From the Edmonton Journal...
He argues health care premiums are a regressive form of taxation. For a family earning $35,000 a year, the $1,056 cost of health care premiums works out to three per cent of their annual income. For a family earning $100,000 a year, the $1,056 premium amounts to only one per cent of their annual income, he adds.
"While we support the intent to put more money back in the pockets of taxpayers, Albertans want long-term prosperity," he says. "Eliminating health care premiums altogether would be much more prudent in the long-run."
3 comments:
Health care premiums are a necessity for a workable health care system. Call it taxation or what ever you wish. Premiums should be based on income bracket and those who do not earn enough to pay income tax need not pay premiums. In my memory the best our Sask. health care system ever worked was when we paid a premium. It made us appreciate what we were getting back, and don't forget it was under the administration of Tommy "walk on water" Douglas.
Wow David, that's quite the photo of King Ralph!
A necessity??? So by that logic our education system would be better if we paid an "education premium", our aboriginal affairs system would be better if we paid an "aboriginal premium", and our gaming ministry would be more effective if we paid a "gaming premium".
If you want people to understand that health care costs money then they should be a) sent a statement telling them how much was spent on their health care or b) billed as soon as they walk into a hospital.
Premiums lead to a sense of entitlement "I've paid in, so I'm gonna get my money's worth", ever heard that one from someone about to collect EI?
Post a Comment