Single Payer the Anti-Choice Plan

Last Sunday there was a debate in our local paper about the health care system and how to fix it. One of the proposals was, of course, a single payer system. I had some thoughts on this so I wrote a letter to the editor... I thought I'd post it here also:

Single Payer the Anti-Choice Plan

A fundamental problem with single payer health care is that it denies freedom and choice. In doing this it violates the most basic principles of our country, as well as the power of the free market. Suppose there's something you dislike about your health plan; maybe the wait times are too long, the copays are too high, or the treatment you want isn't covered. With single payer, you're out of luck. Furthermore, if the government is providing everyone's health care, they will be expected to minimize costs. This provides an incentive for the "nanny state" – legislating lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise to keep health care costs down.

We need a system that embraces freedom rather than denying it. The bond between employment and health care should be broken so each individual can choose from any health plan on the market, which would spur competition and keep prices in check. Government does need to have a role in making sure everyone is able to purchase coverage, perhaps through a voucher system.

At any rate, we must fix this problem soon, before people become so exasperated with the current system that they agree to trade freedom for health care.