Tackling Health Care

The health care debate is heating up in Congress. This is a worry for all Americans, especially given it's tied to our jobs, and more people are losing them.

But do we want to be tied to a government one size fits all solution? And what will it cost--will the elderly be cut out when "free" health care is too expensive to take care of them? When some bureaucrat makes a life or death decision? We Americans are used to choice in our lives--don't we want to keep that and not let the government crowd out a private sector attuned to the consumer? How easy will it be you think to sue Big Government with its Big Resources if you're not happy? Will you be dead before it's resolved?

The Tribune on Health Care, Fact or Fib. Here's one:

• We don't need to be certain how we'll pay for this before we start covering people. Yes, we do—precisely because those economies discussed above may or may not materialize. Remember Massachusetts' grand experiment in universal coverage? The Bay State was the first in the nation to decree that all its residents would be covered by health insurance.

It was a bold plan, and now the bills are coming due. The state is struggling because it underestimated the number of uninsured adults. That boosted its costs for subsidizing their insurance: The state budgeted $472 million for fiscal 2008 but spent $628 million. It is projected to spend $880 million in fiscal 2010. Government and industry officials agree that the plan cannot be sustained over the next decade, or even the next five years, if costs aren't reined in. (See above for likelihood of that happening.)

Only 33% approve of Obama buddy Massachusetts Democrat Gov. Deval Patrick, who is up for reelection in 2010. Residents are worried about a return to Tax-achusetts after the respite of the GOP Romney years. Thomas Sowell has a good piece on medical care--words vs. realities.

There are some interesting ideas out there--Rahmbo are you listening? I'd feel better actually if more states would pilot different approaches. Apparently Midwest-based Mayo Clinic is a model of success.

Health care is too important to each of us to be rushed through without looking at the best solutions that could actually work. We can't afford to fail.

Previous posts: Health Care: Will we get a choice?, Competing for the Sick, Stability and Portability