The Law of Unintended Consequences is cruel, and unforgiving: “every undertaking, however well-intentioned, is generally accompanied by unforeseen repercussions that can overshadow
the principal endeavor.”
We saw this with Cash4Clunkers. and are still reaping those consequences (don't believe me? Try finding a good deal on a used car). But there is, perhaps, an even better model: cell phones.
Ok Henry, now you've just gone off the deep end. What the heck do cell phones have to do with health care, or health insurance?
Just everything:
"Over 26,000 Ohioans abusing free cell phone plan ... Companies are flooding low-income households with free cell phones and minutes under a plan overseen by the federal government."
Let's tweak that a bit:
"Over 26,000 Ohioans abusing free or low-cost health insurance ... Carriers are flooding low-income households with free cell or almost-free health insurance phones, with immediate coverage for pre-exisitng conditions, under a plan overseen by the federal government."
And herein lies the problem: radio waves are essentially free, and limitless. Not so doctors, hospitals and medications. If the government can't keep a handle on handsets, how will it rein in the cost of hand surgeries?
But the cell phones are free, so what's the big deal?
Nothing is free:
"The program is paid for with fees mandated by the government and tacked onto most cellphone and home phone bills."
Again, a little plastic surgery (so to speak):
"The program is paid for with fees mandated by the government and tacked onto most insurance premiums and hospital bills."
'Nuff said?
the principal endeavor.”
We saw this with Cash4Clunkers. and are still reaping those consequences (don't believe me? Try finding a good deal on a used car). But there is, perhaps, an even better model: cell phones.
Ok Henry, now you've just gone off the deep end. What the heck do cell phones have to do with health care, or health insurance?
Just everything:
"Over 26,000 Ohioans abusing free cell phone plan ... Companies are flooding low-income households with free cell phones and minutes under a plan overseen by the federal government."
Let's tweak that a bit:
"Over 26,000 Ohioans abusing free or low-cost health insurance ... Carriers are flooding low-income households with free cell or almost-free health insurance phones, with immediate coverage for pre-exisitng conditions, under a plan overseen by the federal government."
And herein lies the problem: radio waves are essentially free, and limitless. Not so doctors, hospitals and medications. If the government can't keep a handle on handsets, how will it rein in the cost of hand surgeries?
But the cell phones are free, so what's the big deal?
Nothing is free:
"The program is paid for with fees mandated by the government and tacked onto most cellphone and home phone bills."
Again, a little plastic surgery (so to speak):
"The program is paid for with fees mandated by the government and tacked onto most insurance premiums and hospital bills."
'Nuff said?
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