Name:   MartiniMan - Subject:   2026 Insurance Rates Date:   8/29/2025 10:21:56 AM

Medicare for all would be doubling and tripling down on stupid as govt does nothing well.  Medicare is already headed to bankruptcy unless it is reformed.  Adding everyone to an already bankrupt program is just about as stupid a thing as you could do.  As for me liking it or not liking it, what other choice do I have?  I got kicked off our Obamadon'tcare policy when I turned 65.  So I had no choice.  

As for the cost increases in the ACA plans, pre-existing conditions is just one of many problems.  Being forced to pay for coverage you don't need also drives up costs.  As for pre-existing conditions, as I am sure you know well it can still happen with Medicare which is why I opted for supplemental versus Advantage.  People simply do not understand what insurance is and have unrealistic expectations.  Imagine trying to buy fire insurance while your house is burning to the ground.  I would have much preferred a govt program to address pre-existing conditions versus what we got.  It would still be a fiscal nightmare but would have made insurance for everyone else more reasonable.

I would also prefer a big expansion of catastrophic insurance and HSA plans.  Getting the consumer closer to the provider is the best way to reduce costs.  If we only used insurance for the big events and pay cash for all other services it will lower costs dramatically.  People rush to the doctor because it's only a $25 co-pay.  If they had to fork out $250 from their HSA account they would think twice.  They would also push back against defensive medicine which results in unneeded tests.  If you had to fork out $500 for a bunch of tests you start to ask questions about why. 

I could go on and on but my solution is to find a way to reduce the 3rd party payer system (including govt) which has massively distorted the cost of health care.  Obamadon'tcare was the exact wrong way to go and we are all suffering as a result.