Real Health Care Reform

Health care reform is now the law of the land, and here are some of the upcoming consequences for people who purchase their own individual health insurance

On Sept 23, there are new mandates that will drive health insurance costs higher.

-New plans will no longer have lifetime limits
-Children under age 19 will no longer be subjective to any exclusions based on pre-existing conditions
-Dependent adult children up to age 26 can stay on their parents’ plan
-New plans must cover certain preventive services without copays or deductibles

All of these changes will drive costs up, so we are expecting to see some big rate increases coming – this year and in coming years. All the misguided people who think health insurance is about to be free will be howling in protest to the politicians. The politicians who passed this incredibly bad bill will be howling in protest as well, claiming the insurance companies are once again taking advantage of the public. And there will be calls to “do more” by those oblivious to the irony of it all.

The only hope is that high deductible plans will remain available. As rates continue to soar, more and more people will flock to health savings accounts and high deductible plans, and consumer-driven solutions may still stand a chance at stopping the runaway health care inflation.

For more details and a timeline of what’s going to happen, you can read the last issue of Maximize Your HSA.

Last night, President Obama, you asked for a better approach:

“If anyone has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know. Let me know. Let me know.”

I’m glad you want to know, and I’m happy to help. Read the rest of this entry »

We really can make health care and health insurance much more affordable for everyone. We can have a system that provides access to health insurance, and increases quality, convenience, and innovation. And we can afford to help those with low income or pre-existing health problems.

We now have a tremendous opportunity to start over, and reform our health insurance system in a way that will really work. The seven factors below will increase consumer involvement and lower costs – and should be a core part of the next health care bill. Read the rest of this entry »

The people in Massachusetts have the most expensive health insurance rates in the country (the average family pays more than $13,000 a year). They also have the longest waits to see a doctor – sometimes up to a year to see a specialist. The system in that state is essentially the model the Democratic leaders have been trying to force on the entire country. And the voters there unsurprisingly soundly rejected it.

This has renewed my faith in the intelligence of the American public, and in the power of our system of government. In voting Scott Brown into Congress, a serious disaster may have been avoided. The proposed plan would have caused insurance rates to skyrocket, and would have no-doubt been MUCH more expensive than proposed. Quality of care would have declined, and health costs would have continued to grow.

But now, we have an opportunity to start over. Not to “fix” the proposed bills, not to pass them piece-meal, but to actually start fresh, with an entirely different approach that will actually work. Read the rest of this entry »

It is not surprising that the country is against the current health care reform proposals. Do they really think we want higher taxes, higher insurance premiums, more government, more bureaucracy, less freedom?

The public has been saying this pretty loud and clear for a while now. It looks like Congress may finally be listening. Read the rest of this entry »

In the health care debate in the Senate, they are considering letting people age 55 to 64 years old to buy into Medicare. This is being called a “compromise” that would be done in exchange for dropping the so-called “public option”. But in fact, this provision would likely accelerate the move towards government-run health care.

As I’ve discussed previously, Medicare is already on course towards bankruptcy. Medicare already pays less to doctors and hospitals than private insurance, thus transferring costs to those of us not on Medicare. So the idea here is that this would enable people to buy into Medicare to pay lower premiums than if they purchased private coverage. Read the rest of this entry »

As would be expected, there are plenty of tricks in the Senate health care bill. Take those out, and the actual cost somewhere around $4.9 trillion over the next 20 years, although of course the true cost is not really known.

Keep in mind that as the government spends all this money, it will also be requiring you to purchase more expensive health insurance, with your money.

Here’s where some of the money is hidden: Read the rest of this entry »

Today the Senate health committee voted 12-11 in favor of a two-page amendment courtesy of Republican Tom Coburn that would require all Members of congress and their staffs to enroll in any new government-run health plan.

Under proposed legislation, Congress is exempt from the healthcare plan that they will possibly be imposing on the rest of us. Congressman John Fleming, from Louisiana, has proposed an amendment that would require congressmen and senators to take the same healthcare plan the rest of us get.

Congressman Fleming is encouraging people to go on his Website and sign his petition.

http://fleming.house.gov/index.html

Every American should have the right to choose how to maintain and improve his or her health.

We are at a defining moment in our country’s history. If a bill similar to that passed by the House and proposed in the Senate passes, it will mean a shift in power that may have profound implications on your ability to control your own health care.

This is because the more control is taken away from you and given to government bureaucrats (to approve health insurance plans, to approve procedures, approve practitioner categories, determine required vaccines, etc.), the more powerful those with money and existing power, become. Read the rest of this entry »

Here is an email I received from my Senator today:

Friend—

In conversations with Coloradans across our state, many people have asked me exactly what reform means for you and your families. That’s exactly the right question to ask. Read the rest of this entry »