Opus 2014-44: The Cost of Health Insurance

Why does our health insurance cost so much? 

Obviously there are many reasons.  Let me share you one that is overlooked and avoidable.  I am being required to reapply for my health insurance.  One of the things required is a copy of my marriage license if I want to cover my wife.  We have been married almost 39 years and she has been covered by the same provider for the past 26 years.  They still want me to jump through the hoops.

As I looked down the list of required documents I noticed that there was also a line for people who have domestic partners.  It mentions something called a “Declaration of Domestic Partnership.”  If you want your “partner” to be covered bring in the certificate.  Here we come to the source of expense.  There are numerous types of relationships that fall under this category.  Obviously homosexual couples would fit.  In fact, the designation is primarily driven by the homosexual community.  It also would apply to people who have “hooked up” for a time.  It would apply to wealthy men who find an attractive women with children and no insurance.  With the agreement to be a concubine the woman gets coverage for her and her children.

All of these relationships are full of situations that cause greater disease and health care costs.  None of them have made the life long commitment that is the basis of marriage.  Many of them are getting the advantage of insurance that is designed and paid for by people who have made those life long commitments.  They are reaping the rewards for other people’s planning and discipline. 

If it was one couple or a few people this would be no issue.  With more and more people living together in temporary arrangements the costs skyrocket.

One way to keep health care costs down is to demand higher payments from people based on the decisions they have made.  This could apply to smokers, the obese, homosexuals and race car drivers.  It makes sense to me.

Maybe that is why it will never happen.

homo unius libri