Presidential health care plans: Good for no one?
On the eve of this critical election, I thought it was important to make you aware of a new report in the Journal of Health Affairs that levies some criticism at both the McCain and Obama “solutions” for the U.S. healthcare system. It’s nice to see that there’s still some balance out there.
This new report surveyed 187 benefits managers across the country and found that most disapproved of the solutions proffered by both parties. The take on McCain’s Plan? It would leave 60 million Americans without insurance, and reduce coverage. The knock on the Obama method? It would cost too much and create more regulation (and we’ve seen how well that’s worked out with the FDA).
So what is to be done? You know what I think about Obama’s plan and the left’s “Universal Coverage” mantra – it’s bunk. In fact, I wrote an in-depth article in the November issue of The Douglass Report, “Five Myths of Universal Healthcare” that you should read. It does an excellent job of clearing some of the smoke and shattering some of the mirrors constructed around how grand the health care system will supposedly be when we’re all living in the People’s Republic of Obama.
Obama’s plan includes something that would be similar to a nationwide version of the Federal Employees Health Benefits program. Many mistakenly believe that this would be like the popular Blue Cross and Blue Shield coverage, which can cost about $12,000 per year – but many Americans wouldn’t be able to afford the premiums of this plan. Rather, it would be more like lower-end $5,000-a-year plan that most postal employees have, which comes with far fewer benefits and more up-front costs in co-pays and deductibles. But you won’t hear Obama or his minions touting these facts.
Those surveyed said that McCain’s plan wouldn’t likely help the alleged 60 million “without” healthcare (I believe this number is fudged, since it often includes children and illegal immigrants). But there’s a popular misconception that his plan would “take away” benefits; it wouldn’t. Instead, it offers a refundable tax credit to individuals who purchase healthcare coverage, and support a national move toward “non-group” insurance. Critics say this could increase healthcare costs, and reduce benefits.”
Overall, 74 percent of the benefits managers said they weren’t fans of McCain’s version of the plan; 46 percent said they disliked Obama’s plan that would have employers “pay or play.”
Of course, you can’t deny that there’s a problem with asking benefits mangers what they think about this sort of thing: they’ve got a dog in the fight. And since this is what they do day-to-day, it’s hard for them to give an opinion of what plan would really be fairest or the most practicable without it being distorted by their professional opinion.
Still, the managers did say one thing that makes sense: both candidates should put their focus on reigning in the out-of-control costs and improving the overall quality of health care throughout the country.
Mortgage crisis blamed for increase in West Nile cases
I just read a story that California health officials are blaming the spread of West Nile Virus on the mortgage crisis. Hey, anything is possible in an election year, right?
It seems that the number of West Nile cases has tripled in recent years, and some are quick to point the finger at the recent tripling of the number of foreclosed homes in Kern County, CA.
Here’s the logic that supports the claim: abandoned homes mean untended swimming pools and spas, which mean more breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Aerial photographs of the area show that 17 percent of the neighborhood pools and hot tubs are green, which means they’re algae-filled and can serve as an ideal breeding ground for the mosquitoes.
Sounds dangerous, right? But how come the story doesn’t say exactly how many more cases of West Nile Virus equated to “triple” the number of cases. Three? Six? Another questionable statistic: “17 percent of pools.” That sounds like a lot – but how many pools are we talking about here? A few hundred? A thousand?
It sounds to me like some reporter is more interested in using the mortgage crisis to increase the incidence of election year Bush bashing than telling you about West Nile Virus.
