The 3 things we, and Obama, must demand of Health Care Reform

[keopeli]

As with everything in the past 30 years, we've invested for the short term and we're paying the price. Now, we're investing for the long term. And that starts with expanding what we already know works. We already know that Medicare and Medicaid work - they're just not funded properly. We're going to change that in three ways.

One, we're going to regulate the insurance industry. No more pre-existing condition limits. No more terminations at the last minute from some technicality in the application. There'll be a federal panel that will be overseen by congress, not the President.

Two, we're going to offer a public insurance plan that's just like medicare and medicaid. Maybe you won't want it. That's fine. Maybe you already have insurance. No problem. But if you don't have insurance, you can get it. Let's call it the Mediplan. It's just one plan and it's the same for everyone. It covers everything and it competes on the open market with everything else. And it's just insurance. It's not a panel deciding what's right and what's wrong for you. That's between you and your doctor and the Medical Board of your state. This is just the insurance to pay for it.

Insurance companies are terrified of this idea because they don't want a big new competitor on the block. These insurance companies have had many years to opens their doors and hearts to the 65 million Americans that have no insurance and the many millions of others with ridiculous problems that have contributed to the financial crisis we're in today. They had their chance to do the right thing and then we had an election. Now, we're going to do it ourselves by extending the medical plans we already have operating, Medicare and Medicaid, to everyone. If that brings the prices down to a more competitive level, then so be it. We, the American people, look forward to the competition.

We will need a tax to pay for this plan, at least initially. So, we're going to use two things. First, all bailout money now has a 7% interest. No contracts. No lawyers. Just my word here today. I'd like all companies that borrowed money from us to pay us back with an annual percentage rate of 7 %. If you don't, no one will complain or sue you. But everyone will know it. I think that's fair.

And second, we're asking the most wealthy among us, the top .5%, to give an extra amount for the next 5 years as we start this program. We're asking for a tax increase on the wealthiest among us, who have benefited from the freedoms and liberties of this great country, to give us 5 years, during which time we will commence this great undertaking. After that time, the system will have established itself so that it is self-funding. I truly believe that this effort will add such a boon to our society that you'll find this investment to be very well worth it.

Three, we're going to modernize health records. We're going to create a record keeping system. And we're going to charge the committee with oversight of the system. There will be a law that it can never be privatized, because we don't want our records getting into the marketplace and wall street. Only a court can release records without proper procedure being followed. And there will be criminal penalties for breaching privacy of these records. However, the people YOU designate will have access to your records and will have a complete view of your health history. By doing this, every American's health improves, our security of records improves and the whole thing saves a bundle of money so our economy improves.

Three things. That's what we want. Three reasonable things. And the most amazing part is that, though there is always a start-up cost, in the long term all three things will save money. And not just a little money - a lot of money.

So, Congress can write any bill they want, and the Health Industry can write all the checks to Congressmen and women that they want and they can run all the commercials that they want and Rush can use all the Nazi names he wants and at the end of the day, Obama should not sign any bill that does not contain the elements mentioned here. If he does, he is likely to have a very difficult time getting re-elected.

[spin]

1. K&R (n/t)