Free Health Care!

Free Health Care!

Health care in America, it's under heavy scrutiny lately and has become the topic of much debate since the introduction and passing of a Health Care Reform bill, said by it's supporters to expand coverage to 32 million (Messerli) Americans who are currently uninsured. There are many concerns with the current administration of health care, and a change is definitely needed. However, is the right answer to create a universal health care system that will be required by every US citizen? Will this new regulation have the intended effect it was proposed to do; providing health care to every US citizens while cutting costs by regulating how much insurance companies can charge for coverage? Although this is a very pressing matter, a majority of people affected by the bill, have little knowledge of how exactly a universal health care plan will affect them. At this time, it is crucial to have an opinion on the topic of whether or not the Health Care Reform Bill is good for the people of America

"The bill's so-called 'individual mandate,' requiring everyone to purchase insurance, is unconstitutional," says Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. "...This would be the first time in history that the federal government requires you to buy something you don't want." He points out that by allowing the federal government to make our choices on what we can and cannot buy, our liberties are gone (qtd. In Sweeney). The definition of our human rights is doing what we want, without imposing on another person's rights. For example, speech, life, choice, or even the right to be left alone; everyone to act on others within the limits of their own equal rights. The decision to help others should be one made on our own, not forced on us through taxes, fines, and any other means used by the government. It is unconstitutional to expect that employers will be forced to offer health care to those employing over 50 people, and face fines of $3000 per person if they choose not to comply. Therefore, because of the financial increase in providing costly insurance, the incentive to employ more workers will decrease, thereby adversely effecting the nation's employment rates and the economy.

Is a government mandated health care fair? "C," a conservative blogger said, "I absolutely disagree with Obamacare because it takes money from US citizens through unconstitutional taxation to pay for others who don't contribute anything to pay their fair share." (2010) Her opinion is shared by Alys Staten, a sports physical therapist for Utah State University, who concedes a change is needed with our health care, but that no one should receive something, for nothing. Although the new law would cover many more people, the amount of people that would abuse the coverage given at the expense of those paying for it in taxes leaves the new law wanting (Staten).

Walter E. Williams, a columnist, gives the example of a man named Harry, who is diabetic, and has no money to receive care. Does Harry have a right, to invoke the services of a lab to provide blood work, a physician to provide services and a prescription from a pharmacist? "And, if those services aren't provided without charge, should Harry be able to call for criminal sanctions against those persons for violating his rights to health care?" He continues, "the average American would cringe at the thought of government punishing one person because he refused to be pressed into making someone else's wish come true." He makes a point to reassure that his argument is not to argue against charity, "reaching into one's own pockets to assist his fellow man in need is praiseworthy and laudable. Reaching into someone else's pockets to do so is despicable." (Williams)

With this health care bill, we will loose precious freedoms. For instance, healthy people who take care of themselves will have to pay for the burden of those who do not. Under the current health system, a healthy person who takes care of themselves, who chooses to exercise, not to smoke or drink would be able to purchase health insurance at a lesser rate simply because they have proven to the insurance company that they are a good risk. But under the Health Care Reform Bill, that healthy person will now have to pay for premiums that cover not only him, but also the guy who smokes three packs a day, drinks a gallon of whiskey and eats chicken fat. That's because insurance companies will no longer be able to underwrite on the basis of a person's health status. Young or healthy people oftentimes forego purchasing health care but that will not be an option under the new Health Care Reform Bill. You must pay $750 for the insurance, even if you don't want it or need it. Your freedom to choose has just been eliminated. (Campbell)

How will the government pay for the providing of health care to every US individual? Tax increases ranging from hundreds of billions of dollars in new Medicare taxes are what will be needed. Tax increases will cause families with incomes greater than $250,000 to pay a higher Medicare payroll tax - up to 2.35 percent, plus a new 3.8 percent tax on interest and dividend income. (Pipes) For example, a middle-class family of four making $66,370 will be forced to pay $5,243 per year for insurance. (Hamsher) Imposing a Medicare tax on investment income "would reduce demand for investment, which is the last thing that the economy needs right now. It would slow economic recovery, reduce employment opportunities and hinder wage growth," said Karen Campbell of the conservative Heritage Foundation. "Less investment, lower investment values and lower wages hinder the ability of households to build wealth." (Campbell)

Doctors and the hospitals will be directly affected by the Government health care plan. In an effort to cut costs, this plan, modeled on Medicare, will begin dictating to doctors to lower their prices, (Medicare pays doctors 20% to 30% less than private plans, on average.) Computerized health records will be mandated under the Health Care plan. For most doctors these capital costs won't be fully covered by the plan. The program will shift compliance costs directly onto doctors by encumbering them with rules requiring expensive staffing and documentation.

To spread overhead costs, Doctors will consolidate into larger practices, and they'll cram more patients into tight schedules to make up in volume what's lost in income.