The House Bill on Health Care Reform also known as the ‘‘America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009’’ which I affectionately refer to as ObamaCare is a mess. It is an intricate labyrinth of legalese mumbo jumbo which I am sure Obama has not read. If anyone has the time and patience to read this complex cat’s cradle bill, here is the link:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090714/aahca.pdf
The following is a sample of what you will see page after page of this 1,008 page Bill:
(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR QUALIFIED HEALTH BENEFITS PLANS.—On or after the first day of Y1, a health benefits plan shall not be a qualified health benefits plan under this division unless the plan meets the applicable requirements of the following subtitles for the type of plan and plan year involved:
1) Subtitle B (relating to affordable coverage)
2) Subtitle C (relating to essential benefits)
3) Subtitle D (relating to consumer protection).
What the hell does it mean? This is an abomination which Obama and the Democratic majority is asking us swallow. The AMA supported it without reading it due to pressure from the White House. I have a feeling that I have read more of this Bill than Obama, Pelosi, Rham Emmanuel and Harry Reid combined.
In my brief examination of portions of the Bill, I note that there will be a “Commissioner” to oversee ObamaCare. It is not clear if this is a cabinet level position requiring congressional confirmation or simply a Czar type position requiring nothing more than a blessing from “THE ONE”. No matter, the Commissioner will have enormous power over our well-being because he will have a free reign in oversight and enforcement.
The following excerpt is from page 94 of the Bill:
- ii) EXCEPTION FOR IMMINENT AND SERIOUS RISK TO HEALTH – Clause (i) shall not apply if the Commissioner determines that a delay in termination….would pose an imminent and serious risk to the health of individuals…..
WHAT THIS MEANS FOLKS is that the Commissioner can decide on your well-being instead of you and your doctor. So the commissioner might be enjoying a 5 course dinner with his girlfriend while you are waiting for his approval for a life-saving operation in your doctor’s office.
(a)(1)(A) Parag.7, page 91 states: CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES AND COMMUNICATIONS - The entity (health care provider) shall provide for culturally and linguistically appropriate communication and health services.
Simply put, WHAT THIS MEANS is that there may be sanctions or penalties imposed on say, non-Spanish speaking health care providers who provide care to Spanish speaking patients.
Everyone including illegal aliens and visitors to this country will have access to health care under this bill. Younger individuals who had previously chosen not to have health care insurance will be forced to buy health care insurance if they can afford it or will be provided for by the state or by their employers. This massive government takeover of health care would be initially financed by a 5.4% tax increase on couples earning a million dollars or more a year and 1% on couples earning $350,000 or more. A portion of the capital gains tax would also go towards financing this boondoggle. This would be bad for the economy and this is only the beginning. Obama and the Democratic majority who are trying to shove this Bill through our throats do not know what they are talking about. If the government is going to give 40 million previously uninsured people health care, there will be a greater demand on health care providers. This may lead to health care rationing. You may have to wait 3 months for a hernia operation.
Fortunately, the novelty of the Obama presidency is starting to wane. His job approval rating has been steadily falling. His performance during his last news conference which was dominated by questions about his health care proposal has earned him the title of the “Great Mis-Communicator”. His comments that the Cambridge Police acted “stupidly” in arresting his friend Professor Gates made him look like a fool. So there is very little chance of passage of this Bill before the August recess or even this year. The Blue Dog Democrats are starting to show their fangs even in the face of tremendous pressure from the White House and from Pelosi.
Why don’t they use common sense to solve the so-called health care crisis? There is already a system in place called Medicaid for those who cannot afford health care. Additionally, it is illegal for hospitals to refuse admission to patients even if they have no insurance. Either Obama lied or he does not know what he is talking about when he said during the news conference that 14,000 are losing their health insurance every day because of job loss. I cannot find such statistics and besides even if true, those who lose their jobs can be covered by Medicaid if they cannot afford continuation of coverage through their former employers’ group plans (COBRA). If they can afford it, why not let them pay for it themselves from their savings instead of asking me to pay for it. What gives Obama and the rest of these socialist leaning politicians the right to my earnings?
Unlike many fellow conservatives, I do not believe Obama is lacking in intelligence. He is purported to have the highest IQ of all the previous Presidents and I’ll take that for what it’s worth. Therefore my last parting comment to Team Obama is: “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."
Any opinions and views herein are the sole responsibility of the writer.