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On Phones, Cars and Health Care

The Law of Unintended Consequences is cruel, and unforgiving: “every undertaking, however well-intentioned, is generally accompanied by unforeseen repercussions that can overshadow
the principal endeavor.”

We saw this with Cash4Clunkers. and are still reaping those consequences (don't believe me? Try finding a good deal on a used car). But there is, perhaps, an even better model: cell phones.

Ok Henry, now you've just gone off the deep end. What the heck do cell phones have to do with health care, or health insurance?

Just everything:

"Over 26,000 Ohioans abusing free cell phone plan ... Companies are flooding low-income households with free cell phones and minutes under a plan overseen by the federal government."

Let's tweak that a bit:

"Over 26,000 Ohioans abusing free or low-cost health insurance ... Carriers are flooding low-income households with free cell or almost-free health insurance phones, with immediate coverage for pre-exisitng conditions, under a plan overseen by the federal government."

And herein lies the problem: radio waves are essentially free, and limitless. Not so doctors, hospitals and medications. If the government can't keep a handle on handsets, how will it rein in the cost of hand surgeries?

But the cell phones are free, so what's the big deal?

Nothing is free:

"The program is paid for with fees mandated by the government and tacked onto most cellphone and home phone bills."

Again, a little plastic surgery (so to speak):

"The program is paid for with fees mandated by the government and tacked onto most insurance premiums and hospital bills."

'Nuff said?

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