LETTER: Health care reform problems

By: | Inside NoVA
Published: November 02, 2009

If anybody wants to state that quite a bit is wrong with the nation’s health insurance system, I’ll agree, but I will also recognize those professionals that give us the most advanced medical system in the
world. I have been to and used health care in other nations, no question that the best is here. As for why certain of our results don’t match well against those of other nations, there are other lifestyle
factors to consider.

As of the writing of this letter, the Senate Finance Committee passed a health reform bill that will cost an estimated $829 billion to expand insurance coverage to 27 million uninsured Americans. Never
mind that our well-meaning elected officials regularly if not purposefully underestimate costs and over-value benefits to increase government (Cash-for-Clunkers, Medicare, Massachusetts health care,
etc.), let’s give lawmakers the benefit of the doubt and use their numbers to understand their bill. $829 billion for covering about 27 million starting in 2013 means Uncle Sugar and the taxpayer will pay
about $4,400 annually per person for health insurance for those currently without insurance (that’s about $123,000 for a family of four from 2013 through 2019) … legal or illegal, able to pay or not.

For those of us already paying the freight, our already high health insurance costs will rise significantly through a variety of tax and premium increases and other costs — quite significantly — $1,300-
$5,000 for a family of four annually. Beyond cost, we’ve already been warned that payments to health care professionals will be cut, so it’s natural to expect a lot of retirements and career changes. All
this means that health care quality will get worse … a lot worse.

I’m pretty sure I know how Sen. Warner and Rep. Connolly will vote; they’ll do as their party leadership directs and rigidly follow marching orders from party leaders. I personally think that Sen. Webb will
actually look into this mess before making a decision. I hope he’s against it.

Then, I wonder how many of those currently paying their own way for health care insurance will manage to migrate to “free” coverage?

LEO GRASSILLI

Woodbridge