During the Tea Party debate between the Republican candidates for president, Wolf Blitzer asked  Ron Paul a question about requiring people to buy health insurance. Ron Paul, a true libertarian, replied it is an individuals's choice to buy (or not buy)  insurance.  Mr. Blitzer then badgered him with a bleeding heart hypothetical question about a 30 year old man who could afford, but chose not to buy a $200 per month medical insurance policy. This hypothetical man then ended up in the hospital with a life-threatening illness.

Mr. Blitzer then prodded Mr. Paul if "we" should let him die because he had no insurance. Mr. Paul scoffed at this insinuation, but did not really answer the question. (A couple of idiots in the audience clapped when Blitzer asked if the man should be allowed to die. Of course, after the debate, many liberals quickly identified the clappers as right-wing tea-partiers.)

Dear Mr. Blitzer, the answer to your hypothetical question is simple. This man chose not to buy medical insurance he could afford. He rolled the dice and lost. However, he is entitled to receive the best medical care we can give him. And when he gets out of the hospital, he should be given a bill and an installment plan to pay the bill off. Simple, isn't it?  Once word got around that this is how the system worked, people would make good economic decisions on whether to buy insurance or not. And if some people refused to pay, they could be sued for the amount owed and forced into bankruptcy, if necessary.

I have known several  people who, over the years, either did not have insurance or did not have enough insurance to cover their hospital stays. Because they were "middle class" and did not qualify for state aid, the hospital gave them a bill for the difference, and they paid it back over several months. These people who paid off their bills took personal responsibilty.
 
Under this system, once word got around that this is how the "new" medical non-insurance game worked, people would make true free-market decisions about medical insurance and would stop gaming the system.

Case closed. Under this system, medical costs would soon get under control. The non-insured, rich and poor, would be required to pay their "fair share" after a hospital stay.



There is no need to die in the hospital. The hospital will give you a bill and a coupon book to pay if off!