Published: September 09, 2009 08:49 am      

WE THE PEOPLE: Myths versus facts in health insurance

There is a lot of misinformation on health insurance reform these days, much of it concocted by the big insurance companies that are desperate to protect their profits. Let’s look at the myths and the realities.

Myth: Health insurance reform will provide health insurance to illegal immigrants.

Fact: No federal benefits go to those who are not legally in the United States.

House Bill: “No Federal Payment for Undocumented Aliens.” According to America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, Page 143, Line 3, Section 246: “No Federal Payment for Undocumented Aliens. Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.”

Myth: Health insurance reform will encourage seniors to choose an early death.

Fact: This is one of the biggest lies. The truth is that health care counseling will be offered to seniors by their doctors on a voluntary basis.

“Sec. 1233 of the House bill, labeled ‘Advance Care Planning Consultation’ details how the bill would, for the first time, have Medicare cover the cost of voluntary end-of-life counseling sessions." According to the bill, "Such consultation shall include the following: An explanation by the practitioner of advance care planning, including key questions and considerations, important steps, and suggested people to talk to; an explanation by the practitioner of advance directives, including living wills and durable powers of attorney, and their uses; an explanation by the practitioner of the role and responsibilities of a health care proxy.” You decide if you want this counseling.

Myth: We don’t need an overhaul of health insurance.

Fact: There are millions of people who can’t get health insurance. And those people cost you, and everyone else with insurance, more because they often can’t pay for the care they do receive. Your premiums go up each year in part to help cover the cost of those who can’t afford to go to the doctor and end up having to go to the emergency room instead. If you have private insurance, you are paying an extra $1100 per year in premiums to cover the costs of the uninsured. For those on Medicare, health insurance reform will reduce costs and keep the program solvent. In addition, health insurance reform will close the “donut hole” and allow Medicare to use its vast buying power to negotiate substantial reductions in prescription drug costs.

Myth: We can't afford to reform health care.

Fact: We can't afford not to. Medical costs account for one-sixth of domestic spending and are rapidly headed upward. Health insurance reform will mean savings for families and businesses — money that can be pumped into the economy. Doing nothing to reform health insurance is guaranteed to double your premiums, cause more Americans to lose their coverage and create huge budget deficits over the next 10 years.

Myth: Health insurance reform will result in Americans being forced out of their current plans.

Fact: The House bill allows for continuation of current coverage. The bill allows people who currently have individual health insurance policies to keep their current coverage.

Myth: Health insurance reform will result in health care rationing for Americans.

Fact: Health care is already rationed by insurance companies.

Private insurance companies ration care to Americans every single day. They reject applications based on pre-existing conditions and family history. They rescind coverage after an illness has been diagnosed. Their premiums and deductibles are so high that millions of Americans are forced to delay care or declare bankruptcy due to high costs. Health care reform will stop rationing by the private insurance companies.

Myth: Health insurance reform will put a bureaucrat between you and your doctor.

Fact: There is already a bureaucrat between you and your doctor. It’s called the insurance company.

The private health insurance industry bureaucrats are standing between you and your doctor right now. Private insurance companies make decisions on who does and does not get treatment based on how it affects their profits. Health insurance reform will allow doctors to spend their time treating you instead of dealing with endless hassles from private insurance companies.

We need real health insurance reform and we need it now. Keeping things are they are will allow the private insurance companies and drug companies to keep raising their prices. If we don’t act now, health care costs will consume more and more of our paychecks and pensions. Without action, our health care costs will skyrocket in the coming years.

Insurance company plans have failed to care for our people. They profit from denying care. Americans care about one another. Health insurance reform is both the moral and practical way to provide care for our people. The fundamental principle is that all Americans deserve the same quality health care — no matter how much we earn, or where we live or work, or how old or sick we are.

The insurance companies are doing their worst, spreading lies in an attempt to maintain their huge profits and keep Americans from getting the care they so desperately need. Those who oppose health insurance reform based on these myths are unfortunately acting as unwitting agents of the big insurance and drug companies. We the people must stand up, and speak up, for health insurance reform in America! Tell Congress to quit the bickering and pass a real health insurance reform bill that will make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans.