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Editorial: Health care bill has problems
Published Monday, August 3, 2009
While it looks ever more likely that a health care reform bill is going to pass Congress before year’s end, it looks increasingly unlikely that the bill will be good for the Americans it is designed to help.
Many words have been devoted to the direct tax costs of health reform and at what income level Americans should begin paying some sort of income tax surcharge to pay for reform. The real costs have received little attention, although they are likely to hit every American right in the wallet. Health care reform proposals to date seem to be built on the backs of employers, which is the kind of thing that sounds good if one does not think through the likely result. Faced with skyrocketing health care costs — for that is what the House legislation would do — most business employers are likely to pass those costs along to their customers or to their employees. The result will be spiraling consumer costs and an increase in unemployment directly proportional to the costs of health care reform.
As usual, Congress loves a program that it can sell with the idea that it won’t cost voters much. As usual, that contention just isn’t true and only fools those who can’t be bothered to really think about the situation.
Fortunately, at least some conservative Democrats — a group that calls itself the Blue Dogs and includes Rep. Collin Peterson among its numbers — seems to be taking a more fiscally realistic look at health care. At any rate, the Blue Dogs are not part of the rush to pass any old health care bill, just so they can say that they’ve created “reform.”
We hope that at least a few reasonable voices emerge in Congress before a new health care plan that is going to hurt more Americans than it helps can become law.
— Fergus Falls Daily Journal, July 26
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Comments
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Death to the health care bill. This is such a bad bill. I hope our leaders will listen to us but I don't think they will.
Posted by Truth (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The American people are waking up to the fact that this plan is just a bad idea and will lead to governmet run healthcare with rationing. Time to slow down and think this out and please read the bill. I know I am asking alot but please just read the darn thing.
Posted by leftys2221 (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Have you read it? Or do you just go by what Fix News is saying.
Posted by chrish (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think anyone disputes that something needs to give with healthcare. My concern is just rushing something through without really thinking it through. My grandma used to say "Haste makes waste" and I get fearful that it what might happen here.
We do need to lower costs and find a way to make coverage accessible to all individuals. But we can't just rush something through like what happened with the bailout and what has happened with Cash for Clunkers. As a tax payer, I want my money to be better managed period.
Posted by Truth (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why should I read it when those who are voting on it have not. The problem is everything is a rush. A crisis. Healthcare needs to bee looked at but show me one thing the government has done right. We have AmTrack, the Post Office, and now Cash for Clunkers. Their track record in not good.
I look at what Mayo Clinic said about it. "Minnesota's not-for-profit Mayo Clinic, which Mr. Obama has repeatedly hailed as offering top quality care at affordable costs, blasted the House Democrats' version of the health care plan as lawmakers continue to grapple with several bills from each chamber and multiple committees."
" The Mayo Clinic said there are some positive elements of the bill, but overall "the proposed legislation misses the opportunity to help create higher quality, more affordable health care for patients."
"In fact, it will do the opposite," clinic officials said, because the proposals aren't [R]patient-focused or results-oriented. "The real losers will be the citizens of the United States."
So if people who deal with this everyday have doubts should we not question what is happening? The care at Mayo is the best. The cost are huge but they never turn anyone away. They will help you with cost and care. We should listen to them or are they right wing hacks as well?
Posted by AzAce (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the proposed health bill is such a good idea, why are the very legislators pushing this on the American people excluded from participation?
Posted by newyankee (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Minnesota just passed another law on insurance covering acupuncture. Government mandates do play a role in the cost of health insurance. I just wish we had a press that was actually curious and helped people understand that there are other factors as why health insurance in MN and across the US is relatively expensive. Maybe it is just too much to ask. For example, ask the average person on the street and it is the greedy insurance companies fault. Health care is fine, the cost of insurance is the issue. I think it is also an prime example of how badly we need tort reform. But I hold out little hope that will happen.
Are the trial lawyers still the largest contributors to the Democrat party?
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes they are newyankee. I wish we could shop around for health insurance just like we can with auto. Also that is a good question if this is such a great plan than why don't those in the government have to sign up? Slow down and think.
One other thing is if this is so great why isn't Waltz, Franken, and Amy out meeting with us and telling us all about. Why hide from us? Have some townhall meetings. Let the press in. Have a real debate. What are they afraid of?
Posted by leftys2221 (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If they did that DFL you guys would all complain that they are not working in Washington.
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They are on summer break and they have always said it is to take time to talk to the people. It is a load. They do not want to have to answer to us. They have seen what happen to Arlen Specter or others. Tax payers do not want this and have made it known. If you talk to them and go against them it can be used against you. If you hide and then vote against it well you may get to keep your pull in DC but we will not forget. If this is such a great idea than come on out tell us why. You support the leftys2221 tell us why it is so great that even the guys in DC won't take it for themselves or their families.... One plan for the ruled and on for the rulers will spark a revolt.
Posted by crzy_mama2mny (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 3:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why should everyone get healthcare? Some people simply do not deserve it! There are those that have never worked a day in their life that get free health care. Kick them off the programs. What about the people that come here from other countries to "escape a bad situation"? Who do you think pays for their healthcare? We do. They need to make sure that the ones who get healthcare have worked and paid taxes. If not...too bad. No more free rides for the lazy ones. Get a life, get a job, and pay your own way.
Posted by chrish (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The problem is those without healthcare will go to the ER for treatment. ER's do not turn them away/have to treat them. Then they try to collect on the bill, which they never do, and therefore you have rising healthcare costs to cover this. I think the reason hospitals in CA are going bankrupt is due to the high number of uninsured utilizing their ERs.
Believe me - I wish we could tell people who don't work to pay up or too bad. But sadly there are children who are just a victim of circumstance who need care. I don't feel good about turning them away.
There is no easy answer here....but rushing something into place on such a complex problem isn't a good idea no matter what side you are on.
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
chrish,
You are right. This is one great thing in America. Everyone gets treated even if they can't pay. Even if they are not citzens. We treat you. Let us have a policy we can take with us. Have a policy that covers the big things. Stop people from running to doctor for every little thing. Think about this way. When you have a warrenty you take that car in every time it hic ups. After the warrenty is gone you take better care of it because you pay for it. If something goes clank you don't run to the shop because it is way to much for them to say it is nothing. Give us contol. Like those new insurance plans that let you keep any money you don't spend over the year. Makes you think am I really that sick?
I just don't think government run healthcare is the answer. Not sure what is.
Posted by chrish (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
John Stossel did a report on this a while back that was interesting. His thought was what if we paid the doctor's directly or purchased our own coverage outside of our employers. In other words, there was no employer coverage but affordable coverage we could purchase from any carrier we want. We could also opt to go to doctor's directly and pay them directly - in fact, he featured one doctor that doesn't take insurance (family practice).
The philosophy behind it was that it would create competition and it would create more accountability for our own care. It would also take the conflict of interest out of the employer based coverage and give us the money back to pick our own level of coverage. It was an interesting piece and one that makes you think....
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 8:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great idea. I would say let everyone take the cost of the policy off on their taxes. Right now if you are poor you still have to have insurance on your car. Are you saying that you would force everyone to have insurance or would it be a choice? I would say it is a choice but there needs to be something for catastrophic illness. Something cheap like life insurance but only covers the big things. Not sure but it would be way better than a Government run single payer system. I just can't see how letting the government in would save money.
Posted by ErnieGann (anonymous) on August 4, 2009 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Taking the money off your taxes is part of a bill introduced in both the House and Senate. Unfortunately, the Dems have labeled that "something we are not going to consider"--obviously because it was "Not invented Here."
Everybody talks about the "broken" health care system--but people keep coming here for our health care. As a Canadian friend said, "If you guys change to government care, where will WE go for health care?" Better yet, the poll numbers have reversed--most people now call our health care system "Good"or "Excellent" according to Rasmussen Reports. Maybe it took the scare of a government-run system to make people realize how well they have it.
Though everybody says they are going to make health care more affordable, they don't say HOW. Since WHEN is the government the model for fiscal efficiency?
The problem left unadressed is TORT REFORM--getting the attornies out of the system. When doctors must have six-figure insurance policies--when they must practice "defensive medicine" to stop from being sued, when lawyers advertise on TV exhorting patients to sue--THAT'S the cause of high medical costs!
Posted by leftys2221 (anonymous) on August 5, 2009 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe it took the lies planted by fix news to drum that up. Erinie you did put the best thing said yet about this down. The lawyers need to be out of the equation in general. Then all insurance will be cheaper.
Posted by SunMan (anonymous) on August 8, 2009 at 2:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
omg! NoBrains is at it again, spewing ignorance, lack of knowledge and untruths again. If you knew *ANYTHING* NoBrains, it would be an improvement over saying lies again and again and again. Just because somebody who knows nothing tells you his assumptions and you repeat them, does not make them true. yet that is what the opposition to health care reform is doing: Making HUGE assumptions about the proposed plans... ASSUMING things that have no basis, lacking truth, and are flat out lies... then repeating them again and again till you believe them.
Let's hope America is smarter than the NoBrains mentality of spreading lies.
Ignorance is not bliss. Stupidity is not an attribute. Blowing your mouth about things untrue is pathetic.
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