Forcing insurance companies to cover preexisting conditions is immoral

Those that know my story know that my family has been hammered financially by insurance companies for "pre-existing conditions", aka pregnancy.  I would have personally benefitted from a law that prohibited insurance companies from charging me more because of those medical issues. I would have benefitted from a law that forced my former employer's insurance company to continue my coverage after I went independent.  However, just because something benefits me personally, I know it doesn't make it right.  Forcing insurance companies to cover preexisting conditions is immoral.

This first several paragraphs of this recent article states things quite well:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0910/p09s02-coop.html


The truth is I could benefit from a lot of laws that take money from others and give it to me or my family.  Heck, I even think I am a pretty deserving guy.  Excepting my lead foot, I'm a law-biding citizen.  I pay my taxes.  I teach my kids to obey the rules, do well in school, and participate in community service.  I not only don't litter, I pick up trash when I'm out on walks.  I'm a Red Cross volunteer.  I pay my bills on time. I try to walk or ride my bike instead of drive a car whenever possible.  I give a percentage of my earnings to both my church and several charities.  I know many wealthy people who aren't nearly as "virtuous" as me.  Why not take their excess and give it to me or others who could certainly use it more?  I'm pretty sure the way that I would use it would benefit society much more than the extra luxuries it would afford them!

The reason is principle.  I was taught as a child that taking others' property is STEALING.  I believe that strongly.  Morality is about adhering to principle even if ignoring or abandoning it could result in personal gain.  Abandoning principle in face of difficulty, fear, or for personal benefit may be understandable, but it is still wrong.

The means used to expropriate others' property only changes the term, not the principle.  Taking things when the owner is not present is called looting.  Taking things at gun-point or knife-point is called robbing.  Taking things by deception or misrepresentation is called swindling.  Taking things while the owner is sleeping is called theiving.  Taking things unfarly or illegally is called graft.  Taking things by threat of imprisonment is called taxing.  We should try to reduce or eliminate all of the above.

That said, it is difficult to see wealth in the hands of some uncaring, greedy people.  However, greed and materialism do not only exist among the upper classes.  While we like to think greed is the other guy's problem- it just isn't true.  I think an honest definition of greed and materialism among the non-rich is "envy" or "covetousness".  In fact, if greed is about wanting more- then envy is not only about wanting more (greed), but wanting more but wanting more of what someone already has and it implies social comparison at some level.  Envy is a powerful emotion.  But envy doesn't make stealing justifable.

I don't want to suggest that only liberal social policies amount to stealing.  We also need to hold our business leaders accountable for their stealing- wheather that be in the way they are able to externalize the costs of business (eg not providing health care benefits to employees or polluting the environment), robbing shareholders with exhorbitant executive pay, or stealing from open markets by mis-stating their financials. We need to hold our politicians accountable for how they steal from taxpayers to benefit a few in their districts with federally funded "pork" programs.  These programs buy the votes of their constituents at our expense.

All that said, there are real needs out there that need to be addressed.  I propose that CHARITY is the proper solution, not stealing.  Let's all use our time and resources to help those in need and encourage others to do the same.  Let's stop restricting freedom and using the government to steal, even if the intentions are noble.  Let's stop spending our resources lobbying government to steal from one group of citizens to benefit another.  Let's instead use those resources to actually pay for the medical costs of those without insurance.  This principle applies to other needs beyond medical costs.  I think we will find many wealthy individuals willing to contribute generously.  Those who decide not to participate will simply miss out on the joy of giving.

I firmly believe that our country's problem isn't "too much freedom" or "not enough regulations".   What we have witnessed in recent years is the symptom of growing morality problems- less integrity, less charity, and less trust combined with a concentration of power.  These are problems that must be solved by living more honestly, charitably, and neighborly while diffusing power.  If you want to make things worse, decrease freedom, hoard your resources, concentrate power, and assume your neighbor will take advantage of you if you don't get him first.