I am by no means an expert, but I firmly believe in being informed and educated about what is happening to and in the world around me. I can not accept opinion based on ignorance, mine or any other opinion.
I have been reading and thinking about the new legislation, taking in the arguments for and against various aspects of the legislation and really trying to make sense of it all. A lot if it doesn't make sense, but not as bad as tax laws.
While I have a wonderful idea for real reform, a possible movement to be begun, let's take a quick look at the current legislation. (Please let me know if I am in factual error on any issue below)
Is the bill perfect?
No; readily admitted. There are many issues that were either omitted or altered beyond recognition. However, that is how it is in a democracy like ours. Everyone has to get something, you know, like in kindergarten.
Does the mandatory coverage make sense? Will it make health available to more Americans?
Not so much. At first glance, at least, it seems counter intuitive to force a cost upon people who can't afford said cost. However, if you look at how many small businesses will be able to take tax credits that will allow many to afford to offer coverage for the first time. Also, the exchanges that will be created will be basically federally subsidized individual coverage. Will this really create coverage for the approximately 30 million uninsured? I believe so, but, unfortunately, time will have to tell.
Is the elimination of pre-existing conditions long over due?
Absolutely. I have been uninsured, under-insured and now I am probably over-insured. Luckily, when I took my last job I received coverage and was accepted regardless any pre-existing conditions.
I have a twenty-one year old cousin who was just diagnosed in the last month with a heart condition that will require care for the rest of his life.
Unfortunately, he is not currently in school and not insured. What would the premiums be for him to get coverage, if he could even get coverage?
Luckily, I don't have to speculate now that the legislation has passed. People will be able to get coverage, reducing the financial burden off a sick individual so the can focus on healing, maintaining their health and do so with considerable less stress.
Is this a government take over?
Nope. Enough fear mongering. If the government were taking over health care insurance, there would be an elimination of competition; the government would be your only option.
What is happening is the government has created a social program that aims to use public funds to subsidize insurance premiums for Americans. The big insurance companies will still make their massive profits. What they don't pull from your pocketbook, they will be handed by the government.
Perhaps too high a price to pay?
I know I will be following the legislation progression to see what actually unfolds.
Now, you may have noticed I italicized insurance in the opening paragraph. This is important: This is INSURANCE reform for health care coverage, NOT HEALTH CARE reform. Exponential difference.
The legislation passage is a huge first step in the massive enterprise of health care. We have to allow people to have the insurance before we can address reform needed in the realm of health care facilities & professionals.
So after my mini lecture and opinionated take on the legislation, are you ready to hear my plan on the best and fastest way to ensure complete health care reform? Not just health care insurance reform, total health care reform.
The quickest and surest way to have complete health care reform is to no longer provide health insurance to any elected official.
- Make them pay their own premiums, that is if they can get coverage. Let them deal with pre-authorization on testing.
- Have them feel the frustration of paying high deductibles or being forced to pay a total bill due limitations in coverage.
- Let them sit for hours in a waiting room for hours because they are only permitted to visit certain doctors or doctor groups.
In short, make those reforming health care actually experience what they are reforming! It is a crazy and perhaps radical idea, but it seems to me to be the best method to have our lawmakers know what they are talking about due to experience, not some memo or debriefing.
I know, my 'solution' may seem like too simple an answer for such a complex issue. But I argue that if you are going to be making decisions on something, especially making laws, you need to understand any problem from a personal level as well as a intellectual level.
We need real reform for real people who are footing some, if not all of the bill, from their own pocket. They are not lucky enough to have the incredible coverage allotted to highly elected officials. These officials who receive some of the best coverage, at the cost of the tax payer, simply don't understand the average Americans' struggle.
My views may, and should, change as time rolls on, as pieces of the legislation take hold. However, I believe my view on revoking coverage for elected officials probably will not change!
Maybe a grassroots campaign is brewing...
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