Talking Health Care Reform | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary

Talking Health Care Reform | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: "What, if anything, is wrong with President Barack Obama's proposal for a 'public option' being made available to purchasers of health insurance?

Regardless of how it is structured or administered, such a plan would have an inherent advantage in the marketplace because it would ultimately be subsidized by taxpayers. It could, for instance, keep its premiums artificially low or offer extra benefits, then turn to the U.S. Treasury to cover any shortfalls."

"It is estimated that privately insured patients pay $89 billion annually in additional insurance costs because of cost-shifting from government programs."

"The one common characteristic of all single-payer health care systems is that they ration care."

"We should change the tax treatment of health insurance so that individuals who purchase their own insurance receive the same tax break as those who receive employer-provided insurance. By breaking the link between employment and insurance we can ensure that insurance is personal and portable."

"At its most basic, no one wants to die. If a treatment can save our lives, or increase quality of life, we want it. This problem becomes even more acute when someone else is paying. Right now, consumers pay only about 15 cents out of every dollar spent on health care in this country."

"Ultimately, controlling costs requires someone to say "no," whether the government (as in single-payer systems with global budgets), insurers (managed care) or health-care consumers themselves (by desire or ability to pay)."