The AMA is at it again – and your doctor may be looking to pick your pocket, or have the government do it.

Millions of upper-income Americans refuse to buy health insurance because they're young and healthy and figure they don't need it.

But now the American Medical Association wants to force them to buy coverage.

At its annual meeting in Chicago on Tuesday, the nation's largest doctors' group called for mandatory health insurance for anyone who makes more than five times the poverty level. That works out to $49,000 for an individual and $100,000 for a family of four.

No one would go to jail for refusing to buy coverage. The AMA instead suggested using the tax code to force compliance. There would be incentives such as tax credits for people who buy insurance and higher taxes for those who don't.

Of the 46 million uninsured Americans, about 5 million, or 11 percent, make more than five times the poverty level. The AMA said these people burden the health care system when they incur catastrophic medical bills they can't afford to pay. The cost gets passed on to those who largely pay for the health care system: taxpayers, employers and the insured.

"Society should not be penalized by the potential costly medical treatments of those uninsured who can afford to purchase health insurance coverage," an AMA report said.

Now I think it is stupid not to have health insurance. I cannot imagine doing without, but I understand that others may decide differently. That is a case of the free market at work. And we all know that mandatory health insurance will push prices higher, as companies have less incentive to compete for business.

On the other hand, the AMA doesnÂ’t want to take any action here.

Delegates defeated a resolution calling for price controls on prescription drugs.

Supporters of the resolution said drug companies make "excessive profits" and pay millions of dollars in salaries and perks to executives. Price controls would make drugs more affordable, they said.

But opponents said price controls would violate the AMA's long-standing support of free-market competition.

After all, that might cut the freebies that doctors get from those drug companies. That must be the free market they are concerned about.

Posted by: Greg at 10:26 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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