Health Care: A Bad Bill

Only a few people know what’s exactly in the new proposed Senate health care bill, but there are some things we do know. The only positive thing we know is that preexisting exclusions are prohibited. Everything else we know is undesirable.

Medicare will be cut by about 500 billion dollars. This will cause rationing and lower quality care for seniors and fewer doctors who are willing to accept Medicare. Seniors will be drastically affected. The government will not deem them “cost effective”.

Taxes will be raised. About one-half the funding for this bill will come from new taxes, fees, and penalties. Raising taxes in a recession is beyond foolish.

This bill will cost almost one trillion dollars. Health insurance is extended to only about thirty million more people. Using simple mathematics this means that it will cost over thirty thousand dollars per person. Might I suggest that the government provide ten thousand dollars to each person and let them select their own insurance? This would dramatically reduce the cost of this bill.

Medicaid will be extended to include about 15 million more people. This is one-half of the new people covered. States pay about half of Medicaid costs. The states can not afford these new mandates. This means new taxes on the state level or drastic cuts in other state services.

Insurance premiums will cost more. If Medicare further reduces the rate of reimbursement to hospitals and doctors, the private sector will have to pick up the difference and pay more. There will be new taxes applied to insurance and this will cause premium costs to rise even more.

For the first time in our history citizens will be forced to purchase an item – even if they do not want to do so. Car insurance is not the same as this requirement. Driving is a privilege not a right and drivers are required to carry insurance to cover the damage to other drivers. If you do not buy health insurance you are subject to a fine. If you do not pay this fine you can be jailed.

The fine is so low that it is not a deterrent. A young healthy person would pay the fine and only purchase insurance if they were injured or became ill.

Many new government bureaucracies are created by this bill. Controls over private insurance would be great. Our choices would disappear. How is this an improvement of health care? It is government control of our health care by another name. We do not want the government to control our health care and our very lives. Stop this bill! Vote NO!

Signed,
The Electorate

"No" To Public Option

A public, government run, option will force this country into a single payer system. This is no doubt what is intended. Private companies can not long compete with a government option. The playing field is not level. The government makes and enforces the rules and regulations. A public option is backed by the weight and power of the federal government. It is backed and subsidized by taxpayer dollars. How can any private company compete? It is like having the head coach of one team referee the big game.

The government would eventually completely control our health care and our lives. We had better be really good or big brother would be unhappy. This is all about power and control. It is not about improving the quality and affordability of our health care. The American people do not want this government take-over of our health care. We want our health care to be controlled by our doctors and ourselves.

I am asking you, my legislator, to not vote for any bill that places my health care in governmental hands.

Signed,
The Electorate

Health Care: Opting Out

The latest health care trial balloon being floated is that states would be allowed to opt out of a federal health care public option. They would first have to prove that they were providing health care coverage to citizens of their state that met standards set by the federal government. No doubt it would be almost impossible to meet these standards – especially during the current difficult financial times. Most states are struggling to provide now existing programs.

If states did opt out, would their citizens then be exempt from the new taxes which are being proposed to fund the federal health care proposals? Would the cuts to Medicare not be applied to their state? It would be unfair to ask residents to pay for a federal public health care program that they were not receiving.

Florida has a home insurance program, Citizens. Its premiums have been traditionally higher than other private plans. Everyone knows that if a major hurricane hits Florida, Citizens could not pay its claims. State taxpayers would be responsible for the state’s shortfall. It would seem a state health care program would face the same problems.

Better No Reform Than Bad Reform

I really believe that we need some common sense health care reform. We need to increase competition by being able to purchase insurance across state lines. Our health insurance needs to be portable. We need to prevent exclusions because of preexisting conditions. We need true tort reform – not a study of tort reform.

This does not appear to be the type of health care reform that Congress is willing to deliver. Every proposal seems to be overly expensive and more concerned with increasing government size and power than it is with improving health care. We tell Congress we do not want a government takeover of health care. Congress does not listen. Congress wants what Congress wants and does not care what the people want.

The latest poll shows that 40% of people think the government’s top concern should be jobs. Another 25% think the top concern should be reducing the deficit and spending. Only 13% believe that health care reform should be the top governmental concern. Yet Congress is devoting most of its time to health care. Can Congress adjust its priorities to coincide with the people’s priorities?

I would rather have no health care reform than have the health care reform that is being proposed. There is an old adage. Nothing is so bad that the government can’t make it worse.

Signed,
The Electorate

Health Care Part 2: Congress Still Doesn't Listen

This summer the American people made it abundantly clear that they did not like and did not want the health care reform being proposed by Congress. Polls show that this is still true. Two-thirds of our representatives were unwilling to meet with their constituents. I can at least respect those who were willing to “take the heat”. I have waited to see the response of our representatives. At first they ”hunkered down”, but are now again beginning to try and push this unwanted, so called, reform down our throats.

The House is trying to “repackage” and combine their proposals. The bills don’t need to be repackaged; they need to be fundamentally changed. A bad bill is a bad bill. The House needs to consider what the people want and not just what Congress thinks they need.

The Senate is working on a supposedly bipartisan bill. If the government controls a co-op, it is still a public option. The bill is now being marked up in committee. It is being changed from a true effort of bipartisan legislation into the same kind of legislation that the public has already said that they do not want.

Is Congress unable or unwilling to listen to the American people? We do not want the government to run or control our health care. It doesn’t matter what Congress calls the plan. We do not want and can not afford a large, expensive new program. Congress has already spent all the money this country has and more. In this difficult time, citizens can not afford more taxes and fines are nothing but hidden taxes.

Significant changes can be made to our health care system that will make it more available and more affordable. These changes will not further bankrupt this country and will not cause more governmental intrusion in out lives. Congress needs to drop the public option. Congress needs to eliminate exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Congress needs to allow citizens to buy health care from any insurance company based in this country – across state lines. This would increase competition and lower costs. Congress needs to enact real tort reform. Cap “pain and suffering” awards and instigate a “loser pays” system for medical malpractice suits. This would discourage the practice of defensive medicine and lower malpractice insurance. This would lower health care costs. This has already been proven at the state level. Congress does need to address the fraud and waste in current government health care programs. Congress should not gut Medicare to provide health care to others. Congress can set a basic minimum of health care coverage, but not a maximum. Congress should eliminate comparative cost effectiveness in health care. People are not lab rats. These are just a few things that could be done to reform health care and would not put our country further in debt.

Signed,
The Electorate

Health Care in Real Life

Health care is talked about quite a bit in the news and on this blog and for very good reason. It has such an impact on our daily lives. So much of what has been proposed is not reform though they wish to call it such, but creation of a new system and it has to be done now, now, now, even though it will not go into affect until after the next election. (By the way, Mr. President, sir, the American public isn't that stupid. We still will remember that you're the one who forced this all.) Our system may not be perfect, in fact, it is far from it, but it is still a good system. Things simply need to tweaked and corrected.

For example, opening up competition across state lines would help reduce prices. Right now, there is little competition within each state which drives up prices. Another thing would be to remove pre-existing conditions as from the list of what could deny coverage. Many pre-existing conditions have little effect on everyday life but will gain a denial of coverage.

I am a prime example of this.

I have worked full time hours going on 4 years for a public university but my job is classified as a temporary position. With this position, I do not get paid sick leave, nor paid vacation, nor paid holidays, nor life insurance, nor health insurance. I have to find and pay out of pocket for my health insurance. For the past 3 years, I have carried an individual policy from Aetna that was decent in coverage and deductible. This year they raised my premium by $61 a month which priced it out of what I can afford.

I applied for a plan with Cigna that had a monthly premium (and coverage) equal to what I was paying before the latest rate increase. Their underwriters told me that because of my pre-existing condition (mitral valve prolapse) and the drug I take (Toprol XL) my quote had increased my $100 a month. Obviously, this defeated the purpose in applying.

Next, I applied for a plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. The deductible was higher but the rate was about $50 lower than the Cigna plan. BCBS of FL denied me flat out because of my pre-existing condition. I asked when I got the call.

Right now, I'm in the process of applying for a plan through Humana that has a high deductible but covers preventative care (annual exams, pap smears, etc) 100%. It's cost is $175 lower a month that what I am currently paying. This is not ideal but my doctor's visits are generally limited to annual physicals with my general practicitioner, cardiologist, and gynecologist anyway. It takes serious injury or illness to go to the doctor other than that. Sinus infections, colds or the flu I can handle on my own.

My options, not only on what I can afford, but on what companies operate in Florida are very limited. If I cannot get insurance through Humana, I have one company left to try.

This is something that could be handled by Congress. Work out the small things that have a major effect on the average person. Set aside the discussion on a public option. Increase competition nationwide in the private industry. Work out the difficulties for people with pre-existing conditions. Fix the rampant fraud in Medicare and Medicaid. It is amazing how much money the simple fixes could save.

Signed,
The Daughter of the Electorate

Public Co-op: A Rose is a Rose

Suggestions have been made in Congress that the health care bill could omit the public option and could instead include a public co-op. The term public co-op is contradictory. A co-op by nature is not public. It is not associated with the government.

Health co-ops like the one in Washington State are member owned -that is to say private. The hospital board is comprised of co-op members, who are elected by the co-op members. Any profit is reinvested in the co-op. It is not a part of a government entity. Other health co-ops, such as the Farmers Co-op, is comprised of individuals, who join together to obtain lower private insurance rates.

What is a public health co-op? It sounds like another name for a government run, government controlled health care plan. People are opposed to a government run plan; so, lets call it a public co-op. The sounds so much better. It seems that a public co-op is a public option is a government run, government controlled health care program. As Shakespeare once said "a rose by any other name...."

Can Congress stop trying to throw away the health care system we like and just seek to improve it by lowering costs and extending coverage? We ask you to address fraud and tort reform and to make these private plans more available with no exclusions because of preexisting conditions. We really do not want the government involved in our health care decisions. We want to make our own decisions.

Signed,
The Electorate

Health Care Reform We Want

We have the best health care system in the world. Could it be made better? Of course, it could. Let’s improve it – not throw it away. We do not need a completely new system. We just need to correct its current problems. Here are things that should be addressed in health care reform.

1. We do not want government run, government controlled health care. The government should not be involved in our medical decisions. These are decisions we should make with the advice of our doctors. Any new plans should be private sector plans.

2. A variety of plans, in the private sector, should be available. Individuals have different needs and should be able to select the plan that best fits them. One size does not fit all in medicine.

3. Pre-existing conditions should not exclude anyone from health care.

4. Small businesses should be able to pool together – like IGA grocers do – so that more affordable health care plans are available to them.

5. One-third of those currently uninsured can afford health care. Some have declined plans available to them at work. They are gambling that they will not need health care insurance. If they do not choose to enroll in a health care plan, they should be required to post a bond=2 0for medical expenses that they can not pay for out-of-pocket.

6. One-third of the uninsured is eligible for Medicaid. Enroll them.

7. Twenty percent of the uninsured are not legally in this country. They should only receive emergency care. They should not be given health care coverage.

8. This would leave less than ten million citizens that need health care. The private sector could offer coverage to this group. The government could supplement premiums, as financially needed. Financial aid should not be given to anyone whose income exceeds the national average income.

9. Health care reform is meaningless if we do not have tort reform. This will lower health care costs. Unnecessary tests are now ordered because doctors are forced to practice defensive medicine. Frivolous law suits would be greatly reduced if the plaintiff, in unsuccessful cases, is required to pay court costs and the legal costs of both parties. Malpractice premiums would be reduced, which in turn would lower health care costs.

10. Fraud is rampant in Medicare and Medicaid. The government needs to better regulate its health care plans. Fraud in the private sector is much lower.

11. Senior coverage is shrinking. It is now being reduced by ten percent, as more and more baby boomers enter the system. Other cuts are being considered. Age will be a determining factor in deciding what treatment – if any – may be used. Old people are becoming disposable.

12. This country needs catastrophic health care coverage. Over half those who are forced into bankruptcy because of medical costs have health care coverage.

These reforms would improve our health care system instead of throwing it on the trash heap. The vast majority of people like their health care plans. We ask Congress to improve our health care plans – not to destroy them. We do not want a government take-over of our health care.

Signed,
The Electorate

Health Care: Problems, Not Crisis

To Congress:

Our health care system does need to be improved, but we do not have a health care crisis. The problems we face now are the same problems we have faced for decades. Only 16% of Americans are uninsured - some by choice. Crisis is merely the vehicle being used to rush through hasty legislation that can not be debated or even read.

Have you yet signed the pledge to read this bill before voting on it? As of this morning you hadn't.

Even though we need improvement in our health care system, 84% of Americans are satisfied with their health care plan. Why is Congress seeking to throw away these plans and replacing them with a plan that has a history of only failure? Nationalized health care is socialized health care. Universal health care is socialized health care. Don't play word games.

The United Kingdom and Canada have nationalized health care. It has worked poorly in these countries. There are long waits, limited and denied treatment, and their health care systems are very expensive. Health care is driving these countries into bankruptcy. Massachusetts has universal health care. The results here are echoing those in the United Kingdom and Canada. If you wish to see how the United States government would run nationalized health care, you only need to look at Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA health care system. They too have long waits, limited and inferior treatment, and high expenses. This is compounded by fraud and bureaucracy. Now you want to share this misery with everyone else in the country. We say "No Thanks". We do not want your government run, government controlled plan.

The only thing Congress needs to do is to address uninsured citizens who can not afford health care insurance and are not eligible for Medicaid. This can be done in the private sector. Leave the rest of our plans alone. A government run plan would destroy private plans.

Signed,
The Electorate

Health Care: Reform We Actually Need

While I am against a government run health care option, this country does need health reform. There are issues that actually need to be addressed. Costs need to be curtailed and health care needs to be made more available.

Many doctors have already computerized health records. It is logical; can prevent mistakes; and makes it more efficient and less costly to file claims. Fraud must be addressed. Every year billions of health care dollars are wasted on fraudulent claims. Tort reform is needed. Frivolous law suits could be reduced by requiring plaintiffs to pay court costs and attorneys fees in unsuccessful cases. Contingency attorneys' fees should be limited to a reasonable set percentage of the award. If frivolous law suits were reduced, medical costs would be reduced and there would be fewer unnecessary tests order. CYA medicine is wasteful medicine.

Health care does need to be made available to all legal citizens. No one should be excluded because of a preexisting condition. About 16% of our population does not currently have health care insurance. One-third of the uninsured could afford insurance, but choose not to do so. One-third of the uninsured are eligible for Medicaid, but for some reason they have not applied. At least 20% of the uninsured are not in this country legally. They should only receive emergency care, not health care insurance. The uninsured who are not in these groups could receive health care insurance from private plans in which premiums are subsidized by the government according to need. If this were done every American would have access to health care that THEY controlled.

The government should not be involved in our medical decisions. It should not be involved in decisions that may effect whether we live or we die.

Signed,
The Electorate

Health Care and Public Option

No health care bill should include a public option. The private sector can offer health care plans for those who do not currently have health care insurance. The government could supplement premiums as the individual's finances dictate.

A public option that is subsidized by tax dollars would slowly strangle private plans. The government would force medical providers to accept lower fees. This loss of fees would result in higher costs for private plans. As the price of private plans increases businesses would find it more cost effective to pay government fines for not providing health care than the cost of providing health care benefits. Eventually only the government option will survive.

Anyone who has ever dealt with a government option knows what a truly bad option it is. The government should not control health care. Every individual needs to control their own health care.

Signed,
The Electorate

Rushing Health Care Legislation

To Congress,

Please do not rush through health care legislation. Take the time to thoroughly discuss it and consider all the ramifications. Is it really wise to cut over $300 billion from Medicaid and Medicare benefits to pay for a new government run plan? This is a fine example of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Is it wise to tax work health care benefits to pay for a new government health care plan? Taxpayers are already overburdened. They can not afford these new taxes. In these harsh economic times perhaps a more limited plan would be advisable.

Perhaps Congress should only address the 46 million who do not currently have insurance. Even the 46 million number is inflated. At least 12 million of this number are illegal immigrants. The actual number could be many times this amount. While emergency care should be available for them, a government health care plan should not be. Others choose not to join a health care plan. They choose to gamble that they will not need it. If they are financially sound perhaps they could be required to join a plan that would only cover large medical expenses and pay smaller charges out of pocket.

Congress should consider these more limited, less expensive options. The large majority of Americans are satisfied with their plans. Private insurance companies can not compete with a government run, government subsidized plan. Private plans will be forced out of business. Americans would then be forced into the government program. We do not want to be forced into a government controlled plan.

Signed,
The Electorate

Nationalized Health Care? No, thanks.

From a letter sent June 4, 2009.

I am having serious doubts about Congress's intents and capabilities. Are they actually seeking to bankrupt this country or are they like a kid in a candy store that can't exercise self-control? Congress really, really wants a nationalized health care system to replace our current system. So they are bound and determined to do this no matter what the consequences. Our health care problem is mainly that 16% do not have it. Yes, costs have to be contained. Reducing the number of frivolous lawsuits would help that. Why is Congress seeking to throw away the best medical care in the world and replacing it with something inferior? This is not logical. There are simpler and less expensive ways to cover the uninsured.

1/ Increase the number of medical schools. Hospitals can not fill their internships and residencies with those currently graduating from our medical schools.

2/ Dramatically increase the number of free clinics for those that do not have insurance. These could be available if your income is below a certain point - $50,000 is reasonable ( We do not need SChip for adults.). If your income is over this, you can afford medical insurance.

3/ Forgive current loans and offer educational loans that will also be forgiven for doctors, if they agree to work at these clinics for five years at a set fee. This would encourage more students to enter the medical field and could be applied to residents who will have fulfilled their residency in June and to others who have done so in the last five years.

Doing these things could provide health care for the currently uninsured while allowing the rest of the country to retain their health care insurance. The country would save billions and the government would not be involved in our medical decisions. The question is does Congress want to provide health care for all citizens or do they want to control all health care? Your vote will reflect the answer to this question.