In <007301c03a46$3ae3c020$0100a8c0@nandts>, on 10/19/00 at 09:31 PM, "Neil Johnson" <njohnson@interl.net> said:
----- Original Message ----- From: "Marshall Clow" <mclow@owl.csusm.edu> To: "Nathan Saper" <natedog@well.com> Cc: "Cypherpunks" <cypherpunks@cyberpass.net> Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2000 12:23 AM Subject: CDR: Re: why should it be trusted?
So these people are entitled to something for nothing? (or in this case, $1500 of treatment for $1000 of premiums)?
Why?
It's not a zero-sum game for the insurance companies. Most insurance companies make quite a bit of money investing premiums.
In addition, they spread the risk. They are betting that more people will stay well than get sick.
And I'm not talking about people "engaging in risky behavior". I'm talking about someone who has a genetic predisposition for a disease THAT THEY HAVE NO ABILITY TO MITIGATE.
I have no problem charging someone who smokes, takes drugs, or over eats. THEY HAVE A CHOICE.
I am also not saying that Mr. Insurance CEO can only make $XXX in profit. I'm sure they can make a profit.
In fact they are making profits right now WITHOUT using genetic testing.
So what? You do not have a *right* to insurance and you do not have a *right* to medical care the amount of profit a company is making is irrelevant. -- --------------------------------------------------------------- William H. Geiger III http://www.openpgp.net Geiger Consulting Data Security & Cryptology Consulting Programming, Networking, Analysis PGP for OS/2: http://www.openpgp.net/pgp.html E-Secure: http://www.openpgp.net/esecure.html ---------------------------------------------------------------