Phil, I will have a column out tomorrow on precisely this point
so I won't give too much away, but you are entirely correct. Once
you say everyone must have COVERAGE as opposed to ACCESS to
coverage the argument is just about what coercive measures the
government will undertake to reach that outcome. Moreover, once you
say everyone must have coverage then the government decides what
type of coverage is "coverage" and we're off to the races in
government mandated benefits and costs (e.g., Is a $2000 annual
deductible plan "coverage"? Must there be mental health benefits in
"parity" with other health benefits to be "coverage"?) This was the
cardinal error in MittCare and if Romney gets the nomination will
be a significant handicap in making the case against
HillaryCare.