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Friday, October 21, 2011

2012 / Politics / Retail The Market Provides Health Care Solutions in the Market's Own, Special Way

Posted by Paul Constant on Fri, Oct 21, 2011 at 11:00 AM

Citing rising costs, Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest private employer, told its employees this week that all future part-time employees who work less than 24 hours a week on average will no longer qualify for any of the company’s health insurance plans.

In addition, any new employees who average 24 hours to 33 hours a week will no longer be able to include a spouse as part of their health care plan, although children can still be covered.

So what is the Republican response to this? The market, with all its wisdom and compassion, clearly isn't providing health care coverage to its workers anymore, because health care costs are out of control. Are Republicans going to say that if Walmart just didn't have to pay to meet those pesky safety and environmental regulations, they'd be able to provide quality health care for all their employees? That's basically what every single Republican presidential candidate is saying. and it's total fucking bullshit. Government has to do something about health care costs, because even the precious, all-knowing market can't afford them.

Comments (9) RSS

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The first lesson in Economics 101 is that the free market doesn't respond to need it responds to demand. Demand is when you want something and you have the money to pay for it. The free market does a great job of supplying paying customers with anything and everything they want, but if you aint got no money take your broke ass home.

Posted by Ken Mehlman on October 21, 2011 at 11:07 AM

Take away congress' socialised, taxpayer paid medical care NOW!

Posted by Vince on October 21, 2011 at 11:36 AM

What will conservatives say? They'll just say the usual: "Whatever the problem is, it's Barack Obama's fault."

Posted by Urgutha Forka on October 21, 2011 at 11:47 AM

When people tout the worldwide success of Wal-Mart, what they often overlook is that, because of the meager health-coverage options previously offered, and because of the generally low wages, many full-time Wal-Mart employees were on both Medicaid and Food Stamps. Wal-Mart did not have to give them a higher wage or health coverage because, in essence, its exploitive labor practices were being subsidized by state and federal governments.

Posted by Clayton on October 21, 2011 at 11:52 AM

So ... how is changing how it's paid for really decrease the costs?

The medical institutions can still deny care or even offer lesser care if they are on insurance.

Posted by KittenKoder

on October 21, 2011 at 1:03 PM

@KittenKoder Good point! I'll also add I'm suspicious of why costs won't increase further once the medical bills are footed by the Government? Friedman gave a nice example on this: http://youtu.be/5RDMdc5r5z8

Posted by funstar3 on October 21, 2011 at 2:04 PM

If we could just kill the EPA then I'm sure magical fairies made of asbestos, oil tar & coal dust will come and heal all our sicknesses & pains! HURRAY!!!

(I'm pretty sure about this one. The GOP told me it was so. And they're all millionaires, so why would they lie?)

Posted by Timrrr on October 21, 2011 at 2:19 PM

@5 & 6:

how is changing how it's paid for really decrease the costs?

The same principle that made Walmart profitable within it's business: Economies of Scale

And NO, KittyKode, they CANNOT deny non-elective care. (Were you not paying attention in... well, ALL of 2009? How can any of this debate still be new to you??)

Posted by Timrrr on October 21, 2011 at 2:31 PM

@6 My Flash isn't working well today. Bah, I'll check out the vid if I remember to later though.

@8 Um ... there are ways they can, were you not paying attention to all the misdiagnosed folks in the US since 2009?

Posted by KittenKoder

on October 21, 2011 at 3:52 PM