After 10 years without insurance for herself and her child, my significant other recently qualified for our state's SCHIP program. Over the past few weeks, I've had an opportunity to compare her evil-godless-commie-Nazi-socialist gummint-run health care and my own private insurance plan, for which I pay close to $900 a month. Guess who's got the better deal?
She can go see any doctor who accepts the state plan, without a wait. I need referrals and pre-approvals, which can take a fair amount of time. She has no copays. I pay $30 every time I see the doctor, $10/$20/$30 for prescriptions, and much more for things like ER visits and diagnostic imaging. She has full dental and vision coverage. I have none.
The kicker? According to the state department of social services, her plan costs the state approximately $192 a month -- almost $600 less than I pay. While I realize the state reimburses at a lower rate than does my private carrier, this is still a dramatic difference.
Why can't people understand that government-run insurance can provide better benefits for less money? It seems obvious that, when you don't have to suck profits out of the system, you can do more for less.