I am assuming that you are providing health care coverage for your employees through insurance companies. If you no longer had to fund these insurance premiums...would that not free up funds for a national health care system.

This is true, but as I mentioned, if the cost of care is not addressed it would presumably costs the same amount for me to cover my employees through a nationalized health care plan (possibly more, as government has shown they cannot control costs in other areas).  The only difference would be that there would be many more people covered under the government's mandated plan.  Thus, I have a strong feeling I would be paying more.

That also assumes that the government plan provides at least as good coverage as we have now.  Currently, I have several plans to choose from and ours seem to be pretty good.  I have more options for controlling costs, however, if we change our deductible, opt for in-plan providers, etc.  I can also switch from Med-Mutual to Blue Cross if I choose.  I like to have options.  When the government tells me what I have to pay, what options will I get?  Will my employees be as happy with the coverage?

Rather than a nationalized health care system, I would rather see the government do something about the increased cost of care, perhaps addressing some sort of tort reform to reduce to cost of Medical Malpractice Insurance, and I'd like to see the government work WITH the insurance companies to provide a greater level of access to group plans for individuals and the self-employed that currently have very little bargaining power when shopping for insurance.  There is also a problem with the price of medications - obviously when you can get the same meds in Canada for a fraction of cost, there is some gouging going on somewhere.  That is part of the problem with the "free enterprise" system in the health care industry.  I'm sure Scott will disagree, but there is more at work than simple supply and demand when you are talking about something as necessary as medication that could save your life. 

Like I said, I don't have the answers.  But, controlling the costs NEEDS to be addressed before the government starts writing checks with the money they force me to pay in taxes.  If they can't make it more affordable, they can't do any better than the insurance companies.  So why add the extra layer of bureaucracy?

Best,
Robert A. Franco
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