Healthcare: Reform is within our reach

Situation:
The House of Representatives and the Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) committe have finally released thier versions of healthcare reform bills. However, the Senate Finance committe, chaired by Sen. Max Baucus, has yet to weigh in on the matter.

Why it matters:

To begin, it is important to note that healthcare reform has been in the works for quite some time, and although a vast majority of Americans believe that it is necessary, our legislators have faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles in making true reform a reality. These obstacles are largely policy-related, but have huge political and economic implications. Now, the members the House of Representatives and the Senate HELP committee have released healthcare reform bills, effectively ending the policy debate by formalizing policy objectives. For instance, both versions include a public healthcare option similar to Medicare, in which Americans will be allowed to choose between their current employer-based health insurance and a government-run public plan. Other provisions include mandates for heath coverage, as well as subsidies for families making up to four times the federal poverty rate.

Earlier I mentioned the fact that we have yet to hear from the Senate Finance Committe, which is a key committe in deciding whether or not these plans will ever become reality, since they are charged with finding a way to pay for the estimated $1 trillion in reforms. This should matter to you, as an American citizen and tax-payer, because the financing of these proposals could affect your paycheck, job, or medical coverage. Much of the pricetag will be whethered by cuts in wasteful spending, modernization of medical records, emphasis on prevention and wellness, and increased competition and accountability from hospitals, doctors, and most importantly, insurance companies. To pay for the remainder, legislators have proposed taxing employer-based healthcare benefits, taxing the most wealthy Americans up to 5.4%, or simply removing key components (like the public option) from the proposed bills.

I think we can all agree that healthcare in this country is outrageous. We are arguably the most powerful nation in the world, yet we are decades behind other countries, like France and Canada, when it comes to our healthcare system. Our current healthcare system is not only unsustainable, but it potentially endangers the lives of the millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans. It's time to bring accountability to the healthcare industry by encouraging competition and ensuring coverage. Remember "LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?" These are your inalienable rights, and our legislators and elected officials have been charged with protecting them. The only way to bring accountability to the healthcare industry is to insist that our elected officials are fighting for the best interest of their constituents, namely those without inc. following their names (Thanks Rachel Maddow!). Every American is important, and deserves affordable healthcare.

And that's why it matters.

/theGHenius