I'm curious about what I am not hearing. It's no story from the heartland but it's a simple example I do not see being made. Simple HCR math. Take this scenario, a family pays about $10,000.00 for a healthcare plan to cover all five family members on an annual basis. This does not cover deductables, co-pays, or prescriptions. Nor does it cover pre-existing conditions.
More after the jump.
In this scenario, a robust public option passes. The family now pays an additional $1,000 a year in taxes but only $4,000.00 a year to cover the entire family. Net savings is $5,000.00. Better coverage, more funds for the family to spend on consumer items and did I mention pre-existing conditions are now covered? The $5,000.00 the family receives is partially saved, partially spent. Those spent funds help bolster a staggering economy. Yeah, then there's that whole "preventative care" thing that having health insurance would reduce the need of many getting so sick later on and bankrupting the American People. Seems like a damn easy principle to understand and explain. I don't understand why I am not hearing it?
What I hear are people bitching about the $1,000.00 in taxes but absolutely nothing about the saved money in health care costs which outweigh the additional tax at a ratio of 5:1 (in reality, I expect the taxes to be far less and the savings far greater). Take that scenario and apply it during someone's lifetime. After 20 years, that person or persons would have saved $100,000.00 or more. The conservatives are always talking about giving the American people more money which means more choices. I know I'd rather be deciding which LCD television to buy as opposed to what bill(s) I don't pay this month to get my child medicine. But the conservative movement doesn't really mean a word of it, so they will never acknowledge this idea.
But the tea-party people? It would seem to me, this is the greatest idea in the world to them since they would be able to keep more of their money and get health care but I guess they would prefer to have the $1,000.00 and no health care. Me? I rather have $5,000.00 and the health care without pre-existing condition rules barring any treatment. I'm pretty sure my bank, creditors, and local stores would definitely prefer me to have $5,000.00 instead of $1,000.00.
The last time I checked, weren't the conservatives in favor of the interests of my bank, creditors, and local stores over my own interests? I guess I just don't understand Republican Math.