I'll bet sometimes you say to yourself things are so bad with the American healthcare system that it's inconceivable it could deteriorate even further.
Think again.
The health care crisis in the United States can and will become much, much worse if the depraved Enzi Bill becomes law.
Mike Enzi is a dangerous Republican
Mike Enzi represents Wyoming in the United States Senate
Mike Enzi is the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee.
Republicans are the bait and switch party. They write legislation which will harm you and your family and slap a happy name on it.
Remember No Child Left Behind which is an unfunded mandate, and which leaves millions of children behind?
Mr. Enzi's legislation is among the worse. It must be stopped.
They've slapped one of their happy, deceitful names on it. It's being called the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act.
Bullshit.
Here's what 39 state attorneys generals have to say about this dangerous legislation:
"This bill contains provisions that will erode state oversight of health insurance plans and eliminate consumer protections in the areas of mandated benefits and internal grievance procedures," 39 members of the National Association of Attorneys General said in a letter to U.S. senators..
The controversial measure would let trade associations buy coverage from insurance companies and offer it to members and their employees nationwide, even if the plans didn't comply with individual state laws.
If this bill becomes law, the minimal protections you might currently enjoy could be severely eroded or vanish entirely.
The legislation would let existing small business plans avoid state regulations too, in order to make sure new plans don't have an unfair advantage.
Business leaders argue that insurance companies are loathe to offer nationwide products today, because products they offer must comply with at least 50 different sets of laws.
http://www.stateline.org/...
What the business leaders say is a lie.
Here's the truth. Insurance companies want to be relieved of any and all state regulations and protections. Mr. Enzi's bill will allow them to brutalize, terrorize and abuse their enrollees unchecked.
This is called the wild west.
More Republican legislation bought and paid for by the insurance industry.
Carriers said they were unwilling to assume the business because state laws they would have to obey dictated how they could set rates, who must be eligible and what services they must provide.
State protections will disappear.
States themselves are mainly worried about how the legislation would affect their ability to require insurance companies to cover certain treatments, restrict the factors they can consider in setting rates and enforce consumer protection laws.
All 50 states require insurers to provide certain benefits. All mandate that policies of a new mother provide coverage for her child for the first 30 days of the child's life. Forty-six require insurance to cover diabetes treatment.
For example, in New York State, where I live, all these mandated services would be in jeopardy.
New York
Alcoholism Treatment
Ambulance Transportation
Ambulatory Surgery
Bone Density Screening
Cervical Cancer Screening
Contraceptives
Diabetic Supplies/Education
Drug Abuse Treatment
Emergency Services
Home Health Care
Hospice Care Ambulatory Cancer Treatment
Infertility Treatment
Mammography Screening
Maternity
Mental Health (General)
Metabolic Disorders (PKU)
Minimum Mastectomy Stay
Off-Label Drug Use
Prostate Cancer Screening
Second Med/Surgery Opinion
Well-Child Care
You can go to this link provided by Families USA and see what you will likely lose in your state if Mr. Enzi and the insurance industry prevail.
http://www.familiesusa.org/...
This is what Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, said about this frightening legislation:
"The bill leaves consumers at the mercy of health insurance companies by eliminating a range of state laws that protect the consumer and regulate insurance company behavior. Fundamental consumer protections that will be wiped out include: rules that limit premium discrimination based on health status, age, and gender; prohibitions of huge premium increases when people get sick; and prohibitions of misleading insurance company marketing practices.
[emphasis added]
Mr. Enzi is doing what Republican do best. He is lying. This is how he is selling this continuing Republican payback to the insurance industry.
"The Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005," is designed to lower health insurance costs by stimulating market reforms and promoting competition while allowing trade associations the ability to offer group insurance plans for employees.
Enzi's bill, S. 1955, would allow business and trade association to band their members together and offer group health coverage on a national or statewide basis. The group plans would be in direct response to runaway costs that are driving many employers and families from comprehensive health insurance. Since 2000, group premiums for family coverage have grown nearly 60 percent.
You can read everything Mike Enzi the liar has to say here:
http://www.senate.gov/...
This is really bad, my friends. This legislation must be defeated.
These Republicans must be defeated.