Wednesday, January 20, 2010

A Bad New Beginning

Obama has conceded that goals for a health care reform package need to be revisited in light of the Massachusetts Surprise.

But he gets off to a very bad start with this line:
We know that we need insurance reform, that the health insurance companies are taking advantage of people.


How about stopping the blame game and the populist rhetoric for a better beginning? If we want to eliminate the pre-existing conditions clause, how about we start by honestly recognizing the basic and real problem faced by self insuring employers and insurance companies of individuals who stay uninsured but as soon as they get seriously sick opt into the insurance pool? Pre-existing conditions clauses prevent that.

I suggest a small commission of smart, unbiased, action-oriented individuals who would come up with a nice clean set of changes to our health care system that would meet a small number of clear objectives. And then have Congress vote up or down with no option for bribes and payoffs.

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