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Would this run up the deficit further? The Congressional Budget Office says yes. It forecasts that President Obama’s reforms would add $239 billion to the federal deficit. Few on Capitol Hill think the reform effort could pay for itself.5
Would health care be rationed? That’s what ex-Alaska Governor Sarah Palin contended in a Facebook post. The potential Republican presidential candidate stated that the reforms would lead to a system that would “allocate medical resources to the elderly, the infirm, and the disabled who have less economic potential.” Democrats and other supporters of the reforms counter her claim by saying that the current health care system already features “rationed” care dictated by health insurance company bureaucrats.6
Would there really be “death panels”? Earlier this month, Palin contended that the President’s health care reform proposals included “death panels” that would decide if seriously ill patients would live or
These are the views of Peter Montoya Inc., not Tarpley & Underwood Financial Advisors, LLC, and should not be construed as investment advice. Tarpley & Underwood Financial Advisors, LLC does not provide tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If other expert assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. Please consult your financial professional for further information.
Citations.
1 baltimoresun.com/health/health-care/bal-health care-faq,0,5260471.story [8/14/09]
2 baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.pharma14aug14,0,5384283.story [8/14/09]
3 politics.theatlantic.com/2009/08/gop_dems_want_to_spend_money_to_cut_medicare.php
[8/14/09]
[8/14/09]4 factcheck.org/2009/08/seven-falsehoods-about-health-care/[8/14/09]
[8/14/09]5 cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/12/eveningnews/main5237960.shtml [8/12/09]
6 politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/14/palin-warns-of-disturbing-health-care-rationing/[8/14/09]
[8/14/09]7 latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-health-end-of-life14-2009aug14,0,4670272.story[8/14/09]
[8/14/09] CLEARING UP THE HEALTH CARE DEBATE
or die. In the eyes of many legislators, Palin was wildly misinterpreting a provision in the health care reform bill that would allow doctors to offer voluntary consultations about living wills, hospice care, health care directives and pain medication to patients and loved ones facing end-of-life decisions. (If the reforms pass, Medicare would pay physicians to provide this consulting.) The Senate Finance Committee has dropped this idea from its version of the proposed legislation; it remains in the House version.7
Would the government (and taxpayer dollars) pay for abortions? It is uncertain. In one variant of the health care reform bill, abortions would have to be available via at least one insurance plan; however, Democrats say any abortions would be paid through patient premiums.5
Would undocumented immigrants get free health care? On the CBS Evening News, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) was heard stating, “Illegal aliens will not be in this bill, period, the end.” As currently written, the legislation states that only those lawfully present in the United States can qualify for health coverage. Yet what if one family member is in America legally, but others aren’t? Could his or her relatives become eligible? Republicans say that the proposed legislation offers no way to effectively stop undocumented immigrants from applying for health care benefits.5
The debate rages on. Politically, the health care reform effort seems poised to end up being the story of the year – and the contention and negotiation will certainly last into fall. Stay tuned.
Source: www.healthreform.gov
