The latest iteration of Democrats’ “health care reform” legislation, dubbed NancyCare, is the longest so far, 1990 pages. Basically it is the same as H.R. 3200.
Provisions can be broadly categorized by effect: tax increasing, cost increasing, choice decreasing, hassle increasing, wealth redistributing, and growth punishing.
It segments Americans into categories by economic status: families and individuals by income (as if income were a static characteristic), and business size by payroll and number of employees. Supposed affordability of premiums, level of responsibility for payments, and eligibility for subsidies (wealth transfers from others) vary according to which box one fits into.
The heaviest tax burden falls on those now considered wealthy, based on absolute income in dollars. The blended bill levies a 5.4% income tax surcharge on singles with an adjusted gross income greater than $500,000, i.e. a surcharge of $27,000 or more. These thresholds are not indexed for inflation, and could quickly move down the social scale.
Because of stepped, unindexed thresholds, businesses that expand, add an employee, or simply keep up with inflation could face a sharp increase in their “shared responsibility.”
Income levels qualifying for limits on premiums or out-of-pocket expenses are percentages of federal poverty level (FPL), which might change with the consumer price index, and the out-of-pocket expense limits are indexed for inflation.
The effect of the value of the dollar on this plan is critical. The 2009 federal deficit is greater than 40% of expenditures, and has thus crossed what some consider the tipping point for hyperinflation.
The word “penalty” occurs many times, especially regarding failure to report, or inaccurate reporting, of a vast array of information related to level of responsibility or compliance with requirements.
Academics will be pleased by the inclusion of their favorite panaceas, such as “coordinated care,” Accountable Care Organizations, quality measures, free preventive services, and community health centers—all of which cost money and may or may not produce future benefits.
Of course, there will be data collection on “health disparities,” on a broad set of population and subpopulation categories, in addition to segmentation by income.
Like previous versions, the bill enables the micromanagement of both insurance and medical services. The mind-numbing detail in the bill is just the beginning: the bureaucratic rules will follow.
Additional information:
This monstrosity is another attempt by mechanistically oriented politicians, bureaucrats, legislators and doctors to address the current state of the human condition. As Wilhilm Reich noted over half a century ago, there has been a biological miscalculation which has resulted in creating models of human beings which resemble machines with replaceable parts. This latest reading guide to the helplessness of people to take care of themselves leaves one shaking one’s head in disgust while at the same time recognizing the depth of the problem facing a humanity out of touch with itself. To think that government holds the solution to how to take care of your health boggles the mind.
“These thresholds are not indexed for inflation, and could ‘quickly’ move down the social scale.”
If the AAPS wants to maintain their credibility, and I really hope you do, then you need to stifle the hyperbole, as in the above quote. The single quotation marks are mine.
Best wishes,
Mike Bell, MD
Punishing wealth is a seasoned tool of demagogic reform. Envy always finds a constituency that enables irresponsible political leaders – such as those that are conspiring to confiscate American health care and more – to tax their way to their misdeeds.
Envy is the demagogic motor that drives “social justice”. If you think this is hyperbole: read philosopher Anthony de Jasay on envy.
http://www.econlib.org/library/LFBooks/Jasay/jsyStt19.html#3.6%20Envy
All one needs to do is read Star Parkers books: Uncle Sam’s Plantation and Pimps, Whores and Other Welfare Brats, to understand the depth of what this government is trying to do to our society as a whole and how it has arrived at this sham. Ms. Parker is black, a conservative and former welfare recipient. What she states with all the political background to back it up is enough to terrify anyone with a shred of intelligence.
When an engineer of a train sees that the bridge is out ahead, does he hit the accelerator or hit the brakes? Our political leadership is hitting the accelerator knowing full well that there is an economic collapse looming ahead. Therefore these actions to bankrupt the country and destroy our economy are deliberate. It would seem that short of recalls for our elected officials who tax us but don’t seem to represent us (taxation without representation) a taxpayer revolt may be the only thing that saves our current economic system from complete collapse. Failing that the current path will lead to economic collapse and we can just hope that we survive to pick the pieces later on.
Don’t waste your time writing here…………send an opinion piece to your local paper. The best approach is to show how medicare will be destroyed by the QALY scheme. I did and it will be published in Naples and Fort Myers. You must mobilize public opinion. MDs are too fat and lazy.
Obama sends emails to supporters ( I get them too ) urging the same thing. He mobilizes the masses.
We have to do it ourselves…..organized medicine ( ie AMA, state & local societies ) is clueless. Have they ever paced an opinion in your local paper?
email me through my website and I’ll send you a 750 and 1600 word version of my writing. You can put your own name on it.
I am a new member spurred by a movie America: Freedon to Fascism. It will change the way you look at this country and what needs to be done before it is too late, i.e., all incombants out of office. Rep/Dems makes no difference. Washington needs to know who is in charge and they have forotten that lesson. You can rent from netflix
incumbents, sorry
I agree with Scott Geller that getting a well written opinion piece published in a newspaper (preferably also its website) is of more potential value for changing the minds of those who actually want government financed and/or more regulated health care. Even making well stated comments following such an article, or one taking the opposite stance, is of worth to demonstrate to those reading the article that reasoned support, or opposition for articles supporting such government action, exists.
Several commenters at AAPS (here and for previous items) have had worthwhile things to say. I hope that they have at least repeated them at articles in the mainstream or even “progressive” media – I sure have, as well as at various liberty-promoting websites.
H.R. 3962, and any other Congressional Resolution that supports a government-mandated health care system, is a grave threat to the economic and social health and welfare of all Americans, as well as an assault on our Bill of Rights and U.S. Constitution. Government-managed health care will decrease the quality of health care by: 1) Driving qualified professionals out of the medical field; 2) Limiting patient access to remaining medical professionals by state-mandated panels; 3) Extending waiting periods, resulting in increased deaths; and 4) Accelerating treatment costs. All this can only result in an enhanced national debt, overwhelming tax increases and even more people left without any health care insurance.