Debates over health care policy break down into empirical questions (Is Obamacare increasing the number of Americans with insurance?) and philosophical questions (Should government spend trillions of dollars to increase insurance coverage?). Earlier this week, I wrote about a study providing empirical ammo to the liberal argument that increasing health insurance reduces mortality rates. But I noted, briefly, that such a study couldn’t answer philosophical questions about the role of government and the implications on human liberty. This provoked a thoughtful response from Bill Gardner on the Incidental Economist health care blog.

In his post, Gardner argues that expanding health insurance coverage increases positive freedom: “Many people who were excluded from the insurance market because of pre-existing conditions, or who could not afford it, will now have an option to purchase it. For those who have obtained their insurance through their employer, the ACA may give them greater freedom to change jobs or retire. Finally, getting insurance may provide people with access to healthcare that restores their capabilities and prolongs their lives, thereby expanding their positive freedom.”