The true cost of free health care

As enjoyable as gossip and fear-mongering is, I do feel the need to point out a glaring, logical flaw here.

Part of the proposed changes to health care would involve a public option that would be an affordable alternative to private insurance. The purpose of this plan is not to sign everyone up for the public plan but to increase competiton and therefore decrease the cost of insurance for all people. This plan falls more closely into the ideas of captialism.

Think of it as the Wal-Mart model. Now I don't shop at Wal-Mart because of a variety of reasons, but I do admit that they are excellent capitalists. Wal-Mart moves in and offers cheaper prices to a community. Therefore, if other stores don't also reduce their prices, they will lose their customers. Here's the difference. Wal-Mart wants all of the customers and will reduce prices until it is the only option left. Because our public health care option wouldn't be in it for the money, this dangerous under-pricing wouldn't occur; therefore, competition will increase, insurance companies will want to stay in business and they will lower their prices.

Hmmmm, looks like capitalism to me.

Amen! Hang on mefriesen, as soon as some of the crazies find your post the name calling will begin!

Right, Sam?

There has been more misinformation, with more outright lies spread about the President's proposals to Congress for Health Care Reform than any for any other issue in my eight decades of living.

FIRST -- There is no Health Care Reform bill ready for vote in either the Senate or House.

SECOND -- There are three bills reported out of House committee and one reported out of a single Senate Committee.

The Senate Finance Committee version is still being debated in committee and this is the bill which will probably contain most of the compromises. The committee resumes debate next week.

Wednesday night, President Obama outlined what he would like to see in a MARKET-DRIVEN Reform Package.

Below is the President's proposal, nothing more, nothing less.

If You Have Health Insurance,

the President's Plan:

Ends discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions.

Limits premium discrimination based on gender and age.

Prevents insurance companies from dropping coverage when people are sick and need it most.

Caps out-of-pocket expenses so people don't go broke when they get sick.

Eliminates extra charges for preventive care like mammograms, flu shots and diabetes tests to improve health and save money.

Protects Medicare for seniors.

Eliminates the "donut-hole" gap in coverage for prescription drugs.

If You Don't Have Insurance,

the President's Plan:

Creates a new insurance marketplace -- the Exchange -- that allows people without insurance and small businesses to compare plans and buy insurance at competitive prices.

Provides new tax credits to help people buy insurance.

Provides small businesses tax credits and affordable options for covering employees.

Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can't find affordable coverage with a real choice.

Immediately offers new, low-cost coverage through a national "high risk" pool to protect people with preexisting conditions from financial ruin until the new Exchange is created.

For All Americans,

the President's Plan:

Won't add a dime to the deficit and is paid for upfront.

Requires additional cuts if savings are not realized.

Implements a number of delivery system reforms that begin to rein in health care costs and align incentives for hospitals, physicians, and others to improve quality.

Creates an independent commission of doctors and medical experts to identify waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system.

Orders immediate medical malpractice reform projects that could help doctors focus on putting their patients first, not on practicing defensive medicine.

Requires large employers to cover their employees and individuals who can afford it to buy insurance so everyone shares in the responsibility of reform.