Health Care Reform Proposal

Time to unveil my health care initiative. First let me begin by stating that health care is not a right guaranteed by the Constitution, nor should it be expected by any citizen in the United States unless it is financed by them. The whole reason we are considering this proposal is because former legislators instituted a socialist type Medicaid and Medicare plan for our citizens. It has since blossomed into a situation that may soon bankrupt not only our federal government but the states coffers as well. The correct thing to do is to abolish Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare programs entirely, as they are not rights granted by the Constitution, but entitlement programs. Try finding politicians with backbone enough to sell that proposal! It's not going to happen, so in lieu of that here's plan "B."

To resolve a problem you have to address the problem. The two largest drains on the health care system consist of uninsured illegal aliens and uninsured citizens who choose not to carry health care coverage but can afford it. (See last post, 2006 census bureau survey facts.) I'm totally against taxing responsible citizens who at their own expense cover themselves medically. If you're one of the 285 million responsible citizens with health care coverage, I'm sure you agree with that statement.

It just seems logical to me that if 9.5 million illegal aliens are breaking the back of our health care system, we address the real problem. Close the borders to illegal immigration. Here's a little ditty I'll bet you didn't know. Mexico has free health care for all it's citizens. All Mexican citizens are eligible for free health care regardless of their work status via a system of health care facilities operating under the federal Secretaria de Salubridad y Asistencia (SSA) agency. Should an undocumented person in need of medical care show up at a health care facility I suggest we deport them to their country of origin, for medical treatment. This may require we elect officials who actually uphold the Constitution and secure our borders as mandated within. Any politician who suggests otherwise should be charged with treason The outstanding side effect of this action is lower unemployment. Somewhere in the area of 9.5 million opportunities would be open for immediate employment lowering the unemployment rate by 1/3. I'd also like to point out Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, Barney Frank and a host of others would be in federal prison where they belong, serving time for the treason they commit daily by not upholding the duty they were sworn to.

Wait I'm not done saving the economy and the taxpayer yet! We still have a majority 17 million American citizens who reside in a household earning 50k/yr or more and not insured.(Again pointing to the 2006 US census figures popular with representatives in Washington). I find it unfair to suggest the responsible insured population enable them to continue this and propose taxing us so they can spend income on cable TV, cell phones, Internet service, and other pleasures instead of insurance. Let me inspire legislators to consider this option. Should you show up uninsured at any medical facility you immediately lose your personal and dependent tax deductions from your Federal income tax form. Thereby paying full income tax on your tax returns. This will also instantly enroll you in a private group benefit plan like the one I proposed in my previous post. It insures individuals for $199/month, couples for $299/month, and families for $369/month. Pre existing conditions are eligible and it also has dental, prescription and vision benefits. You may receive your tax credits back when you prove coverage of yourself and family. That generates the revenue to cover the irresponsible, and lightens the burden on Medicaid/Medicare.

Now we address the high cost of coverage for the remaining uninsured. The single biggest expense for hospitals, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies is liability insurance driven up by uncontrolled and frivolous lawsuits. Cap the lawsuits to reasonable awards, malpractice insurance drops and health costs decline. Lawyers are required to do a set amount of pro bono work, why not doctors? Offset the charity with tax deduction rewards for physicians. I'll bet they would love a tax break, most being in the top 5% income earners in the nation.

Last let’s address the fraud in the Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security entitlement programs. Audit every recipient and let's get the program doing what it was designed to do. Millions of dollars of abuse infect the system. The savings to the taxpayer would be enough to get these programs back in the black, and out of the deficit side of the ledger.

Let's review, we lowered unemployment, solved the health care issue, demanded Washington uphold the Constitution, saved Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, increased tax revenue, and finally not raised our taxes a dime. We might have even found enough money to lower them. No animals were injured in the designing of this program, and not one deserving person has suffered a loss of coverage.

How come the people we pay to solve these issues in Washington can't see the obvious? Hint: They are only concerned about getting reelected. So my last suggestion is impose term limits and resolve that issue too!

Tomorrow I will announce a plan to effectively close GITMO, and keep America safer!

God Bless
Capt. Bill