MrHealthInsurance Blog

Representative Joe Wilson summarized the lack of respect that exists in our country towards those with other opinions by yelling at President Obama “Lie” during his address to a Joint Session of Congress and the nation.  

While I am not prepared to offer commentary on a bill that has yet to be proposed, I would like to address the issue that Rep. Wilson addressed in that one word.   Rep. Wilson yelled when President Obama said that there would not be benefits for people here illegally.   The rudeness aside, was he right? 

The Senate Health Care Bill has not yet been published, but a summary of the bill has been leaked.   The bill is probably passable with minor adjustments and lobbying efforts.  It will likely get the universal support of conservative Democrats, even some Republicans.  Those numbers will probably be larger than the number of defecting liberal Democrats who will undoubtedly be against the bill.  (Having Liberal Democratic objection, even boisterous at times, is a smart political move to gain Centrist support.)

I have argued since the introduction of HR3200 that the reason for the quick legislation was not about true reform, but rather addressing two issues that can’t be openly discussed in Washington. (ref:  Why is this happening now, so quickly? Is there a secret? 7/17/09). Those reasons?  A tax increase and rescission of the Medicare Revitalization Act of 2003, MRA 2003 was designed to slow medicare growth rates.  

Here are the two items that start in 2010: 

Tomorrow President Obama goes on national TV and before a joint session of Congress to re-clarify his position on the necessity of meaningful health care reform.   With two months of fear mongering from the right, and industry nationalizing calls from the left, I believe that President Obama will attempt to deliver a more centrist view of the issues and the needs as he sees it.  

There is so much misleading and exhausting information out there that any clear message may be successful if only because centrists are tired of the rhetoric and hyper-claims from both hard liberals and staunch conservatives.  

With a new direction at hand, this seems like a good time to review the key articles on the blog so that you can follow the progression of the arguments and assess how accurate my view has been. 

As stated here before, the goal no longer appears to be about fixing health care, but rather SAYING that you fixed health care.   Both sides will give themselves a hearty pat on the back claiming victory, and very little will be accomplished except a tax increase and the undoing of the 2003 Medicare Revitalization Act.

Obama Press Secy. David Axelrod indidated to David Gregory on Meet the Press that the President will not insist on a Pulbic Option.   

This signals that a compromise is at hand.   Look for that compromise to be a tax increase to finance insurance pools.   ...

Next week President Obama will address a joint session of Congress in an attempt to get some form of health care legislation passed.   It’s reasonable to believe that liberal democrats will be miffed that President Obama may not publicly support the Public Option anymore.  Instead he may press forward with a more limited scope plan that will address some of the major issues.      

Likely to get enough support to pass will be, even with some bipartisanship, will be:

1. Elimination of the preexisting condition clause.  (In general a good thing, but will raise costs for all since less healthy people will now have easier access to coverage

While the status of the “public option” is still unclear, it does seem that both parties seem to be more focused on discrediting each others ideas and plans, rather than promoting things good for the American People as a whole.   The desire for an acceptable plan to a greater number of people may lower the common denominator to make any reform different, but not substantively ...

Although HR3200 may be dead, we are at an important crossroads that calls for reform activists to try again.  As a fervent Capitalist, I’d like to propose the foundation of what I believe is the cornerstone for healthcare reform that will control costs without limiting choice.

The primary reason that HR3200 and virtually every other bill that is being crafted will bring nothing but complaints is because it perpetuates the single most flaw in our US health care system, Hyrdraulic funding.   For the past 30 years, the primary goal of Medicare, Medicaid and Private Healthcare companies was to obtain "discounts" from the cash price.  This elimination of this system is the contingent and primary pillar of my reform proposal.    

The White House appears to be backing away from the formerly ‘must-have’ provision of a pubic option health care plan.

As we end week 7 of the public debate on health care, the tone has changed.   Neither the Republicans nor the Democrats are pushing forward with clear explanations of who specifically will benefit, or who will be hurt by reforms offered.   The tone has changed to finger pointing and mis-information.   

As the public support for HR 3200 dwindles, the push-back has gotten nasty.   House Majority leader Nancy Pelosi has accused the insurance industry of "IMMORAL" Profiteering.  Democratic leadership has also accused Republicans of organizing "Angry Mobs" to disturb town hall meetings.     

The most controversial point of health care reform centers on the need ,or opposition to, for the “public option”.   Current bills and committee notes in the House and Senate have various versions of the “public option” with the Republicans favoring no option at all.  Almost all other components of the legislation need only tweaking to get passed.   This issue is the proverbial ‘line in the sand’ on both sides of the aisle in Washington.    The truths, falsehoods, and half-truths should be openly discussed.    All progams have pro's and con's.