Text 6226, 41 rader
Skriven 2010-03-26 17:34:16 av Robert Bashe (2:2448/44)
   Kommentar till text 6215 av Bob Ackley (1:300/3)
Ärende: Healthcare
==================
Bob Ackley wrote to Mike Miller on Friday March 26 2010 at 06:56:

BA> But my point was that requiring an auto insuror to cover an accident
BA> you've already had is *exactly* the same thing as requiring a health
BA> care insuror to cover "pre-existing conditions."

Nope. It would be *exactly* the same as taking out health insurance today and
expecting the insurer to reimburse you for a hospital stay you had last year.
Not quite the same.

BA> Those who want those "pre-existing conditions" covered by new
BA> insurance aren't looking for insurance, they're looking for welfare.

I disagree, for reasons I've already explained in other messages.

I must note with some interest that I've been asked several times why some
Americans are so dead-set against universal health insurance. Germans simply
don't understand that.

My answer has generally been that Americans are still governed by a "pioneer"
mentality that expects everyone to take care of themselves and regards those
who can't (or don't) as "parasites", unworthy to be supported by those who work
hard for their keep. I generally also mention the problem of illegal immigrants
and their children in the States, but the usual response is a blank stare,
since a normal German doesn't understand what that has to do with the question
of health insurance - he/she sees basic health insurance as a human right,
something a civilized government should provide to _every_ inhabitant of the
country.

The mentality throughout Europe is apparently similar... I once heard a story
of how some visiting American became sick in (I believe, but can't precisely
remember) Switzerland, and after being treated and even hospitalized asked for
the bill. He was told there was none, since the health insurance of the country
also covered visitors to the country. This is the kind of attitude Americans
may find difficult to understand when they see the comments of some Europeans
on this particular subject.

Cheers, Bob

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