Letter: An insult to Democrats’ intelligence

From: John Norman
Buffalo
Listening to the arguments on both sides of the health care debate, the Republicans make statements that insult our intelligence. They claim that Democrats want the government to “take over” the health care system.
This is a bogus argument since the main thrust is to rein in the private health insurance companies by creating a free-market health insurance exchange.
It would provide affordable insurance from a competitive market with basic regulatory oversight to those who are not covered by their employers, and others needing health insurance, similar to coverage now enjoyed by members of Congress. These regulations are to protect the consumers from the injustices of non-competing health insurance companies and is not a takeover by the government.
Our present health care system is the most expensive ($7,290/person) in the world and has some below-average outcomes. We are mediocre, at best, even though we have highly-trained doctors and nurses and the finest medical facilities.
There are over 25 other major countries who provide universal and near-universal health care for their citizens, while the United States, Turkey and Mexico fail to cover all their citizens adequately.
At this time there are 480,000 Minnesotans who don’t have any health insurance. When these people need health care they use costly hospital emergency rooms and you and I foot the bill. It is estimated that each Minnesota policyholder pays an extra $1,100 per year to cover these emergency room costs.
Contrary to the Republican claim, most Americans want this health care reform bill which will remove the stranglehold the private insurance companies have on our health care system.
This bill will remove the restrictions of prior medical conditions; eliminate caps on total expenses; provide free market competition between health insurance companies; eliminate the “donut hole” on prescription drugs and promote preventive care to reduce costs.
The health care summit in Washington clearly demonstrated that the Republicans, “the party of no,” do not want to solve the health care crises in a timely manner. Let’s not wait any longer.
Congress should pass a bill by majority vote to rein in the exploding cost of health care insurance and bring peace of mind to all of its citizens.