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How Obamacare Wants to Transform America

            In 2003 President Obama in a speech to the AFL-CIO said, “I happen to be a proponent of a single payer universal health care program.”  In 2007 Obama repeated his support for a single payer system to the SEIU and again on the campaign trail in March of 2008.  The question is not whether or not Obama and the democrats are trying to give us universal healthcare but how are they going about it.  Currently there are five different bills between the senate and the house; all of them include a public plan.  The American Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 and all other bills coming out of this congress must be stopped.  Healthcare is being used as a government power grab and the more I learn about this bill, the more I realize it has nothing to do with reforming healthcare. 

In the American Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 the newly created Healthcare Commissioner, appointed by the president, will have vague and undefined powers.  One defined power will be who becomes or remains eligible for healthcare.  If the public plan becomes open to all businesses, a decision that would be made by your new healthcare commissioner, it is estimated that over 103 million people would be on the public plan.  The Lewin Group, a health policy consulting firm, claims that up to 130 million people would be moved from job-based coverage to the public plan.  Does that sound like the government encouraging competition or eliminating it? 

The supporters of universal healthcare claim it is a right.  But when I read the Constitution, and I do suggest they read it too, I realize if the government can take it away from me it is not a right.  In Canada , where they have universal healthcare, it is illegal to even pay for a procedure the government has denied you.  In England the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, or NICE, is the government body that decides what kind of care a patient gets.  By using the QALY, or quality-adjusted life year system, the bureaucrats decide based on cost if the patient is approved or not for certain drugs, tests, and operations.  If congress and the president get this bill passed it will be only a matter of time before we begin rationing healthcare in the U.S.

It will be mandatory for every American to have insurance.  There will be a tax penalty not only for companies that do not offer health insurance, but for individuals as well.  The Lewin Group estimates that up to 600,000 minimum wage workers will lose their jobs.  Many of us will experience either a cut in wages or a freeze on wage increases.  Free market options in the health industry will disappear and our complaints about waiting lists for something as basic as a doctor’s visit will fall on deaf ears.  We will have to watch the sick suffer or even die before they can see a doctor or get the operation or drugs needed.  The bill does not contain any language about abortion so it can become a covered medical procedure.  Yes, federal money will go to pay for abortions no matter if you agree with it or not.  Section 202D exempts congress, the senate, and the president from being put on this public plan.  Why?  When you call your senator or congressperson I suggest you ask them.

Today I read an article stating that Obama is now willing to abandon the public option.  A small victory but we must be on guard.  President Obama, in his own words thought it would take up to twenty years to get to a single payer healthcare system.  I believe any reform from this congress will head us in the direction of universal healthcare.  I will continue to call and e-mail my senators and congresswoman letting them know I am still watching.  To learn how to contact your representative go to house.gov. 

Real solutions to our healthcare problems in this country start with allowing the free market to work.  Allowing insurance companies to compete in all states would be a good start.  Tort reform of some kind needs to be part of the solution.  If we get Obama’s plan for healthcare I recommend you do not get sick.  I have learned the bottom line with universal healthcare is it is all about the bottom line.