An interesting dialogue broke out yesterday and continues today on the WSJ Health Blog.  The blog, entitled, “Order in the Senate!  Single-payer Advocates Disrupt Hearing” included YouTube video of some very passionate (read between the lines and insert your own descriptive noun here “__________” ) people who wanted to exercise their constitutional rights by disrupting a Senate Hearing on health care.  If pure exposure was their goal, then the fact that they were picked up by the WSJ and YouTube would suggest success.  To the extent it helps their cause?  It certainly wasn’t a “come to Jesus” moment for me.

Personally, while a single-payer system would not undermine health savings accounts (HSAs), which are what we write about here, single-payer is not the best platform for them either.  Consumer Driven Health is about competition, personal choice and accountability.  Single-payer; not so much.   

Interesting dialogue going on over at the WSJ. Our comments are below:

 “Single Payer” and “Free” are three words we, all- too- often, hear together. EVERYONE (with very few exceptions e.g. children and the few individuals who do not have the capacity to take care of themselves)  needs to have some skin in the game, and that will vary depending on means. We need more focus on “Health” than “Care.” We need to give Americans the tools and education to understand the health implications of their actions. We need to use both carrots and sticks to encourage people to become healthier and understand their bodies. People unwilling to engage with their health should also be willing to accept the consequences of their actions, which in this case would be minimal health care. Single Payer creates an environment whereby a majority (not all) of those not engaged in the process but receiving it’s benefits (those receiving it “free”), are driven to a downward spiral of entitlement and irresponsibility at the greater expense of those who are paying for it, and to some extent the government. Single Payer will create a Welfare mentality. A Consumer Directed Health Care model, is a better model from which to build and reform.