# Making Private Health Insurance Illegal **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 16, 2009, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-private-health-insurance-illegal/503207 "2009-07-16T10:54:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-private-health-insurance-illegal/503207/81 "2009-07-19T05:01:05Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > My parents had Blue Cross which was a major company back then. Don’t remember it being non-profit. What companies were non-profit? Actually MOST Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies have been _and still are_ non-profit. The biggest exception is Anthem/WellPoint, which is a for-profit company covering something like 14 states. There are a couple other for-profit Blues, but of the 31 or so primary license holders I think 27 are still non-profit. Blue Cross and non-profit are not mutually exclusive. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-private-health-insurance-illegal/503207/82 "2009-07-19T05:19:47Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > HMO and private health insurance are not mutually exclusive. You’re right but HMO’s are expensive for what you get. You can build an insurance policy into an HMO but I couldn’t see the advantage. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-private-health-insurance-illegal/503207/83 "2009-07-19T05:20:18Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’m not going to debate my personal policy. Then why bring it up as evidence that anyone can get affordable coverage despite pre-existing conditions? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-private-health-insurance-illegal/503207/84 "2009-07-19T05:52:35Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Then why bring it up as evidence that anyone can get affordable coverage despite pre-existing conditions? I didn’t say anyone could. I acknowledged it was a problem that would be better addressed on a smaller level then diving into another expensive government program. You’re contribution to this debate is to tell me I don’t know what insurance I have. I assure you I’m not a member of Congress and do not rush through contracts without reading them. You also suggested that I think everything is fine. I’ve said nothing of the sort. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-private-health-insurance-illegal/503207/85 "2009-07-19T05:57:49Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I didn’t say anyone could. I acknowledged it was a problem that would be better addressed on a smaller level then diving into another expensive government program. > > You’re contribution to this debate is to tell me I don’t know what insurance I have. I assure you I’m not a member of Congress and do not rush through contracts without reading them. You also suggested that I think everything is fine. I’ve said nothing of the sort. Actually my contribution to the debate was to show that the OP was completely wrong about what he thought was said on page sixteen of the house bill. You’re the one foisting useless anecdotes and pretending they mean anything at all. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-private-health-insurance-illegal/503207/86 "2009-07-19T06:12:54Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Actually my contribution to the debate was to show that the OP was completely wrong about what he thought was said on page sixteen of the house bill. > > You’re the one foisting useless anecdotes and pretending they mean anything at all. Except you’re wrong. According the quoted part of the legislation, YOU won’t be able to buy MY current insurance policy. In other words, you’re stuck with the new premiums. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-private-health-insurance-illegal/503207/87 "2009-07-19T06:23:39Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Except you’re wrong. According the quoted part of the legislation, YOU won’t be able to buy MY current insurance policy. In other words, you’re stuck with the new premiums. Yes, and they won’t be able to deny anyone coverage based on them being sick. We don’t know that your coverage is anything special. It’s probably pretty shitty since you said you have a pre-existing condition and you bought it yourself. But you aren’t willing to talk about it, so stop talking about it, would ya? Of course all policies in the future will be based on the new law. How else would it be? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-private-health-insurance-illegal/503207/88 "2009-07-19T06:29:52Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Yes, and they won’t be able to deny anyone coverage based on them being sick. > > We don’t know that your coverage is anything special. It’s probably pretty shitty since you said you have a pre-existing condition and you bought it yourself. > > But you aren’t willing to talk about it, so stop talking about it, would ya? > > Of course all policies in the future will be based on the new law. How else would it be? :rolleyes: Best of luck paying for it. I’ll be retiring it when it truly hits the fan. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-private-health-insurance-illegal/503207/89 "2009-07-21T05:05:54Z")
I havn’t read the law but here is my situation. To add Cad Jnr to my group’s plan would be over $500 per month - 20% of my takehome I got him his own policy, the same coverage as on my account - $40 per month. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-private-health-insurance-illegal/503207.md?page=4)