Massachusetts in the (Mail) Bag

Regular reader and frequent commenter Scuzz alerts us to the latest from the Bay State:

"Gov. Deval Patrick is calling on insurers, employers and hospitals to help cover costs. Many people have seen their co-pays and premiums rise, and a new cigarette tax is in the works.

"Our goal here is to spread the pain, as people are saying, and to continue the concept of shared responsibility which we think is part of the reason why Massachusetts has been successful...Everybody is contributing to the cost."

"(S)pread the pain?" And here I always thought that insurance was about spreading the risk. Silly me.

A fundamental precept here at IB is that health insurance costs increase primarily because health care costs do. Looks like Governor Patrick isn't a regular reader.

I'll give Scuzz the last word:

"Hmmm. Co-pays and premiums still rising due to health care costs. Just like in the private sector. Except the private sector can't just raise taxes whenever they want to make up for the gap. "Everybody is contributing to the cost". Stunning new concept, isn't it? Seems I've heard that somewhere before. That's the concept of the private sector now."

Indeed.