Seems like good idea

John Brummett recently suggested running his column under the name of Thomas Sowell. If that happened, a paragraph or two in I would be shocked at how unattractively bitter and petulant Mr. Sowell had become. I’m sure eventually I would figure out it was just more of the same from the embarrassingly embittered Brummett.

Then, in a discussion of the private-option plan, he laments the idea that, if a participant did not pay his premium on time, he would lose his coverage and not be able to get it back for some as yet indeterminate lockout period—say six months. Brummett is apparently horrified: “… he’d go around uninsured, a physical risk to himself and a financial risk to hospitals.” But see, it seems in Brummett’s view, this is all the fault of the legislators imposing such a lockout. Nary a word gets said about the recipient having any responsibility whatever for having failed to pay his premium. Nope, that guy apparently ought to be able to show up, payment in hand, and again have coverage.

People generally will act rationally and in accordance with what they perceive to be their best interests. If I know I can skip paying my premium this month and then just re-enroll next month, why not go ahead and get the new tattoo now and let the insurance slide? Heck, why pay every month for insurance I don’t need except occasionally? It makes more sense to wait until I’m sick, and then sign up. Operating on that basis apparently makes sense to Brummett. Letting people buy auto insurance after the wreck has already happened probably seems like a good idea to him, too. RICHARD BEARD North Little Rock