Universal healthcare=universal nightmare

Here's compelling proof that nationalized healthcare WILL NOT WORK:

From FoxNews.com
Hawaii Ending Universal Child Health Care After 7 Mos.
Friday, October 17, 2008

HONOLULU — Hawaii is dropping the only state universal child health care program in the country just seven months after it launched.

Gov. Linda Lingle's administration cited budget shortfalls and other available health care options for eliminating funding for the program. A state official said families were dropping private coverage so their children would be eligible for the subsidized plan.

"People who were already able to afford health care began to stop paying for it so they could get it for free," said Dr. Kenny Fink, the administrator for Med-QUEST at the Department of Human Services. "I don't believe that was the intent of the program."

State officials said Thursday they will stop giving health coverage to the 2,000 children enrolled by Nov. 1, but private partner Hawaii Medical Service Association will pay to extend their coverage through the end of the year without government support.

"We're very disappointed in the state's decision, and it came as a complete surprise to us," said Jennifer Diesman, a spokeswoman for HMSA, the state's largest health care provider. "We believe the program is working, and given Hawaii's economic uncertainty, we don't think now is the time to cut all funding for this kind of program."

Hawaii lawmakers approved the health plan in 2007 as a way to ensure every child can get basic medical help. The Keiki (child) Care program aimed to cover every child from birth to 18 years old who didn't already have health insurance — mostly immigrants and members of lower-income families.

It costs the state about $50,000 per month, or $25.50 per child — an amount that was more than matched by HMSA.

State health officials argued that most of the children enrolled in the universal child care program previously had private health insurance, indicating that it was helping those who didn't need it.

The Republican governor signed Keiki Care into law in 2007, but it and many other government services are facing cuts as the state deals with a projected $900 million general fund shortfall by 2011.

While it's difficult to determine how many children lack health coverage in the islands, estimates range from 3,500 to 16,000 in a state of about 1.3 million people. All were eligible for the program.

"Children are a lot more vulnerable in terms of needing care," said Democratic Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland. "It's not very good to try to be a leader and then renege on that commitment."

The universal health care system was free except for copays of $7 per office visit.

Families with children currently enrolled in the universal system are being encouraged to seek more comprehensive Medicaid coverage, which may be available to children in a family of four earning up to $73,000 annually.

These children also could sign up for the HMSA Children's Plan, which costs about $55 a month.

"Most of them won't be eligible for Medicaid, and that's why they were enrolled in Keiki Care," Diesman said. "It's the gap group that we're trying to ensure has coverage."

Re-read that third paragraph one hundred times.

I laud the quick action (by a Republican Governor.) It only took seven months of people leeching the system for a governor to say enough's enough. But think of that...it took seven months for people to start leeching the system. It took seven months for people to gravitate to the free ride. To forego personal responsibility in favor of a handout. To shift the burden of accountability from themselves to the shoulders of the tax payers. People who were already able to pay for coverage suddenly started limping around, pitifully saying "Look at ME...I need help..*cough, cough*" No, worse, "Someone help MY CHILD!" That's YOUR job, not mine!!! It's despicable.

So tell me, when a state as small as Hawaii can't run socialized medicine, how is there any way in HELL it will work for a country? And tell me how, if they start it, the national government would ever DREAM of shutting it off after seven months. It would not.

What's worse, when the Barackalypse consumes healthcare and we turn into a country of sniveling hypochondriacs and cancer and heart disease are supplanted by Munchausen by Proxy as the most costly condition to treat, we'll ALSO be watching mortgage payers shirking their ethical responsibilities. Because, guess what? Not only is RePO (Reid, Pelosi and Obama) going to let you get a free ride on medical coverage, if you're having trouble making your mortgage payment, no problem. They'll bail you out of that, too. Just stop paying your mortgage because it's too hard. (You probably never had the money in the first place when you faked your loan docs with a smile and a wink.) Hell, maybe you get a paper cut every time you send in your check or you don't like the taste of the envelope glue. Who gives a shit? Don't pay for an entire year and they'll just reappraise the value of your home lower until it's friggin' free.

Have another bonbon and enjoy the ride!