In article ,
Dave wrote:

On Mon, 18 Oct 2004 10:11:45 -0400, "Vito" said:

This approach offers only two alternatives for a sprained ankle - pay the MD
or hurt; or in the case of diabetes or cancer pay the MDs and drug dealers
whatever they want to charge or die.

You're missing something here. As to amounts below the level where the
deductible is exceeded and true insurance kicks in, yes, it's like any other
service. You can buy the service or you can decide not to buy it and keep
the money, though you'd be paying in after-tax dollars from the first
dollar, unlike the present system where you pay in pre-tax dollars until you
exceed a percentage of adjusted gross. In the case of serious illness the
true insurance kicks in to cover higher costs.

That's hardly "free market". In a free
market, I'd be able to buy my medicines over the counter at *competative*
prices and bargain with MDs for rates but US law forbids the former and AMA
the latter.

Please explain the second part. How does the AMA prevent you from selecting
someone with lower fees, or a reduction by the doc?

So, whether I have a HMO or pay myself, I really have no
choices. Under either Bush's or Kerry's plan I (or my HMO) still have to pay
an MD $400 or more a year for permission to buy medicines I already know I
need.

Good point. There's really no reason to have an annual toll to buy medicines
you know you need.

Then I have to pay 2 - 10 time more for them than in Canada and
Mexico. Kerry says he'd at least let us shop Canada ..... (c:

That's simply snake oil. One of two things happen. Either you create a
shortage in Canada, or the Canadians prohibit export. (Probably both. Or, if
they are sensible about it, they allow the price to rise to a point where it
won't make any difference.)

Completely simplistic. Explain why Canadian (or Aussie or anyone else
with proper manuf. stds) manufacturers simply wouldn't ramp up
production. We have a similar scheme to the Canucks and the US drug
companies hate it. Tough.

Personally, I think it would be a good idea to
allow importation, since it would ultimately force the Canadians to pick up
part of the development costs that are now being born entirely by Americans.

Bwahahahahahahahaha. You get paid off by drug companies?

PDW