Healthcare Insurance Debate

While we do not yet know what it is the Senate is going to propose concerning its Health Insurance Reform bill, there is some speculation that it will not include a public option. We anticipate that it will require that everyone have health insurance, that insurance companies can not refuse coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and possibly remove caps on annual and lifetime coverage amounts. However, if these items are included and there is no public option, then the US Congress will be giving the health insurance industry a license to steal.

If there is not going to be some control on what the cost for the coverages will be, the industry will say, "Having to cover everyone under these circumstances is expensive and the premiums will reflect the cost." They will say this whether it is true or not. Then our current 15 - 20% annual increases will seem small when they start ramping up the rates and blaming the legislation for it. The end result will be people will not be able to afford the coverage and will have to go uninsured. Small businesses will not be able to afford the premiums that will be charged and will have to drop coverage for their employees, who in turn will not be able to afford the individual coverage and will have to go uninsured. Without the public option, the problem of the uninsured is going to worsen, not be cured.