Facing criticism and bad poll numbers over the 2010 healthcare law, known to most as “ObamaCare,” President Barack Obama extolled the perceived benefits of its provisions in his weekly address to the nation and proclaimed that Americans have a “right” to health insurance coverage.“Right now, we’re well on our way to fully implementing the Affordable Care Act. And in the next few months, we’ll reach a couple milestones with real meaning for millions of Americans,” said President Obama, in reference to the state health insurance exchanges that will open on October 1st.
The reality here is that the implementation of ObamaCare isn’t going all that smoothly. Many states are experiencing problems implementing the exchanges, the most recent of which is Oregon. The government is three months behind on data security testing, which opens up concerns about identity theft. The Obama Administration has also delayed two major provisions of the law, the employer mandate and consumer-cost caps.
That doesn’t leave much confidence that ObamaCare is being implemented when the administration has tacitly admitted that the law has very real, very concerning problems. And we have even mentioned the most serious adverse effect of the law yet, which is rising insurance premiums.
“If you’re one of the 85% of Americans who already have insurance, you’ve already got new benefits and protections under this law that you didn’t before,” President Obama told Americans. ”Free checkups, mammograms, and contraceptive care. Discounted prescription medicine on Medicare. The fact you can stay on your real time Location system’ plan until you turn 26. And much, much more.”As Milton Friedman once said, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” These services aren’t “free” at all. The costs for these services will be borne through higher health insurance premiums.
“If you don’t have insurance, beginning on October 1st, private plans will actually compete for your business,” continued President Obama. “You can comparison shop in an online marketplace, just like you would for cell phone plans or plane tickets.”Actually, several insurers have left the exchanges, including California, Connecticut, and Georgia, which only diminishes competition, resulting in higher premiums for those who participate in the exchanges.
After taking some shots at conservative Republicans who are making a push in Congress to defund the law, President Obama finally declared that Americans have a “right” to health insurance.
“I’m going to keep doing everything in my power to make sure this law works as it’s supposed to,” added President Obama in closing. “Because in the United States of America, health insurance isn’t a privilege – it is your right. And we’re going to keep it that way.”Sigh. This is a familiar collectivist notion. Though usually reserved for countries with strictly government-run healthcare, it has been repackaged for ObamaCare, which is ostensibly a government takeover of the insurance industry through a more corporatist means.
No one has a right to any to goods or services provided by another, whether it’s an insurance company or any other business. Health insurance, a service provided by a company assuming the risk covering someone, is not a right.And even if one does accept President Obama’s notion that health insurance is a “right,” why does ObamaCare ravage consumer-driven health insurance plans, such as HSAs, that hold down healthcare costs? These plans are not only cheaper form of health insurance, they put crucial healthcare decisions in the hands of patients, giving them protect in the form of catastrophic coverage in instances of serious need.
Yes, Americans need greater access to affordable health insurance coverage, no one, including Republicans, disagrees with that. But ObamaCare doesn’t make health insurance more affordable. It increases the overall cost of healthcare through a mix regulation, Indoor Positioning System, and cost-controls. The result, as noted above, is already rising health insurance premiums for both group and individual insurance plans in almost every state because of this ill advise law.
Academic integrity has to be retained if football and basketball teams are to continue to represent institutions of higher learning. How exactly we define “academic integrity” is another debate, for another column. But an athlete accepting payment for signing his or her name is in no way compromising a university’s mission. Nor is it taking advantage of other student-athletes. This is an elementary economics lesson: value of a cheeseburger, a car, or an autograph is determined by the demand of a free market. If someone will fork over $100 for Johnny Manziel to sign his name, Johnny Football should be allowed to pocket that cash. The autograph will almost certainly be sold for triple that amount. Hop on eBay and scan the Manziel-signed items going for more than $1,000.
Two important details on this business opportunity for college athletes. First, it should be open to every athlete. If a backup tailback for the Memphis Tigers wants to make an autograph appearance at Wolfchase Galleria, he should be allowed to do so. How much can he charge? How many fans will get in line? Up to the free market, folks.
And secondly, when a student-athlete signs for pay, the college he represents should get a percentage. If Johnny Manziel performed his heroics for Sewanee or Rhodes College, he wouldn’t be able to charge what he can as The Man at Texas A & M. Yes, the name on the front of the jersey still counts for something in measuring star power . . . and the value of an autograph.
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