Should the US government reimburse for faith-based healing?

The Senate Finance Committee has taken up  the America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009 which has an amendment titled, Religious Non-discrimination in Healthcare.  The provision bans insurance companies from denying patients “benefits for religious or spiritual healthcare”. Similar legislation, the Affordable Health Choices Act, has already cleared the U.S. Senate, and  has a similar provision. Your thoughts?
- Seeker: I never thought of it that way. Their resulting shorter life expectancy would more than compensate. Well done!

There might be a placebo effect for those who believe. I suppose endorphins can be released that actually might have the effect of helping the body to find its own resources and produce antibodies.

Maybe there’s something else meant by this legislation, or perhaps some concession had to be given to the religious right in order to get something passed.

It seems a bit hard on the insurance companies, who might think they’re paying for something that’s hit-and-miss, rather than proper medical care (which can also be hit-and-miss in some cases, I suppose). But this could be compensated for by the religious policyholder’s early death during illness that would limit the amount that’d have to be paid out.

Rep. Burgess talks health care financing on FOX News.

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