A Look Back: Obama-Care

In anticipation of a Supreme court decision this week, I dug out an e-mail I sent to my local Congressman back when The America's Health Choices Act (a.k.a. Obama-Care) was being debated. The meat of the letter is below. My major concern was that the "savings" from this Bill not only didn't exist, but left the entire insurance industry with no choice but to convert to a single payer system. In my usual manner, it's littered with hyperlinks and references. Enjoy!

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What is the Purpose of the Healthcare Reform Act?

"I happen to be a proponent of a single payer "Universal Healthcare system"
~State Senator Obama, 2003

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpAyan1fXCE

"...But I don't think we'll be able to eliminate employer coverage immediately, there's going to be potentially some transition process. I can envision a decade out, 15 years out or 20 years out..."
~Senator Obama, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-dQfb8WQvo

"...At Least we (Government) can let Doctor's know, and your mom know that you know what, this isn't going to help. Maybe you're better off not having the surgery, but taking the pain killer"
~President Obama 7/25/09

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text

What are the tools of the new legislation?

(a) Grandfathered Health Insurance Coverage Defined- Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, for purposes of establishing acceptable coverage under this division, the term ‘grandfathered health insurance coverage’ means individual health insurance coverage that is offered and in force and effect before the first day of Y1 if the following conditions are met:Comments <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text#>Close Comments <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text#>Permalink <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text?version=ih&nid=t0:ih:253>

(1) LIMITATION ON NEW ENROLLMENT-Comments <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text#>Close Comments <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text#>Permalink <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text?version=ih&nid=t0:ih:254>

49 <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text#>

(A) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day of Y1.Comments <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text#>Close Comments <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text#>Permalink <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text?version=ih&nid=t0:ih:255>

(B) DEPENDENT COVERAGE PERMITTED- Subparagraph (A) shall not affect the subsequent enrollment of a dependent of an individual who is covered as of such first day.
-Section 102 (a) of HR3200 Health Care Reform Bill

That's it, Either you are on a plan before this new bill takes effect, or you are a dependent, otherwise you are NOT exempt from this program. There is no option in the bill to change plans with a new employer, your insurance term expires, etc.

The fundamental principal of insurance is that a larger number of people pool their resources together to spread out costs. The only way this bill can truly lower costs, as the President is constantly stating, is to have as many people of all classes and health included in this system. There is no logical way that this plan can only be imposed on the poor and disproportionately sick and not have to be heavily subsidized by taxpayer money. The Congressional Budget Office says this, and common sense says this.

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/104xx/doc10464/hr3200.pdf \\note that net cost is lowered from Medicaid cuts and Revenue increases (taxation) and even then it's still hundreds of Billions

I don't see how this plan can do anything other then create a single payer system and then ration care to control costs.