Some numbers to consider concerning health care \'reform\'

Most have seen or heard of the gold plate/diamonds in so called “Obamacare”, but where is the coal?

1. The bribes to Nebraska and Louisiana for their votes.

2. The half trillion dollars taken out of Medicare/Medicard.

3. The 21 % reduction in re imbursement to physicians. Later rescinded.

4. The tax on Cadillac Medical Plans until they discovered the Union members had these plans – so to recover they placed a 3.8% tax on unearned income – dividends, capital gains, rental income (landlords including retired farmers)

5. Taxes on medical devices and supplies.

6. Requirement that 1099’s be filed by any business doing more than $600 business with any supplier. The IRS is not equipped to handle this increased paperwork let alone business.

7. Mandatory insurance for everyone including the young who will pay much more than their assumed risk will require to lessen the premium for the over 50 crowd.

8. No say on what is or is not covered. Determined by the Department of Health and Human Services.

9. Over 12,000 new IRS agents will be required.

10. Fines levied if qualified plans are not purchased.

11. Taxes levied 2-4 years before the benefits kick in. No wonder the CBO determined costs would be deficit neutral.

12. Eighty five % of premium revenue to be used for patient costs. Small companies will by necessity leave the business as they will not be able to recover costs. We will be left with only the giants and their monopolistic activities. This could allow these giants to dissolve their marketing, and sales departments – costing thousands of jobs.

13. Over 10,000 pages of new regulations may be required. Written by the Department of Health and Human Services -- Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

14. Is there a conflict of interest with the government providing funds for end of life counseling and end of life care??

15. Hundreds if not thousands of waivers given to companies like McDonnalds.

Well former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said we would have to pass the bill to know what is in it. Good grief – how can the coal in this bill lower the cost bar?? Rework? No start over. Sources for most of the above www.galen.org. This bill will be a disaster for us and we will find it will be impossible to pay for. Progressives show me where I’m wrong.

Regards,John Stiegelmeyer

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R January 28, 2011, 8:12 pm John, What sactrimonious clap trap.You have no clue what me or anyone else struggling to make ends meet go through. I have insurance through my employer. I pay monthly for single coverage with a large deductible. I do not have any other disposal income to purchase other health insurance or HSA to cover the shortfall. What is needed is for insurance companies to take a little of their profits and provide better coverage. I have not asked you or anyone else to pay for my health care. I want to be able to pay my own way but with the increases in insurance costs that drives the medical costs higher and higher it becomes more difficult for middle income person to stay ahead. I am happy you have had the luxury to afford good insurance but there are millions of people like myself that are doing with substandard insurance because that is all we can afford.

JS January 28, 2011, 7:37 pm So then --- R S you want me and others to pay for your medical problem? O.K. I am willing to do that! But, the real question is why did your procedure cost more than your coverage? I have been on furlough or fired (depending on your point of view) at least 4 times in my career. I bought health insurance to protect my assets!- and my children!! Repeat Assets and my children. That\'s why you purchase insurance to transfer risk that you are not able to assume! HSA\'s (health insurance accounts) should have covered your short falls. Did you invest? Or, more importantly was it---were you not rewarded by the IRS Code??? Whatever the malady that we suffer as we grow older -- there is a cost! The question is who pays? And, the next question -- is paper work escalating the costs?? I went on the internet and discovered a health policy for a couple at 30 yrs age for around $70 per month. This was catastrophic coverage without all the bells and whistles state and feds require. Of course there was a large deductible and the individual would have to pay for office calls, but the bad deals were covered. Isn\'t this what the young need? Not the increased premium to cover the larger risk of the over 50 crowd -- as well as my age group???

JS January 28, 2011, 7:13 pm So then --- R S you want me and others to pay for your medical problem? O.K. I am willing to do that! But, the real question is why did your procedure cost more than your coverage? I have been furlough or fired (depending on your point of view) at least 4 times in my career. I bought health insurance to protect my assets!- and my children!! Repeat Assets and my children. That\'s why you purchase insurance to transfer risk that you are not able to assume! HSA\'s (health insurance accounts) should have covered your short falls. Did you invest? Or, more importantly was it---were you not rewarded by the IRS Code??? Whatever the malady that we suffer as we grow older -- there is a cost! The question is who pays? And, the next question -- is paper work escalating the costs?? I went on the internet and discovered a health policy for a couple at 30 yrs age for around $70 per month. This was catastrophic coverage without all the bells and whistles state and feds require. Of course there was a large deductible and the individual would have to pay for office calls, but the bad deals were covered. Isn\'t this what the young need? Not the increased premium to cover the larger risk of the over 50 crowd -- as well as my age group???

R January 28, 2011, 12:57 pm To Dave C. or could it be that the small hospital was trying to justify charging more by blaming the gov\'t. It is easy to say its the government\'s fault but there is not enough information here to draw that conclusion. Most of the health care reform has not been implemented yet--how does this example have anyhting to do with that?

All I do know is that after needed surgery, my lame insurance coverage has left be $4,000 in debt. That will be a struggle for me to pay. But we don\'t need health care reform--yeah right!!

DC January 28, 2011, 10:30 am For example, a friend of mine had a blood test at a small hospital where he lives. He noticed his portion of the bill was quite a bit higher that the bill from a larger hospital. The smaller hospital told him that by law they were forced to charge a higher price. Looks to me like the Govt is forcing less services and funelling everyone to the larger hospitals.

JS January 26, 2011, 3:25 pm This pastedlan does not fix the problem and does not do what the President promised. That is keep your doc. keep your present insurance and that the cost curve will go down. Your probably right cost will continue to escalate, but that is not what the Pres promised. Either he is misinformed or he is purposely misleading us. I have been told that many small hospitals are afraid that they will have to close. The higher costs associated with this bill will cause them to be even more unprofitable. We need a different approach - one that fosters competition. This bill was a cram down - they knew it was a mistake, but passed the darn thing anyway. They are incapable of thinking things through.

KCB January 24, 2011, 10:03 am I\'d really like someone to offer a real fix rather than cut down an attempt to fix a real problem. If anyone in this country actually thinks that health care is going to go down in cost I\'d be simply amazed. Look at the Big Picture, many people are going to retire not just a few but many. Add to that, the fact that some of us don\'t eat right, smoke, etc and, get this, we are still living longer... It is not unimaginable to believe that health care costs will no doubt skyrocket. I\'m tired of hearing what the problem is. It is now time to do something about it! Nothing can happen if we do nothing. And, everyone should know that if you don\'t have health insurance you are treated worse than a second class citizen. Our President has passed a plan. If it is not to your liking fix it rather than trash it. Either way if all we do is stall any change we will end up far worse off than we are right now!

Opinion : Some numbers to consider concerning health care \'reform\'

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