The house released a copy of the proposed “reform” to health care, in a 1018 page bill. Which doesn’t reform health care, it actually should be called the “Health INSURANCE take-over act”;
The first thing I notice is that our “representatives” ( I put this in quotes because these people don’t represent us and do our wishes they represent themselves and the special interests ) tend to confuse health CARE with health INSURANCE. Which are actually two different issues.
There are so many issues within this bill that trouble me I would need an entire BOOK to tell you about it, you should be troubled with it too.
One of the problems I see is that it bails out the Massachusetts “Universal Health Care” System by taking on its debt. If “Universal Health Care” is supposed to save money why would we need to bail out the MA plan? Simple answer the system doesn’t work for Massachusetts. The cost of health care in MA is sky rocketing to the point where the Federal Government has had to bail it out more than once.
One of the first thing I noticed was the “NEW” bureaucracy it creates, lets take a look at who is going to run this boondoggle. It all looks fine on paper however it gives the “President” unlimited power over the “Health INSURANCE Industry”, all of the members of this board are either directly or indirectly, politically appointed by the POTUS. This is the FIRST of several bureaucracies instituted by this bill.
Health Care Advisory Board would consist of:
SEC. 123. HEALTH BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
- The Surgeon General – A Presidential political appointee
- 9 members who are not Federal employees or officers and who are appointed by the President.
- 9 members who are not Federal employees or officers and who are appointed by the Comptroller General ( A Presidential political appointee) of the United States.
- Such even number of members (not to exceed 8) who are Federal employees and officers, as the President may appoint
The Bill, page 33
These political appointees will be responsible for setting health insurance “STANDARDS”
The Health Benefits Advisory Committee
shall recommend to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subtitle referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) benefit standards (as defined in paragraph (4)), and periodic updates to such standards.including categories of covered treatments, items and services within benefit classes, and cost-sharing; and (B) the cost-sharing levels for enhanced plans and premium plans (as provided under 14 section 203(c)) consistent with paragraph (5)
And like in Massachusetts the effect of this will be:
Costs have risen for individuals because, under this plan, as under any mandatory insurance scheme, the government must define what constitutes an acceptable insurance policy. As a result, special interest groups have been given both the incentive and the means to lobby politicians to include their pet benefits as part of the government-approved plan. Consequently, the state government requires all patients to purchase “benefits” that are useless to many of them—benefits they would never voluntarily choose to purchase in a free market. For example, Massachusetts currently requires insurance plans to include forty-three mandatory benefits, including in vitro fertilization, blood lead poisoning treatment, and chiropractor services—whether or not customers want them. Residents must purchase alcoholism therapy benefits, even if they are teetotalers. These mandated benefits have raised the costs of health insurance in Massachusetts by 23 to 56 percent.
Mandatory Health Insurance: Wrong for Massachusetts, Wrong for America
It also provides changes to the Internal Revenue Service to do the following:
SEC. 401. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
So, who is it that decides what is or isn’t acceptable? You guessed it directly or indirectly the “PRESIDENTIAL POLITICAL APOINTEES”. Do you REALLY get to keep the plan you are happy with? Not if it doesn’t meet political standards.
Raising taxes for just the rich? I don’t thing so, not according to the verbiage of this bill, so how much taxes will YOU pay?
a tax equal to 2.5 percent of the excess of the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year, over (2) the amount of gross income specified in 4 section 6012(a)(1) with respect to the taxpayer.The Bill, page 168
And how is your employer effected?
In the case of any employer who fails (during any period with respect to which the election under subsection (a) is in effect) to satisfy the health coverage participation requirements with respect to any employee to whom such election applies, there is hereby imposed on each such failure with respect to each such employee a tax of $100 for each day in the period beginning on the date such failure first occurs and ending on the date such failure is corrected.The Bill, page 181
This Government take over of the health insurance industry goes on and on.
The atrocities this bill represents is insulting to the American people because this bill is nothing more than another take over by a government out of control.
I AM DEMANDING THAT MY REPRESENTATIVES READ THE DAMN BILL, AND STOP THIS MADNESS.
WE ALL NEED TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND STOP THIS BLANTENT CORRUPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
