Florida doesn't need Obamacare

In an August 9, 2009 op-ed written by Florida Governor Charlie Crist and published on the website of the Republican Party of Florida, the Governor explains how the Cover Florida Health Care program makes universal care available in the state. Under the bill passed by the Florida legislature and signed by the Governor last year, affordable medical insurance is available to all Floridians without taxpayer subsidies or government-run plans. Together with the Florida Discount Drug card, doctors, hospitals and prescription drugs are not out of the reach of anyone in the State.
Through negotiations with health insurance providers the State secured affordable plans, which are available to employers as well as individuals. A State-selected private contractor also negotiated discounts on prescription drugs. While Cover Florida provides medical insurance benefits for as little as $24.00 per month, the most popular plan sells for an average of $148.00 monthly. At least two companies have plans available in every Florida county and all plans cover pre-existing conditions.
The Cover Florida Health Care and Florida Discount Drug card programs represent the Republican answer to the Democrat-sponsored health insurance models, which promote a taxpayer-funded, government-run component. Under the Republican alternative there is no single-payer, Medicare Part A-type plan competing with the private insurance providers. Since the government-run plan can run at a loss indefinitely because it is subsidized by the taxpayers, it has the ability to put the private plans out of business and become the sole option for consumers. The Democrat alternative would eventually become another Amtrak, or Postal Service – perennial money-losers surviving on government subsidies and providing ever-worsening services to its captive members.
Free markets can only survive when all competitors operate on a level playing field. When the government enters the market as a competitor, it always carries a tremendous advantage. In the case of health insurance, it makes the rules all others must abide by, and has the power to exempt itself from those same rules. For example, private insurers must obtain licenses and submit to State regulations. Any Federal government-run program would be exempt from external requirements, while forcing them upon its competition. This factor alone is certain to result in an eventual government monopoly on the provision of health-related and medical services.
President Obama claims that the Democrat universal health insurance proposals will not lead to a single-payer government-run system. He has recently suggested that he does not support such a plan. That, however, is very different from what he has said in the past, as the sound bite below, taken from a 2003 speech to an AFL-CIO group during his senatorial campaign shows.

It is very significant that, while President Obama denies the Democrat initiatives amount to the beginnings of a single-payer system – or socialized medicine, as it is commonly known – he never states affirmatively that he opposes such a program. The obvious reason, as shown by his own statements is that he supports the concept of socialized medicine. Given that fact, what reason is there to suppose that he won’t use the government option under the Democrat plan to ram his favored model down the country’s throat?

(Above right: Gov. Charlie Crist official photo)

For more info: 
Op-ed by Governor Crist
Cover Florida website.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield schedule of premiums under Cover Florida