Okay, the Supreme Court upheld ObamaCare, sort of, and health care reform is back on the political front burner. That’s a good thing. The first attempt at fixing the health care system was bound to turn out like the first pancake. Now it’s time to discard the imperfect result, turn down the heat and try again.
When Congress initially began working on this issue I was delighted. For many years I was a poster child for health insurance reform: self-employed with an unhealthy wife and monthly insurance premiums the size of a mortgage payment. We changed insurance carriers every year or two when the insurance company either went broke or dropped whatever group we were in. Over the years I joined two unions and a fishing club to get group coverage.
I studied the health insurance issue when I worked with a state hospital association a few years ago, and learned about the potential for reform and the wide range of possible solutions. As I watched the sausage-making in Congress, however, I was appalled at the outcome.
The good news is that the law will change because it’s unsustainable in its present form. This will happen sooner if Republicans win in November, or later (and more painfully) as unintended consequences and soaring costs drag down what’s left of the economy.
Gov. Romney can’t repeal Obamacare if he’s elected president (and I wish he’d stop promising to do so). But since the law gives the administration sweeping authority to write the rules, the next president can make significant changes – such as granting waivers to states and Catholic hospitals rather than unions.
If we are lucky, a balanced Congress and moderate president can give the Unaffordable Care Act some needed body-and-fender work while keeping special interests in check. Perhaps they will have the freedom to consider options that were off the table in 2009 such as:
- Limitations on medical malpractice lawsuits;
- Allowing health insurance companies to compete across state lines;
- Expanding health savings accounts and competitive Medicare Advantage plans;
- Allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices;
- Making it easier for small businesses to join together in group plans;
- Low-cost catastrophic insurance for healthy young people; and
- Allowing uninsured people to “buy in” to the group plans government employees have.
Fortunately, my personal stake in health insurance reform is less than it used to be because I am now covered by Medicare, Tricare for military retirees and the Veterans Administration. (That’s three kinds of socialized medicine, which makes me feel conflicted when I watch Fox News.)
Still, I will rest easier if Congress gives back the $500 billion it took out of Medicare to pay for Obamacare.
Health care reform 2.0
Okay, the Supreme Court upheld ObamaCare, sort of, and health care reform is back on the political front burner. That’s a good thing. The first attempt at fixing the health care system was bound to turn out like the first pancake. Now it’s time to discard the imperfect result, turn down the heat and try again.
When Congress initially began working on this issue I was delighted. For many years I was a poster child for health insurance reform: self-employed with an unhealthy wife and monthly insurance premiums the size of a mortgage payment. We changed insurance carriers every year or two when the insurance company either went broke or dropped whatever group we were in. Over the years I joined two unions and a fishing club to get group coverage.
I studied the health insurance issue when I worked with a state hospital association a few years ago, and learned about the potential for reform and the wide range of possible solutions. As I watched the sausage-making in Congress, however, I was appalled at the outcome.
The good news is that the law will change because it’s unsustainable in its present form. This will happen sooner if Republicans win in November, or later (and more painfully) as unintended consequences and soaring costs drag down what’s left of the economy.
Gov. Romney can’t repeal Obamacare if he’s elected president (and I wish he’d stop promising to do so). But since the law gives the administration sweeping authority to write the rules, the next president can make significant changes – such as granting waivers to states and Catholic hospitals rather than unions.
If we are lucky, a balanced Congress and moderate president can give the Unaffordable Care Act some needed body-and-fender work while keeping special interests in check. Perhaps they will have the freedom to consider options that were off the table in 2009 such as:
Fortunately, my personal stake in health insurance reform is less than it used to be because I am now covered by Medicare, Tricare for military retirees and the Veterans Administration. (That’s three kinds of socialized medicine, which makes me feel conflicted when I watch Fox News.)
Still, I will rest easier if Congress gives back the $500 billion it took out of Medicare to pay for Obamacare.
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