It’s a shame what has already been done to MA and of course seniors enrolled in these plans. About 50% or more of these plans have been eliminated in rural areas for 2010. Our government thinks this is good for seniors? Go Figure.

I cannot possibly think of anything more selfish than your attitutde that we should simply place the burden for paying for your healthcare today on future generations that don’t even exist yet. Borrowing from the future to pay for today is wrong because it lowers the standard of living for those yet to come. Most of the problems that exist today are the result of us having to pay off the debts incurred by past generations. A huge portion of the budgets of governments at all levels goes toward the servicing of old debt. If this debt were eliminated, our taxes could be used for things we actually need or we could even get a tax cut. Warren Buffett said recently that we must stop all this borrowing and deficit spending before we become a banana republic.

Anyone that supports a single payer health system does not realize what they are backing. Anyone who chooses to believes either the news media or the government without researching the actual facts from all sides of the issues is setting themselves up to be proven both a patsies and fools of the powers that be!

Currently we hear that the administration has been cutting ‘deals’ with Big Pharma, United Healthcare, and the AMA. In observing these ‘sell-out’ arrangements over the years, the one thing I am sure of is this…

None of these ‘deals’ are pursued with ANY intent of pursuing the interests of the taxpaying citizenry of the U.S. It’s all about control and power.

Medicare is currently 75% subsidized, and most people still need to obtain a Supplement to assure proper protection. Publicized abuses aside, Medicare does do some things right.

Medicare has forced the insurance industry to provide simple, easy to understand options (at least until several years ago with the recent introduction with the PFFS, so-called ‘advantage’ programs which really is a re-intro of the Medicare HMO plus Choice programs). As I understand it, although the plans are subsidized through social security deductions and Medicare, any overruns in their claims costs is borne by the commercial insurance carriers.

I do believe that most people generally hate insurance companies. Some of us even have reason to loath certain insurance companies. However, in considering the advantages and the disadvantages, the only system that could possibly be more reprehensible is a government run monopoly.

Under the proposed legislation EVERYONE (Congress exempted of course!) will get the healthcare equivalent of a Yugo. However, for those folks that DO pay taxes, MANY will be forced to pay for the equivalent of a Lamborghini – BUT – they will still only be delivered a Yugo.

(QUESTION: Was ANYBODY really happy driving a Yugo?)

The government of these United States was established on the premise that its purpose, first and foremost, was to serve and protect the people.

The primary problem with heath care financing issue is that for too many years, legislators have been intent of playing every party in this debate against one another in the name of their own agendas, campaign financing in particular. Catering to the pressures of lobbyists, of special interest groups, and of partisan demands has compelled most legislators to seek the protection and the power of their party. In the process, the interests and the welfare of the American people have been totally jettisoned.

It is essential, when considering the issue of healthcare financing that all facets of the system be carefully considered. Each respective problem has its own issues. It would not be wise to ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater’ as the saying goes and simply destroy everything in hopes that something better could actually emerge as a result.

It is imperative to preserve every virtue while diligently working to mitigate every fault. For this purpose, it would be wise to seek out counselors with knowledge, insight, and experience from all sectors of the system to work together for solutions. It is also wise to permit those of other systems to express their experiences and frustrations so as to avoid the problems of others. Often, one finds their own problems are blessings in comparison.

One of the most reprehensible aspects of the abandonment by the government of citizenry interests is in its failure to protect the people.

IN THE AREA OF HEALTHCARE FINANCING
What Government has done???
1. Government has permitted certain insurance companies to market plans which are deliberately designed to fatten the coffers of the ‘so-called’ insurer and to defraud the unsuspecting public. Such policies limit the liability of the insurers while place UNLIMITED liability on the insured. [Indeed when legislation has been presented that would at the very least force these companies to clearly DISCLOSE that their plans provide only LIMITED COVERAGE, the insurance carriers (most frequently companies like HealthMarkets) actually PAY the legislators NOT to vote on the legislation (as happened recently in California).]

2. Created a complex framework of both Federal and State legislation (of which some is even contradictory) that is frequently designed to cater to special interest groups, lobbies, and political affiliates.

3. Has created a system whereby citizens…
a) Often have no idea what they are buying when they purchase health insurance.
b) Increasingly pay more as they grow older.
c) who, through no fault of their own, are suffering from unfortunate maladies which the insurers deem too costly to cover.

4. Has created a system whereby the greatest beneficiaries are…
a) The Pharmaceutical industry
b) The Mega-Hospital conglomerates and the AMA (both of which are in collusion). For decades the AMA has restricted the number of persons permitted to enter Medical School in order to LIMIT the available SUPPLY of physicians so that service costs will continue to escalate.) In addition, these are colluding to force the private practicing doctor out of business (which is why doctors have seen their pay reduced year after year for the past 20 years) and into a model whereby every physician will become an EMPLOYEE of a mega-hospital conglomerate (talk about restricting a physicians ability to act in behalf of their patient). Just as insurance companies often try not to cover medical services and procedures to keep from paying claims, hospitals frequently try to cut back on staff and services in order to increase profit.)
c) Unscrupulous (but not all) insurance carriers. Over the years I have had and fought through many claims, and I can say UNEQUIVOCABLY that not all insurance carriers are ethical. Although, it appears that most insurance companies will generally honor their contracts, we, the citizens frequently get kicked in their teeth by not knowing, or understanding what rights the law does give us and what rights the insurance contract takes from us. As an insurance buyer I have to trust my agent to guide me properly has I often have no idea what the insurance company covers, or how they cover it, nor of any limitations inherent in my coverage.

5. Government has frequently enacted legislation that limits BOTH insurance industry competition AND consumer choice.

6. Government has designed a system which ignores the primary premise of insurance, ‘the law of large numbers’. This mathematical law of risk management basically states that the larger the number of homogenous units the more predictable the incidence of loss. This is why older individuals pay through the nose even to obtain catastrophic coverage. Roughly half of all uninsured persons in this country are under age 35 and ARE insurable, they simply do not see a need to buy and PAY for something they’re not statistically very likely to need. For an equitable system to work, EVERYONE must participate. Under the proposed legislation this law will ALSO be violated and will force private insurance out of business. Since existing private plans will be ‘grandfathered’ and insurance companies will not be permitted to write any new policies, insurance carriers will be forced into a death spiral whereby they are longer collecting enough premiums to cover their plan losses. Rhetoric aside, under the proposed arrangement, the government is deliberately intent on shutting down the health insurance industry.

What has Government NOT done???
1. Government has not even discussed addressing the factors which ARE really driving up the cost of healthcare.

2. Government has not considered ANYTHING that might make obtaining coverage easier for the consumer. People should be able to purchase their health insurance with the confidence of knowing WHAT they are buying. Insurers are famous for playing ‘shell games’ with their benefits so that people will purchase what they perceive will meet their needs, but in fact, that which is really designed to be most profitable for the insurance company.

3. Government has not considered ANY mechanisms which would force all insurance companies to play on the same field under the same rules.

Can the problems be addressed? Yes.

Will they? Not likely.

Unless the majority of the people unite and draft their OWN legislation in accord with common sense, sound reasoning, and devoid of special interests, and actually force their legislators (regardless of party affiliation) to implement it, it can’t possibly happen. The issues will be banned to proposed legislation purgatory along with the ‘Fair Tax’ and any other reasonable concept that would simplify our lives.

I challenge the legislators to prove me wrong!

Wake up folks – this is not theory or dogma – it’s flesh and blood.