Force People to Buy Health Insurance? Silly
01 02 08 - 11:35
Editor: Ben Glass, Attorney at Law
Firm: Benjamin W. Glass, III & Assoc. PC
The National Retail Federation has suggested to Congress and the Bush Administration that lawmakers consider an "individual mandate" requiring all individuals to obtain health insurance and new voluntary coverage options for part-time workers. We have heard this from some of the Presidential candidates.
This is silly.
The government has no business mandating that citizens buy anything, let alone health insurance. Nor does the government have any business mandating that businesses, including small business owners, buy health insurance for its employees.
Health insurance is important, but like anything else, involves tradeoffs. Some people will elect to not be insured. That's their choice.
Some small businesses will elect to put their valuable resources elsewhere. That's their choice. No one forces anyone to work for anyone.
Frankly, I'm surprised that the National Retail Federation would suggest this.