Back to Basics

The democrats’ approach to reforming the health care system makes about as much sense as amputating an arm because someone broke a finger.  Instead of addressing the problems in smaller doses they are going to turn the entire system upside down.  I don’t know if they have been listening, but the United States has the best health care in the world.  Why would you want to destroy that?  They want to model it after systems like Canada, but have they listened to the complaints and problems Canada has?  People from Canada come to the United States for treatment because they can’t get it in their own country!  Canadians also have to carry secondary insurance because the government insurance isn’t good enough.  They also pay a HUGE percentage of their income (and not just the “rich”) to pay for these programs.  Is this really what we want?

Even in our own country the state of Massachusetts has their own version of universal health care.  Just recently they reported a cut in coverage to certain groups of people because they don’t have the money to keep the system running.  People who once had good coverage are complaining because they now have to wait to see a doctor or get treatment.  Sure, they may brag that they have the lowest uninsured population, but having the insurance and obtaining care are not the same thing.  The Massachusetts system has started failing in 3 years!

So I ask again – are the democrats listening?  Repackage, renaming or doing whatever creative means to disguise the same bill is still an attempt at passing the same bill.  We are getting tired of the democrats and president trying to sell the same used car with a different paint job.

Reform should start with the very basics and address the problems of the system.  Take it a step at a time, making changes to address the critical problems first, and then continue to monitor the system to see how much more is needed.  Treat the system like a patient – don’t do radical surgery when medication or a change of diet may solve the problem.

The uninsured is one of the current issue.  There are a good percentage of uninsured that have chosen to be uninsured.  They are people who are making a decent living and have made a personal choice not to obtain insurance.  Perhaps they are young and don’t feel the need for it.  They may be a family who does not have the children covered but the parents are.  Whatever the reason, it is their choice.  The government should not force them to purchase insurance.  However, if they have chosen not to obtain insurance then taxpayers should also not have to foot the bill for their medical issues.

As I initially read and took notes throughout this section I really didn’t grasp the absurdity of the program.  When I started writing this column I was overwhelmed by the stupidity of the thought that someone would actually think this was health care reform and not just a government take over of the health industry.  The public option is based on the same business model (if you could actually call it that) of the Medicare system – the system that is currently failing and going bankrupt today!  So why would one think that applying the same standards of a failing business to another model is going to create success.  Did any of the members participating in the creation of this bill have any business background?  Failure x 2 does not equal success.  With that said, I will continue on my quest at reporting on bill H.R. 3200.

The Public Health option is the portion of the bill allowing the government to sell insurance.  The Public Option is basically a Medicare type program offered to those who do not quality for Medicare, operating concurrently and competing against the private plans offered in the Health Insurance Exchange.  The government controls the Health Insurance Exchange, controls the policies offered within the exchange, and would now be able to sell government policies.  Try side stepping this all you want, but this is a government take over of health care.

Some of the bill’s BS (sorry) just could not be reworded or interpreted, so I had to quote the bill so you could fully understand the vague references and enthusiastic goals of the Public Option.

The Magic Wand of Health Care

The bill establishes the administration of a Public Health Insurance Option, an exchange qualified plan, which is supposed to “ensure choice, competition and stability of affordable, high quality coverage.”  The Secretary of Health & Human Services is responsible to create a “low-cost plan without compromising quality or access to care.”  WOW!  Apparently the magic formula has been discovered to have low-cost insurance premiums that will give accessible and quality care, and if you listen to Obama’s promises, this will not raise taxes.  Since this is similar to Medicare, one would have to wonder why this magic wand hasn’t already been applied to Medicare to ensure the same quality of care without bankrupting the system.

The Public Option will only be made available through the Health Insurance Exchange, so if you cannot obtain insurance through the exchange for whatever reason, you will also not be able to obtain the Public Option insurance either.  (For further information, please visit article H.R. 3200 – The Health Insurance Exchange.)

The Public Option must comply with the requirements that apply to an exchange plan, including benefits, benefit levels, provider networks, notices, consumer protections and cost-sharing.  Different levels of plans will also be offered.  The Secretary enters into the contracts for the public option.  This is similar to that of the Commissioner on the Health Insurance Exchange.

The Secretary sets the premiums for the public option and may allow for geographic adjustments.  The rates must be set at a level sufficient to fully finance the cost of the health benefits provided by the public options and all administrative costs related to operating the public option.