Science Forums 2

[Jway]

Yes, this is an older thread.

And yes, I found this at very top of Google search, on terms of "is health insurance socialistic?"

From philosophical (rigorous debate) perspective, perhaps it is not. From personal experience, and my worldview, it is a no doubter.

I agree with OP and with what was said in first 3 posts. Haven't read the other 100 posts that contributed to this fascinating discussion, but perhaps I will if this topic picks up any steam again. I've thought that US health insurance is at least a little socialistic for several years now. I feel very favorable of capitalism in society, and as someone who has had: group health insurance, no insurance, and individual insurance (currently), I am thinking that the current set up is only barely influenced by capitalism. It is a mixture of both, and IMO it heavily leans toward socialism.

Today, while on call with my insurance company (whom I appreciate), I was actually told that issue with rider that I am experiencing would not be occurring if I was on group plan. I felt like I was being "sold" on that, even while the sale can't happen today. I've had group plan and I understood immediately what the agent was telling me, but this is really just a way to bypass the consumer responsibility that comes with healthcare choices. I'm not even giving the reader (you) details on the rider issue as that is tangential to this debate. What I am saying is that without group health insurance policy (which is heavily socialistic), the consumer in the US healthcare market, is vastly subject to being screwed in ways that capitalism alone, cannot fix. IMO, capitalism alone, doesn't even address this. I wish it did. But, in my experience, it does not.

I've even had my insurance agent (person that sold me the policy, and another aspect of puzzle that I do appreciate) tell me that if he were US president, he would do away with health insurance, as it is killing "fair market" for the individual consumer. If you are (essentially) "unionized" under group health care, then the market is very "fair." But if you are not part of that union, and are a) in individual policy or b) have no policy / uninsured, you are playing by rules where capitalism is barely in the picture.

I could bring up at least one other example to further this point, one from my own experience, but I'll leave it at here for now. If any further discussion ensues, I'll be listening and may further participate. If not, thanks for opportunity to post / share all this, and thanks for reading!

-Jway