Posted by
Ed Bradford on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 6:15:49 PM
Hello Mr. Vice President, My name is Tony Barton, Foreston,MN
Dear Ms. Barton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfEd2BvBmJg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ewhitehouse%2Egov%2Fblog%2FResponses%2Dto%2DBiden%2DSmall%2DBusinesses%2Dand%2Dthe%2DMorality%2Dof%2Dit%2DAll%2F&feature=player_embedded#t=219
I would like to respond to your video. You mentioned that you believe
our elected officials should use government to solve problems. Many
people in this country do not believe that. They believe it is up to the
individual to solve problems not government. Asking government to solve
problems is saying to your neighbors -- You are required to help me, at
the point of a gun. I don't believe that and once your business gets
going I doubt you would either.
That said, many real radical conservatives believe that the government
should stay completely out of health care. Where does that leave you?
If the current round of bills in Congress is any indication you will
be better off in the short term but your working neighbors the elderly and eventually, you
will be worse off. To see for yourself, look at this document written by House
Democrats that attempts to defend HR3200:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090714/hr3200_summary.pdf
It's only 4 pages long. If you read it, you will be excited about the
possibilities until you think about how it could possibly be paid for.
It can't. Almost all of the programs mentioned cost more money and drive
medical care costs up. The only recourse will be to grow the base of
premium payers or raise taxes. Either way, costs keep going up and
eventually your government and mine will be implementing price freezes
on medical care. Price controls always lead to shortages.
What neither Democrats or Republicans care about is an efficient low
cost, better medical care, universal coverage solution. They focus on the
money -- that's where your "premiums" go and that's what they want their
hands on.
I offer you an opportunity to support something superior to all plans
proposed by Democrats and Repbulicans. I offer you a plan that would
drive costs down, cover everyone and take both insurance company
executives and government officials out of the decisions made by you and
your doctor. The best thing about this plan is it could be implemented
and in service by January, 2010.
Here is what I propose.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Each person has an HSA. Into that, he contributes 8% of his gross
salary. The contribution is just like with Social Security; there is no
minimum wage below which you escape contributing. HSA contributions are
not taxed. You HSA pays for all planned health care (annual physical
exams, scheduled dental care, chest x-rays, pap test, and
all other "maintenance" medical functions.) When you walk in
the door of the hospital or doctors office or lab, you pay them
up front from your HSA. Doctors, Hospitals and labs no longer have
dead beat customers, insurance forms or government forms to fill out to
be paid. There is no longer a 1 to 6 month delay in payments.
You would also be required to pay the premiums on a Catastrophic Health
Insurance (CHI) policy which would cover all unexpected medical needs (broken
arm, serious disease, root canals, hereditary disease, etc).
Together the HSA plus CHI policy would completely cover your medical
needs. Each of your employees has the same plan. You no longer worry
about your employees, you worry about yourself. You employees have the
same options you do.
The HSA + CHI plan solves all problems being discussed with respect to
our health care issues but one. That is universal coverage.
Universal coverage is addressed by the government allowing your HSA to
be overdrawn. The government would then make the payments. Your HSA
remains in the red, but you continue to get medical care and continue
to contribute to your HSA. Eventually, you'll be well and your
contributions will change the negative balance to a positive balance.
The concept of a negative balance covers all people just starting out in
life, those who are chronically poor and those who lose their jobs
during difficult economic times. The government supplies money only when
needed and that's all it supplies.
[There are some details not mentioned here but
the entire plan is workable.]
HSA money can only be spent on medical needs for the indvidual. Various
means must be put in place to avoid fraud, but fraud should be lessened
because you would be robbing from yourself.
During periods of unemployment, your HSA would be used to pay the
CHI premiums. Finally, HSA's are transferrable. You can will them to
your husband or children, thereby increasing their long term ability to
meet medical challenges without government assistance.
An HSA + CHI bill could be written in less than 100 pages, is very
likely to survive consitutional challenges, can be brought to life in a
manner of months, drives medical costs down, and gives the remainder of
the year to congress to address the other major cost growth
vector -- Tort reform.
Think of it, by January, 2010, we could have real universal health plan
without death panels, without a Secretary who is beyond judical review,
without an enormous health insurance agency within the US
Government, without a government insurance agency that can look into
your IRS returns at the request of the Secretary, without a Social
Security organization that look into your IRS returns by simply
requesting the information and without a government that forces people
to buy insurance or pay a fine at the point of a gun.
I offer you stress free health care, freedom of choice and immediate relief.
Your Congress offers you hope, less than universal coverage, a
significant small business tax if your employee payroll goes above
$250,000, a politically appointed Secretary that sets prices and content for
insurance, but does nothing about improving health care and lowering costs.
Take your pick.
Ask your representatives to look at this plan.
Ed Bradford