Nov
23
Whose Bears the Burden?
Sixty senators closed the deal to prolong the debate on America‘s health care bill crafted by Democrats to extend health insurance to 31 million Americans for $848 billion.
The bill would be inclusive of additional taxes and cuts in Medicare payments to health-care providers. Moreover, the Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor will be expanded. New government subsidies are also proposed to help lower- and middle-income people avail of insurance.
For the next decade, the bill is expected to trim down the deficit by $130 billion, but first there will be higher premiums, higher taxes, and massive cuts to Medicare. By this we mean new charges on drug makers and medical-device makers, a tax on high-value insurance plans, and higher Medicare payroll taxes for families making more than $250,000 a year.
The effects of this legislation would create a trade-off between small businesses and individuals that could purchase insurance and the obligation for most people to carry health insurance. Does the government value more the former than the latter by providing for the small entities through a penalty of up to $750 per person? What about the safeguard for the other who bears the burden?
The issue on this government-run insurance plan and aid to small businesses would cost too much, but it was sure to color the 2010 fight for control of Congress.