will not benefit me. I work. I have decent, affordable health insurance thru my work. I am reasonably healthy for a person my age. The legislators do not have me on their radar. The lobbyists do.
So, why would I support any of the bills coming up?
Because crap happens to good people.
Working in a volatile industry like computer hardware, I could be laid off with little notice. My current good set-up would disappear. Yes, there is a legal obligation to provide COBRA benefits. However, the premiums for such coverage are usually more than the medical bills they are supposed to help with.
I could die. In which my wife would be in the same situation, insurance-wise. Only she doesn't have an income as a result of her disability. She could end up homeless when the life insurance runs out. That's why I'm an advocate of cremation.
I could get a long term illness. Which means that I would lose my job. See above.
I could go slightly mad, and start another business. Group rates for small business are dicey at best. Coverage is spotty. And - as we said - there's a bit or pre-existing condition stuff going on, here.
So, I am hoping that in between all the protectionist amendments that are stuck on the bill so that the poor insurance companies don't suffer, someone adds a provision to cover one or more of those situations.
So, I support the health care bill that is being shaped in Washington. I hope it passes. Because it can only be better than what we have now - unless you are an insurance company, that is.