Back to Basics

The latest version of the Pelosi/House health care reform is more of the same, and worse.  It includes the same problems of HR3200 including the public option, the health care exchange, mandates requiring everyone to buy insurance, mandates requiring employers to provide insurance, penalties if you don’t purchase insurance, penalties on companies for not providing insurance, government real-time access to your bank accounts…more and more of the same.

I briefly reviewed the 1990 page bill and found some additional measures that were equally disturbing.

The bill is supposed to help those who have pre-existing conditions as well as those with chronic illnesses that may not otherwise be able to obtain affordable health care insurance.  The bill does mandate that insurance companies accept everyone, regardless of their medical history.  However, in a transition period, the government has allocated a specific budget to cover these people and this must not result in a deficit.  If the expenditures are expected to exceed the budget there are three options available to solve this problem:  (1) deny services, (2) increase premiums, and (3) put people on a waiting list.  So those with current insurance issues may find themselves no better off once this plan goes into affect since the bill gives the government the right to ration or deny services and increase the cost of your premiums.

There are over 360 pages in the bill that directly relate to medical treatment in the Native American populations.  This amounts to additional studies, addressing alcoholism issues and a number of other issues.  However, the bill also allows the government to take Indian reservation lands for the purpose of medicine.  The government will make those decisions and it did not appear as if the Native American population would have any control over what lands they chose to take, or if the medical facilities is even necessary for this population.  How far does this abuse of power run?

I recently read articles on the Pelosi/House reform and found that it creates 111 new bureaucratic departments and/or programs…more expansion of government.  The cost of this bill is estimated at approximately $1.2 trillion for 10 years.

Likewise, just as disturbing is those people who truly believe that this type of government takeover of the insurance industry is the only way they will be able to obtain health insurance.  They don’t want to even consider any other options that may allow them to be covered but not destroy the health care coverage 83% of the population currently has and likes.  They further expect this coverage, because of the public option, to be FREE; they are not expecting to contribute anything to their health insurance costs.  Nothing is free – you will be paying for insurance premiums, co-sharing costs as well as an increase in your income taxes.  If you don’t wake up now you could find yourself facing a huge medical/insurance bill you will be required to pay.

Behind the scenes in the real world anticipation over the new bills has already made an impact on the insurance industry.  A health insurance agent was at a recent party we attended and she is all for this new mandate, her mouth watering at the prospect of making lots of money from all the policies she will be selling.  As long as the private market can compete with the public option she will make a fortune, as she gets a commission not only when she sells a policy, but will continue receiving that commission as long as you renew your policy – and she may not have to do a thing.  This bill will make her a rich woman.  On the other hand, her ex voiced his opinion at her enthusiasm and stated that all this was at what expense to us.  He understood the consequences.

Another tip of the hand came when it was open enrollment time for my daughter.  Her options had been greatly diminished in health insurance coverage.  Option A would give her a set office visit cost of $30/visit, a $750 deductible and she would be responsible for 40% of her medical bills.  Option B would have given her a set office visit cost of $35/visit, a $1500 deductible and again she would be responsible for 40% of her medical bills.  For this reduction in coverage she would enjoy a minor increase in premiums.  Yes, she can say she is “covered” by health insurance but with the deductibles and cost-sharing responsibilities she cannot afford medical care or treatment!  This is from a very large insurance company, so one has to ask if this is the direction we can expect the government plans to be heading.  Is this the type of coverage that may be offered in a basic insurance plan?  If so, then although the government could claim more people would be insured, it would not necessarily mean people would be able to obtain medical care or treatment because they may not be able to afford it.

While the House healthcare bill does little or nothing to decrease medical costs and is anticipated to actually increase insurance premiums, one has to wonder what the real motives are behind the bill.  Is this just a bill to grant the government more control over our lives and denying us personal freedoms…with more government expansion?  With insurance agents waiting in the wings to jump at the vast money making opportunities, whose interests – or special interests – were really in mind?  Does being insured actually make medical care and treatment affordable…or will the cost of the insurance policy and cost-sharing expenses make it even more unaffordable?

Time is running out.  The House is expected to start debate on this issue this week.  The people spoke this summer at Town Hall meetings.  Did Congress get the messages?  It is time we remind them.  Call, write, fax and email your representatives before it’s too late.  The life you save may not only be yours but the country.

If you think it was bad in August with the possibility of facing fines for not buying health insurance, it has gotten worse. Now we find out if you don’t buy health insurance you could be fined an additional $25,000 and face a year in jail. Jail time for not purchasing something because the government tells you it’s required! This is outrageous. You will notice Congress and government employees are immune from this system.

Here is John Shadegg explaining this new twist to the bill.

March on Washington DC – September 12, 2009

The numbers vary from tens of thousands to 2 million people that turned out for the March on Washington DC protesting the direction our government is taking.  This doesn’t include the number of people who may not have been able to get there because the city was in gridlock.  Whatever the final numbers, it is apparent that the people have awakened and are speaking up.  ARE YOU LISTENING NOW?

I was not able to attend the event, but spent the day watching from the video feed from Foxnews.  It was quite an impressive crowd of all ages, carrying American flags and hand-made protest signs, covering the grounds from the Capitol to the Washington Monument.

These are grass-root Americans who until now have remained the silent majority, raising children, working, going on about their daily lives until they became so angry at a government no longer listening to their soft-spoken voice that they finally had to speak up and start yelling.  That they did as they joined the march to the Capitol, organized by the FreedomWorks Foundation.  They wanted to be heard as the crowd shouted “can you hear us now!”

Speakers at the event included Rep. Tom Price (GA), Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN), Rep. Mike Pence (IN), Sen. Jim DeMint (SC), Dick Armey – FreedomWorks, (former U.S. House Majority Leader).  The universal theme was too much government.  It’s not only the government takeover of the health care system, it’s also about Cap and Trade, government bailouts, TARP, and most important the failure of the government to listen to the people.

One of the main themes was this country has been built on dedication and hard work.  There were no government bailouts, no government handouts, no government health care.  The founding fathers created this country with limited government, because they knew that was the only way the country could succeed.  People still believe in these basic values and are demanding the government return to the foundation it was built upon – to return to the US Constitution.  They have a love for this country, the freedom it has provided and they want to make sure those freedoms are restored and preserved.

This isn’t a racial battle, yet the democrat’s and president pull the racist card at every opportunity.  This is a battle of the people wanting to save the United States from those who are trying to destroy it from within the ranks of the government itself.  If they won’t start listening now, then these same people are planning on returning next year to make their voices even louder.  “Can you hear us now?”

Strangely enough, President Obama claims he didn’t know there was going to be a march on Washington today, yet he had his own health care event in Minnesota.  Can we say “YOU LIE!”

Will the President and Congress start listening?  Only time will tell.  The people are awake and are ready for battle.  They want our country back!  Are you listening – can you hear us now?

Congressman Shadegg joined colleagues in the House and Senate to accept the largest petition ever to be presented to Congress, the “Free Our Health Care Now!” petition.  More than 1.3 million Americans made their voices heard through their signatures—a staggering number that shows just how many of you are worried about the future of our health care.

Republicans are striving to make your voices heard as we fight to make choice and competition, not government and bureaucracy, the cornerstones of our nation’s new health care system. After all, governments don’t compete; they mandate, tax, and regulate!

Please take a moment to view a clip from John Shadegg’s statement at the event, or watch the full video.

“The most important thing the President could have done tonight was to show the American people he was listening to their concerns and fears about a government takeover of health care.  Tonight, he could have rejected the big-government proposals being pushed by Nancy Pelosi and Congressional Democrats. Sadly, he chose to double-down on a health care overhaul Americans simply do not want.

“President Obama has embraced some of the worst ideas I have seen in all my years in Congress. Rather than reject a new government-run plan that will eviscerate health care choice, the President embraced a new Washington-driven health care program. Rather than reject the desire of insurance companies to force individuals to buy expensive coverage, President Obama has called for the IRS to punish American families who choose to go without a government-approved plan. And rather than reject new regulations and rules that will outlaw the plans millions of Americans enjoy today, the President said his proposal wouldn’t technically force Americans and their employers to change their plans. This cynical sleight of hand will give little comfort to Americans that are afraid the government will eliminate their health care coverage in the fine print of a thousand-page bill.

“The President claims he believes in choice and competition in health care and will consider any serious reform proposals. Along with dozens of my Republican colleagues, I have put forth plans to expand patient choice, repeal the penalty on purchasing your own coverage, help the uninsured, and protect those with pre-existing conditions from crushing medical costs. We can do all of this with no new mandates, taxes, penalties, rules, commissions, agencies, or czars.

“It’s time for Washington to listen to the people. Give Americans choice and competition, get government out of the way, stop expanding government control, and stop wasting the people’s money!”

John Shadegg on Obama Speech