Good Story About Autism Legislation on Fox 4 KC
John Combest linked today to a very well-written story by Fox 4 in Kansas City. I commend them for asking tough question about the autism legislation that is almost certainly going to be passed and signed into law this year. The answer to the Fox question is that yes, autism mandates will cause premiums to rise for everyone. It may well be a very small increase, and the public good of covering autism may indeed be worth it, but let’s not pretend that this legislation won’t increase insurance costs for everyone.
The earlier you get help to these kids, the better off they are. Pay a couple dollars more a year now in insurance premiums or pay alot more later to deal with the adults that didn’t get the help in time…
Comment by DaveG — January 25, 2010 @ 4:15 p.m.
Perhaps so, but you, and the many other people who argue that, are buying wholesale into the welfare / nanny state assumptions that it is always going to be the government’s job to take care of people. That may well be the case here, and I’m not saying you’re wrong (or even that you like it) but once you buy into that there is no end to the arguments you can make along that line of reasoning. With the enormous federal government debt and the almost-guaranteed insolvencies (without major changes, mostly subtractions) of our current entitilement programs, we are going to have to finally say to some people, “this is your own responsibility.”
Autism is probably not the right issue and time to make that decision, and (as I said above) the public good that comes from the coverage may well we worth it. But let’s not pretend it does not raise everyone’s costs (and you didn’t), and let’s admit that the argument “pay a little now, or a lot later” can be made just as well (and in many cases, inaccurately) about hundreds of other issues / causes / projects.
Comment by David Stokes — January 25, 2010 @ 4:44 p.m.
I wonder what would happen to everyone’s insurance rates if we removed coverage on majority of patients receiving smoking and obesity related treatments? I think it makes more sense to tell these adults that “this is your own responsibility” than parents of children who are born with autism. I would be shocked if the only thing keeping these smoking and obesity related coverages alive wasn’t the politicians running this “welfare/nanny state”.
In 2008 28% of Missourians were considered obese (www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html).
25% of Missourians were considered smokers in 2009(http://abcnews.go.com/WN/states-smokers-cdc-names-west-virginia-worst-offender/story?id=9138741) .
One in 100 Missouri children have some type of autism (http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/01/why-insurance-is-so-expensive.html), most of which wont even qualify for this insurance legislation.
Sounds like the little guy, who truly needs their health insurance for covering a high and unexpected healthcare expense, is finally getting a little help. To me, this is why you have health insurance.
Comment by DaveG — January 25, 2010 @ 11:02 p.m.