South Carolina Insurance News and Information March 10th, 2010

President Obama’s proposed solution to the health care problem has sparked much discussion amongst both parties. One critic is John F. Brinson, chairman of the Lehigh Valley Tax Limitation Committee. He stated that the goals Obama hopes to reach, with regard to health insurance rates and health care costs, are impossible. The idealistic philosophy that everyone should be insured at a lower cost has been criticized from the beginning.

The rising cost of health insurance directly reflects the spike in health care costs. According to Brinson, this is not to been interpreted as a negative. He argues that the rising health care costs are to be expected due to the improved quality and availability of health care.

Many fear that President Obama’s plan to give health insurance to all and institute price controls would lead to a decline in the quality of care provided. Brinson likens the proposed system to the old Soviet Union, where the communist governments imposed absolute price control over bread in hopes to provide bread for everyone. Though people waited in lines for hours, the result was inevitably, not enough bread. “And if you wanted sausage, forget it.” He believes that the Obama plan is unrealistic, and that people who wanted the kind of quality they have become used to would be negatively affected.

Deviation from the cookie cutter health care that has been proposed would cause major issues.

A major aspect of the “Obamacare” plan that is being attacked is the mandated purchase of health insurance by individuals and businesses, who will be penalized if they do not comply. Another is the proposed “free” health insurance for 15 million new people eligible for Medicaid. Many illegal immigrants would, in theory, be able to have access to free healthcare.  Obama has said that this would not increase the deficit, but surely this is impossible. The money will come from somewhere. Brinson feels that our taxes will see a significant increase in order to cover the new eligibles.

According to John F. Brinson, “Obamacare is not reform. It is a takeover." Meanwhile, congress is still undecided on how they will vote on this bill.