1-Should individuals with preexisting conditions be able to purchase health insurance at the same cost as those without such conditions? Why or why not?

1-Should individuals with preexisting conditions be able to purchase health insurance at the same cost as those without such conditions? Why or why not?

2-What are the advantages of conducting a cost-benefit analysis on a new health care service an insurance company is considering, such as screening for prostate cancer as a covered benefit?

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Dr. J

Pre-existing health care conditions and Insurance

1-Should individuals with preexisting conditions be able to purchase health insurance at the same cost as those without such conditions? Why or why not?

Unequivocally Yes: Let’s face it: if the tables were turned we would think it unfair-no one asks to be sick or to have pre-existing conditions. As such, in the name of fair treatment, equality, justice, human dignity and human rights-those with pre-existing conditions (with the exceptions of overeating leading to gross obesity that is not genetic-related (some examples (not all) of abuse of drugs and alcohol). unlike auto-insurance, where many individuals can have a history of reckless, careless driving; in deed insurance companies can and perhaps should charge them more as they are high risks. That said however; we are speaking of will power versus (for most part) inevitable events such as sickness and we are also comparing a human body and a car. This is a very different kind of liability-akin to “acts of god” or “natural causes”. Imagine a young child with cancer and she is being told this or her parents? This is just another form of discrimination – since you are gay-you cannot adopt kids; because you speak this language-or is of this religion you cannot; because you are from this racial or ethnic group you cannot and because you have had cancer before-sorry you will have to pay?

In the United States, not covering an individual because of pre-existing conditions …