Pirate's Cove

I have to say, I am getting really, truly, sick and tired of the health care debate. All we tend to hear are the same talking points repeated again and again and again from President Obama and the Democrats, along with their supporters. Most of which are lies and/or covers for slowly implementing single payer. Of course, we do get a few new ones now and then, like calling anti-government run health care folks Nazis, anti-American, mobsters, etc.

But, throughout the talking points, they barely explain HOW any of this will lower costs. Obama gives it a shot in the New York Times Internet version Saturday, and on page WK9 of the Sunday edition. There is a ton of info to fisk, but, I’ll try and keep it brief. After an attempt at creating sympathy for the plans, which he has had almost nothing to do with creating, here we go: “Why We Need Health Care Reform”

There are four main ways the reform we’re proposing will provide more stability and security to every American.

First, if you don’t have health insurance, you will have a choice of high-quality, affordable coverage for yourself and your family — coverage that will stay with you whether you move, change your job or lose your job.

Here’s an idea: instead of creating a government run insurance company, with all the massive red tape associated with government, why not allow cross country choice? Let people sign up for insurance offered in other states. Allow there to be a nationwide company, such as with car insurance companies. Furthermore, why not allow individuals to join together to create very large insurance pools, such as small companies are doing in some states. This would mean that the insurance doesn’t go away when they change jobs or lose a job.

Second, reform will finally bring skyrocketing health care costs under control, which will mean real savings for families, businesses and our government. We’ll cut hundreds of billions of dollars in waste and inefficiency in federal health programs like Medicare and Medicaid and in unwarranted subsidies to insurance companies that do nothing to improve care and everything to improve their profits.

The only response worthy of that TP is “Mule Fritters!”

Third, by making Medicare more efficient, we’ll be able to ensure that more tax dollars go directly to caring for seniors instead of enriching insurance companies. This will not only help provide today’s seniors with the benefits they’ve been promised; it will also ensure the long-term health of Medicare for tomorrow’s seniors. And our reforms will also reduce the amount our seniors pay for their prescription drugs.

That deserves a “Mule Fritters!,” as well. Furthermore, medical practices are dumping Medicare and Medicaid faster than banks are failing. They are tired of red tape, slow repayment, and money losing payouts.

Lastly, reform will provide every American with some basic consumer protections that will finally hold insurance companies accountable. A 2007 national survey actually shows that insurance companies discriminatedagainst more than 12 million Americans in the previous three years because they had a pre-existing illness or condition. The companies either refused to cover the person, refused to cover a specific illness or condition or charged a higher premium.

Demonizing medical insurance companies. Hey, I wonder how many people car insurance companies “discriminated” against because their driving records purely sucked? I’m not saying that every insurance company is fair or perfect: just like in life, there are always bad ones. But, how does he fix it?

We will put an end to these practices. Our reform will prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage because of your medical history. Nor will they be allowed to drop your coverage if you get sick. They will not be able to water down your coverage when you need it most. They will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or in a lifetime. And we will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses. No one in America should go broke because they get sick.

I agree with what I have highlighted in red. That is a problem, albeit one that really doesn’t happen that much. It is WAY to easy to sue in our country, and juries are very sympathetic when a Big Evil Company hoses a citizen. How many times have you read a story about someone losing coverage?

The rest is simply a prescription (sic) for driving private insurers out of the health insurance business by government mandate, forcing people into the governments Nanny arms. Don’t forget, there are actually fines if you do not get insurance in at least the House bill. And, let’s not forget, doctors can CHOOSE which insurance they accept, in full or partially, or not at all. Will they be forced to accept plans that are break even or money losers? How about the government option?

Most important, we will require insurance companies to cover routine checkups, preventive care and screening tests like mammograms and colonoscopies. There’s no reason that we shouldn’t be catching diseases like breast cancer and prostate cancer on the front end. It makes sense, it saves lives and it can also save money.

Are there any that don’t now? This is simply a disingenuous talking point meant to paint insurance companies as bad guys. And, so far, Obama has yet to tell us how any of the plans he has had no hand in crafting will lower costs. He’s told us how companies will be driven out of business, but, not how costs will go down.

But let’s make sure that we talk with one another, and not over one another. We are bound to disagree, but let’s disagree over issues that are real, and not wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that anyone has actually proposed. This is a complicated and critical issue, and it deserves a serious debate.

So just STFU, you lousy mobsters! Do not question The One as he fundamentally changes the health systems of the United States. How dare, DARE, you!

Perhaps he should talk to his own peeps, who are boycotting Whole Foods because CEO John Mackey DARED to post an opinion piece on how to lower costs and cover more people without putting government in charge.

That is not a future I want for my children, or for yours. And that is not a future I want for the United States of America.

In other words, it is All About Barry. Interesting how he outsourced the crafting of the legislation to Congress, eh?

Just remember, you can keep your insurance. Till you decide to change something or your carrier is driven out of business, and then you must choose a plan from the government approved list. And you can keep your doctor. Until they decide to retire because they are losing money hand over fist.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU