The Health Insurance Mandate

One of the key elements of the President's health care reform agenda is mandating that all Americans who can "afford" health insurance purchase coverage. Should this mandate turn into law, it will be perhaps the first time in history that the government of the United States has required that its citizens purchase a service as a condition of generating a certain amount of income. What a huge win this will be for the insurance companies! In speech after speech, President Obama has feigned distain for the health insurance industry, yet he is ready to force hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of new customers under threat of fine to purchase their services. The individuals in this new customer base, many of whom will be young, healthy, and not making use of the insurance they will be required to purchase, will more than make up for any profit hits health insurance companies will take as a result of new laws requiring them to cover people with preexisting conditions. With enemies like President Obama...who needs friends?