I have spent a great deal of space in this blog discussing how the health insurance reform legislation being considered by Congress ignores actuarial science, creating an unsustainable government entitlement. This is a huge concern in the long run, but the question to ask right now is: How much are these health insurance reforms are going to cost you—per week, per month, and per year?

I find it astounding that no one can answer that question. Even worse, we will only learn the answer after the health care insurance legislation is passed.

It’s like every American is writing a blank check and giving it to Congress, so they can fill in the premium amount.

Some would say it is more like Congress is forging a check drawn on your account. After all, you have no say in the matter.

When did we give Congress the authority to make buying decisions for us? The new law is going to require every working adult to enter into a contract, to purchase a good, whether they can afford it or not.

As a health insurance agent who believes in the value of health insurance, I should be thrilled with the idea that everyone will be forced to buy what I sell, but I am not. It goes against every principle of business I adhere to. People should not be coerced into doing something, even if it appears to be good for them.

One thing I have learned from my years in health insurance is this: People do what is in their best interests. If they decide not to buy health insurance from me, or at all, they likely have a good reason. They might be too embarrassed to say what it is, but it is there.

Often—especially when people are between jobs—they simply cannot afford health insurance premium costs. When people have to choose between health insurance and food, or health insurance and shelter, health insurance loses. People who are just barely hanging on to their homes would rather pay for their drugs and occasional doctor visits out of pocket. I respect that decision. They are running a risk of incurring bank-breaking expenses if they have a serious accident or illness. But in this economy, millions of people are underwater in their home loans, have gone through their liquid savings, or are willing to risk bankruptcy if that is needed. It is their life, and I respect their choices.

I would strongly recommend that those who cannot afford health insurance at least open a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) so they can use pre-tax dollars to pay for incidental medical expenses. Depending on their tax bracket, this could increase their buying power by 20 to 50 percent. But I would never dream of requiring them to buy health insurance from me or anyone else.

Make no mistake, Congress is forcing people onto the health insurance rolls because they need a source of revenue to pay for this gigantic government program. Backers of the bill rightly fear that, left to their own self interest, a certain percentage of people will continue choose to pay for their own medical expenses out of pocket. As I pointed out in my last post, these mostly will be younger people. The government needs their participation in the health insurance program, even if it comes by threatening fines and incarceration.

Whatever happened to choice?

But the iron fist of punishment will not be enough force everyone to buy health insurance.

Knowing that insurance companies will be forced to insure them even if they develop a serious illness, many people will forego health insurance until such a need arises. In fact, guaranteed acceptance of insurability regardless of preexisting conditions is a much larger incentive to forego insurance than the fines are deterrent to doing so.

What we need right now is a pause to reconsider this whole thing.