JMO - Healthcare Reform

I've only been kinda' watching, reading and listening to the debate over healthcare. For the most part, unless Congress gets really bad and stupid, and even in the extreme that's not very often and usually only about war, they won't touch my health insurance plan. Yes, it's a good program with many choices of plans and premiums, and best of all, yes best, it's overseen by the government. It's not perfect, but it's better than what the insurance companies, er. corporations, would do for profit, which they also make with the government plan, called the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan.

This kinda' makes me immune from the effects of the health insurance debate. Yes, the program and my plan will be effected, but it won't change dramatically and prices won't go up very much, all because it's limited by our government. Yes, our government actually looks out of it's people, the active and retired federal employees. They ensure we don't get screwed and they ensure we have affordable choices.

But that said, my view of the healthcare reform debate was typified in a photo today's (9/12/09) Washington Post of a woman holding a sign for President Obama which read, "Fix old, no new." Well, that's exactly what he's asking Congress to do. And that leads to the myths and rumor the health insurance companies and the Republicans are spreading. Lies, just pure lies.

And that needs the other side's voice from the people. Like me.

For one, it's not "the President's plan", it's Congress' plan. They're the ones writing and passing the bill into law. The President can call for what he wants, and even have White House staffers talk with members of Congress and their staff, but he can't direct the work or write the bill. He's the leader who can only lead but can't order or direct. He can only talk and then sign the bill into law.

Two, the President is trying to describe a framework for Congress he wants and likes. The details belong to Congress, or really all the lobbyists "helping" their staff write and direct the bill. If you don't believe that, read this story from a former industry excecutive. On healthcare, they own Congress. It's that simple.

And that means we, the people, aren't controlling the debate. There is no debate. Congress is simply quibbling over the details to keep the health industry companies happy and profitable, richly too at our expense. The companies will give up a few things, to appear cooperative, but they'll profit in the end. It's why healthcare costs so much for you and everyone. Their goal is maximize profit and invester share, not provide good and especially not affordable health insurance.

Three, more of the second about the companies. They're the reason the system is broken. It's too expensive and 15% of Americans are uninsured and another 10-15% underinsured. The taxpayers are picking up the costs for those and for us when we have catatrophic health problems. We're doing what the employers and insurance companies won't, pay for healthcare. Don't believe that, look at Wal-Mart's history of health coverage for employees. The vast majority are underinsured and rely on public service for major problems.

Did you know the number one cause of personal and family bankruptcy is healthcare? Yes, the bills from one accident, illness, or condition banksrupts familes. That's the sign something is terribly wrong. It's not bankrupting the healthcare industry, they're getting rich, on our money. And they don't care about us, just our money. But it's killing families, financially and emotionally. Is that what we want to continue?

Four, the government is actually better at running programs than industry and corporations. Yes, that's true. It's only wrong when the Republicans are in the White House and they nullify any government action which benefits the people. The Republicans are for the very people who put them there, the corporations. Ask Dick Cheney, former CEO of Haliburton.

The government actually runs great programs for us. Like the US Postal Service, Social Security, Medicare, Veterans programs and all the rest of what government does, by itself or in cooperation with quasi-governmental organization. They are the better managers, because the people are their priority, not money or profit. But that's not the point here because the government doesn't want to run the healthcare program.

The government only wants to offer and help provide a healthcare plan the health insurance companies won't, like the 20-25% of Americans who can't afford insurance or barely afford a basic plan and rely on public services for much of their healthcare. If the companies won't offer them affordable plans who will? Think about that, who will, you or I as we are now, or them helping themselves, like us?

Which leads to the fifth, the companies. If they got us into this mess, do you think they'll get us out? And affordably too? Think again. They won't. They want the healthiest people for the most profit and jettison the worst or the healthy when then get some catatrophic condition to the public sector. Look at their history of rejecting or ejecting people from their programs while increasing premiums for the rest.

Don't believe that? Look at all the laid off employees who now lost their coverage with the automobile industry shut down factories in the US for elsewhere, like China. Look at all the other laid off people, many now going on two years, who lost their coverage when they lost their job and rely on public service. Look at all the retirees who have had their coverage reduced or eliminated because the company couldn't afford it.

And the sixth, the last point. It's only a discussion now. Congress is stil working. But the problem won't get better with tinkering if that's all you want. It's what got us here. We need change, good change, affordable change, and if necessary, control the companies now controlling the discussion and the choices. We want choices. Real choices. Affordable choices.

So what does this all mean, beside my ranting at the noise? Not much, except maybe to calm down, listen to the views, and think about what's best for America and Americans. Not insurance companies and their share holders. But us, your friends, neighbors, and all the rest of us here. Think what's best for all of us.

It's time to solve this for Americans, every last one of us.