Gov. Linda Lingle's administration cited budget shortfalls and other available health care options for eliminating funding for the program. A state official said families were dropping private coverage so their children would be eligible for the subsidized plan.We've seen similar problems in other states such as Tennessee, where a government "right" to health care undermines and eventually destroys the private market. This in turn leaves patients and physicians at the mercy of government bureaucrats.
"People who were already able to afford health care began to stop paying for it so they could get it for free," said Dr. Kenny Fink, the administrator for Med-QUEST at the Department of Human Services. "I don't believe that was the intent of the program"...
Fortunately, Hawaii learned this lesson before it was too late. Will the rest of America?
(Via multiple readers, including Brian Schwartz, Kelly McNulty, and Robb LeChevalier.)
