As the health care debate lingers on and democrats seek to find some way– any way– to pass this future slaughtering bill into law (damn the ignorant voters) I feel it would be good to differentiate between the liberals and conservatives on the ideas to cut health care costs.
I’ll start with the conservatives’ ideas although we know they have no say in this debate;
1) Tort reform- This idea allows government to cap law suits, lowering the cost of doctor’s malpractice insurance and more importantly lessening the practice of “defensive medicine”– a practice that causes doctors to run tests unrelated to the patient’s treatment to ensure that some unrelated ailment or condition be held against them in a civil court. This is opposed by the liberals due to the fact that trial lawyers are the largest financial supporters of the Democrat party.
2)Allowing insurance purchase across state borders- For some reason insurance companies are unable to operate freely across most state lines. The result is a monopoly and we all know that monopolies lead to higher costs as well as fewer options. Liberals don’t openly oppose this measure but left it out of their bills (both House and Senate).
3)Don’t give free health care to illegal immigrants/aliens/undocumented workers, etc… The cost of (fill in the description of your choice) people cost the medical system billions of dollars a year, and hence raise the cost for all taxpayers and health care payers. Liberals would like to solve this problem by making everyone legal and therefore eligible for medicare and medicaid.
Now let’s move on to the Liberal ideas for lowering the cost of health care;
1)First everyone who makes more than a certain income pays, regardless of whether they want health care or not. This means the twenty and thirty somethings who have historically not gotten health care because they would rather spend their money on other things will now have to buy health insurance or pay a large fine and possible imprisonment. Because this group is generally healthy and does not need or use health services, this will basically be a new tax to offset the expense of the very young and old. Conservatives oppose forcing anyone to buy health insurance who does not want it.
2)Save roughly 500 Billion dollars in medicare fraud and waste. Liberals believe their is an enormous amount of waste that can be stopped and the resulting savings will go toward offsetting the cost of universal health care. Conservatives believe that any waste that exists in medicare or medicaid should be stopped irregardless of universal health care.
3)Liberals feel taxing the rich and business owners to pay for the health coverage of 30 million people, who did not make them, rich or work for them is fair and reasonable. Conservatives believe that welfare in virtually any form is bad for the economy and often for the individual receiving aid.
4)Democrats believe that members of Congress should enjoy a different and superior health care than that of their constituents. Conservatives believe Democrat lawmakers and their families should be required to share the same health care that they are forcing on our citizens.
5)Liberals believe you can give insurance to 30 million people– half against their will– and not only retain the same quality of patient care, but actually improve it, with no growth in the number of available physicians– not to mention the already existing shortage of nurses. Conservatives don’t think the math adds up.
6) Liberals believe that creating a cost-neutral bill through taxing for 10 years and supplying services for only 6 years is legitimate and honest. Conservatives believe this to be giving a false accounting.
Of course all the numbers are based on fairly optimistic economic projections, government cuts in medicare and medicaid during a Democrat administration, and costs being accurately assessed by Congress– which would be very unusual to say the least.
While I am a conservative, I have tried to keep the simple facts above as non-partisan as possible. As we face economic destruction before us hanging upon a handful of congressman who refuse to use taxpayer dollars to pay for on demand abortions, I would urge you to think about useful ways to lower health costs in this country and to contact your representatives to let them know how you feel.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Also, one month later I traded a 2000 Dodge Stratus for a 2010 Ford Escape and my new premium was a whopping $8/mo higher – all the to $116/mo. When I called for a quote with my old insurance company, the premiums would have increased by $45/mo for the same vehicle combination – a total premium of $225/mo.
All because that imaginary geographic state line doesn’t exist where auto insurance is concerned.
Actually, it’s only health insurance that can’t be purchased across state lines. Auto, Life, Homeowners, Business can all be purchased online from companies with no physical presence in the state in which you reside.
Last July, while paying bills, I looked at my auto insurance bill and thought, “$180 mo??? Surely I can get a better deal than that.” The company I was with at the time was out of Indiana and the only presence they had in Oklahoma were the independent agents who marketed their product. I went with another company – which also has no physical presence in Oklahoma – and saved $70/mo for a policy with greater liability limits and more comprehensive coverage.
How is that possible? It’s possible because the ability to purchase auto insurance across state lines creates a built-in incentive for the insurers to become more competitive. It’s simple economics and that is exactly the point that this administration is missing.
Blowhard,
What a good, complex made simple overview.
Tort reform is essential. The government has worked hard at making the lottery everymans dream. It supposes when bad things happen, the rich will pay. But bad things do happen, and in the real world, it does not result in a lottery strike, much of which benefits the lawyers.
As to “for some reason” insurance restrictions, I would refer you back to the bogus interstate hiway system, a loophole the central government uses to make laws across state lines. The founders set up government to prohibit restriction of trade between states, they have created unconstitutional regulations that are polar oppisite for the benefit of greater taxation to the central government, plain and simple.
well done…