Everywhere is has been tried, it has either failed or is failing. We see people from Canada coming to the US for treatment as their system fails them. We see the NHS in Britain rationing medications and treatments to the elderly or those of "unhealthy" lifestyles. Wait times become longer and longer. TennCare here in the US, one attempt at this type of delivery system got its plug pulled for high costs. California was going to start it but reneged when the cost outgrew the politics. RomneyCare in Massachusetts has seen its costs double in the short time it has been in force.
And now, another universal healthcare attempt has suffered an untimely death:
Hawaii ending universal child health care
HONOLULU – Hawaii is dropping the only state universal child health care program in the country just seven months after it launched.
Gov. Linda Lingle’s administration cited budget shortfalls and other available health care options for eliminating funding for the program. A state official said families were dropping private coverage so their children would be eligible for the subsidized plan.
"People who were already able to afford health care began to stop paying for it so they could get it for free," said Dr. Kenny Fink, the administrator for Med-QUEST at the Department of Human Services. "I don’t believe that was the intent of the program."…
…State health officials argued that most of the children enrolled in the universal child care program previously had private health insurance, indicating that it was helping those who didn’t need it.
Gee, and I thought "universal" meant "everyone"; or are we speaking governmentalesse again?
And this is a surprise….why? Is it that hard of a question to believe that people act in their own self interest? Oh please – no one in government thought that anyone would try to "game the system"? Of COURSE they will – why spend their own money on a "necessity" when someone else will pay for it? Yes, there is that thing called "pride"; people such as the Amish believe to their core that self-reliance is a virtue. Sadly, we see that less and less.
We have become the ‘gimme’ society.
Government also seems to miss another important point –
people react to metrics and incentives. In this case, the incentive is free care. Think about it – why would parents want to double pay for care – first when they pay for their own family’s care and then pay again in taxes for someone else’s WHEN THEY THEMSELVES CAN HAVE SOMEONE PAY FOR THEIR’S? What is the incentive NO TO?
"We’re very disappointed in the state’s decision, and it came as a complete surprise to us," said Jennifer Diesman, a spokeswoman for HMSA, the state’s largest health care provider. "We believe the program is working, and given Hawaii’s economic uncertainty, we don’t think now is the time to cut all funding for this kind of program."
Once again, we see the emphasis on those being served vs those that provide the money. To me, this may not be killing the Golden Goose – but it is close to a long-term strangling session. It is always expected that the taxpayers can give ever more and more.
Even in "economic uncertainty".
It costs the state about $50,000 per month, or $25.50 per child — an amount that was more than matched by HMSA.
The Republican governor signed Keiki Care into law in 2007, but it and many other government services are facing cuts as the state deals with a projected $900 million general fund shortfall by 2011.
"Children are a lot more vulnerable in terms of needing care," said Democratic Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland. "It’s not very good to try to be a leader and then renege on that commitment."
A leader, eh? A leader first computes the cost, calculates the risk. Then proceeds. Seven months longevity doesn’t sound like sound calculations nor leadership.
The universal health care system was free except for copays of $7 per office visit.
Families with children currently enrolled in the universal system are being encouraged to seek more comprehensive Medicaid coverage, which may be available to children in a family of four earning up to $73,000 annually.
I lived in Hawaii for a spell (a long time ago) – it is expensive to live there. But $73K / year? I would imagine that this level of qualification would cover a lot of people….remember what the S-CHIP pushers wanted? Effectively, a stealth mode way of providing coverage for children that pretty much covered ALL kids in the middle class.
"Most of them won’t be eligible for Medicaid, and that’s why they were enrolled in Keiki Care," Diesman said. "It’s the gap group that we’re trying to ensure has coverage."
Once again, we see a total disregard of economics – when something is free, demand for it is all but unlimited. And when demand is unlimited, then what is "free’ must be rationed – or stopped.
While the Governor is Republican, it is a highly Democrat state – I hope Obama and the national Dems take notice (right, what’s the over / under on this one?)…
By the way, it is "no-where".
