit foolishly, that I wouldn't need it. As it turned out, I was mostly right and saved thousands in insurance premiums. Was that wise? No. I was betting with others well being in the pot, and that is pretty much a "Screw You" thing to do.

So who has the most to gain? Old uninsured people. Mark, Jake, will you please pay my hospital bills as my old ass slowly falls apart? You will? Wow! I owe you, guys! Oh, and while you are at it, would you mind picking up that annoying national deficit tab, too? Damn, you guys are the best!

Looks like us old codgers have pulled the wool over them stupid kids' eyes again.

A new sig line possibility......"Beware of politicians bearing gifts"