Every day that goes by without you honoring your promise to the American people regarding a public option in health care reform is a day that will increase the American people's dissatisfaction with you.
I have read the proposed legislation in both the House and the Senate. Honestly, why does this have to be hundreds, and in the case of the House, over a thousand pages of legislation? Mr. President, you need to keep it simple, yes so that even conservatives in both parties can understand it.
Dear Mr. President,
Every day that goes by without you honoring your promise to the American people regarding a public option in health care reform is a day that will increase the American people's dissatisfaction with you.
I have read the proposed legislation in both the House and the Senate. Honestly, why does this have to be hundreds, and in the case of the House, over a thousand pages of legislation? Mr. President, you need to keep it simple, yes so that even conservatives in both parties can understand it.
First, open Medicare to everyone. Scale the premiums based on income and structure them in a way in which premiums pay for the program. On the same item, charge higher premiums for seniors whose taxable and/or non-taxable income is above a certain level. Why should someone earning $500,000 in retirement pay the same Medicare premiums as someone who is disabled or earns little more than Social Security? Simple!
Next, require insurance companies to eliminate pre-existing conditions exemptions AND do not allow them to pass along alleged increased resulting costs, or potential costs, in the premiums. It MUST be affordable. The combination of just those two initiatives would put pressure on insurance companies to increase their competitiveness.
Next, insist that Medicare be permitted to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies on pricing. Insurance companies do it. It simply makes no sense that Medicare cannot. Create a public web site where people can readily see, not only pricing of private insurance companies, but their expense payout ratios.
Next, eliminate the ridiculous practice, actuarially unjustifiable, whereby insurance companies can charge lower premiums to large employers while sticking it small employers and individuals. I understand risk pooling to be most efficient when there are more people in a very large pool as opposed to separating those pools into little ones and big ones. This is a practice that is ONLY designed to try to rationalize charging higher prices for the very same product to some people, but not others. And it is obviously those that can least afford it, sole proprietors, entrepreneurs, small businesspersons, that are charged the highest premiums and penalized the most when a single individual in their group encounters health problems.
Mr. President, as a Medicare consumer, a result of being disabled with multiple sclerosis, I also purchase a Medicare Part B supplement and a Medicare Part D plan, both provided by private insurance companies. Having a wider public option, such as the simple one - opening Medicare to all, would also potentially broaden the free market for Medicare supplemental plans. It seems like a potential win/win.
Mr. President, it is time to get off the pot and take control. Senators Conrad and Grassley are not your friends, just to name two obvious ones. And Senator Reid, well he does not deserve to be majority leader. A leader he is not! Take charge, Mr. President.
I have outlined a very simple proposal. Anyone can understand it, probably even my Great Danes. And it can be done in such a way that just may not cost the federal government a dime.
Cary J Polevoy
clearthemist.blogspot.com