Obama Care

" W large video. 680 WR tail rosette of Oregon your granddaughter Justin Tucker but breakfast but I don't think -- Okay we'll skip that that that this is health care day yesterday for the next hour and a half for going to be focusing in on healthcare and the push by Barack Obama for universal health care socialized medicine the utter destruction of the competitive system that has given us the best health care system in the world. He wants to dismantle it and make rationing really the the reality of the shut down I I don't disagree no lot of people do look to Massachusetts as -- as having provided the leading model yes -- because they're great socialists. Mitt Romney and a launch socialized medicine for the nation here in Massachusetts. With Thomas beacon to Macy former senate president are traveling first in the nation universal coverage so on and so forth a -- and I've expressed you've expressed hostility ever expressed skepticism and I think somewhere between the two is probably have -- Michael tanner. Probably so what we should do is maybe go to Michael tanner he is he heads -- a variety domestic policies. Has written a big big book about -- if I'm on the right how big government conservatism. Brought down the Republican. Revolution while this can nursery stock and that's good a good drug -- the idea since one of the frequent gets rid of the if cholesterol it's renovate the napoleonic complex life from Michael ten. Franchises from the Cato Institute. A think tank -- Conservative kind of viewpoint Michael welcome to WRK atomic Todd here. So over the you've been looking at the Massachusetts plan what do you see when you look DC a great opportunity to to maybe make a big change in the way health care is financed. Without ruining the system that we have."

" Well I think it -- planet not been very doubtful even by its own light it -- past Mitt Romney promised that it would. Provide universal coverage would cover every person in the state it clearly has not done so I know that -- official numbers they've they you'll get about two point 6% of the population that's uninsured. But there's a lot of -- Skeptical those numbers that the bureau put the number at about five point 4%. Well look at examination stated that accurate that the global 5%. I think -- public albeit about 2000 people without insurance. It -- probably would bring down insurance premiums that insurance premiums were all it much needed -- 5%. In reality it on up -- 12%. An average over the last three years that doubled the national average. And it's been a huge burden on state taxpayers are already at one to back increase. To pay for and the protection report showed enormous gaps -- going to have to raise taxes again."

" What is. Your outlook on where things are -- Be influenced in terms of the Massachusetts plan on what Barack Obama is looking at art is it likely. That elements of what we have here will be pulled into the national plan."

" It certainly appeared that way if you look at a bill that Ted Kennedy has drafted. And the other bill that are coming out congress they all include the basic provision Tibet cute it's. An individual mandate that people purchase insurance. Enormous subsidies for low income people. At some kind of an exchange or connector. To regulate the marketplace. -- I admit it probably some sort of employer mandate that would be in that assessment that employers and met -- there's going to be some. Are the key element that the accused is brought into the national plan."

" And is that a good thing or bad timing I know you don't like the Massachusetts plan but as -- as we look at those failures in terms of the predictions that that governor Romney made for example. It did does that mean that what was done was bad or does it just -- hasn't worked out as well in terms of saving money."

" Well it means it was a it was heading in the wrong direction that the idea of making the primary concern. Of reform about expanding coverage. What a mistake the primary. Focus beyond we do think off. In making insurance more affordable. It but what you did and that's cute at that what I'm afraid -- about mysteries and going to do would make the primary focus how can we get more insurance than in the more people. Of -- more procedures were more people. That we guarantee driving up health care caught. That means -- gonna head effigy that would never ending subsidies."

" But how to -- not done that and that's the premise for roe wanting to to make it changes and."

" Well it should make you change should be to bring down health -- ought to make health care more affordable of people. And if you hated more affordable than you would you need universal health care and that would ruin the democrats' plan so how. Allow you battled white."

" Mike let me ask your question I'm curious about the -- recipe for reducing those costs -- and I have free market guys -- been very critical of the Massachusetts. Initiative even though is they say political circles -- with skeptical to say the least Howard -- don't go about proposing. Real. A real approach on some of them so that some of the hideous costs were all familiar with."

" There are I think a couple of things you can do right -- wanted to need to move away from an employer paid insurance model Awad and which -- personal and -- The exchange -- connector -- tickets were supposed to do that but it would never let up but a way that really. Effectively done that I think you got put on the national level in it. -- it or changing the way taxes treat employer provided -- individually or health insurance. Decades he could make it legal for people to buy health insurance across state lines -- up one in -- that's cute -- departed cheaper insurance policy to. And answers they should be allowed to by dep policy which they can't today."

" Who -- would you when you move it from an employer based to an individual situation. Would you does Kato embrace a and mandate that we're all have that responsibility as American citizens."

" I I I think you what to do it you make it affordable for people. The buy insurance immediately handed bill gate that want to buy health insurance I really don't care. It it doesn't really have any impact on me there are ways we could make people more responsible for the world caught. Including changing the model law at -- hospital basically write off far too much. Unpaid bills when they could be going after the bills."

" So that 27 year old college grad he's not he's certainly not bill greats but he gates I'm sorry but he feels awfully immortal and he doesn't get a policy that he feels immoral in -- gets sick. What do we do as a society what that kid he's obviously been nearest personally responsible but do we leave them by the side of the road."

" I don't know it will take care equipment we should build them. Opt for it but one of the way to get him to buy insurance -- to make insurance a better deal for an -- more affordable in Massachusetts. Are you that some twenty -- mandate you have a modified form a community rating all of which drive up the cost for young healthy person. Eight should be able to get some sort of catastrophic policy. That would allow him to cover himself would be -- it it by truck. -- but basically it erupted and out of pocket."

" You know you alluded to to something earlier -- that was the need to cut costs and I said well Democrats don't want to cut costs it's the expense. That provides the impetus to move towards a universal system and that's really what their goal is right. Let's look at this. A different way and that is what is the problem that really needs to be solved what is it that Americans need. And I think that brings us back to original premise what we need is cheaper health care we need cost containment. We need to fix things that were broken by government intervention that made health care more expensive is that a statement you would agree with Michael -- from --"

" I think what we need it they competitive. Market in health care. Debate health care doesn't really function of the marketplace modes help here's paid for by a third party. Most of it insurance operate as the cartel protected by regulation the providers operating cartels provide protective regulation apple. A monopoly era oligarchy. I think what you really needed to open competitive marketplace. And that will bring out ought to be an act that the -- that would any other goods and services."

" The globe a Boston Globe editorial page today and a lot of the political lights and luminaries in Massachusetts think. At an ambitious public. Component has to be proud of Obama started talking about it just within the past week. Ted Kennedy has been all over what's your response is that a fair way to. Really accentuate that competitive marketplace should start about."

" Well you can't have been a country. Competition but not on a level playing field and a government raw and land competing with private insurance. Well certainly not be here could the government run plan it's subsidized by the taxpayers. It doesn't happen any body can lose that much money at that Watson back because the taxpayer or pick up the difference -- keep its redeemed lol it's been a bit I. That's not to worry about that in addition. Government plans like Medicare and Medicaid under reimbursed position and back drive up the -- those. Authorship -- the people with private health insurance we worry about the uninsured. Chipped it caught the people with insurance. The under reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid as much worse. It is big public land that they're talking about that the thing big ship those call -- it would private insurance. It'll raise their region and drive them out of private insurance into the public plant the private insurance market will collapse and Melinda with a single Payer government run system."

" Our Michael tenors -- us from the Cato Institute were talking about health care reform where should it go you can jump in on the conversation 6172666868. It's -- and -- 680 WRKO. --"