Michael Moore was over at the Huffington Post today answering reader questions regarding universal health care, and I have to say it was quite interesting. It was not interesting because of the well thought out questions, and intelligent answers (this is the Huffington Post we are talking about), it was interesting because the questions being asked confirmed to me one regrettable truth. Many people believe that the term government funded is synonymous with the term free.

Steve in Los Angeles, who is a self employed carpenter wrote: “I’ve been living with a degenerating knee injury for YEARS because I can’t afford to do a god damn thing about it, and you think having to wait in a Doctor’s office for free treatment is something I care about? If I could schedule a simple arthroscopy, free of charge but it’s going to have to be in September, do you honestly think I’m going to say “no, I’d rather wait until arthritis completely debilitates me and I can no longer work?”

To Steve in Los Angeles and all the other “Steve’s” out there who still don’t seem to get it, when something is paid for by the government it is not free, it is paid for by taxpayers. Much as Welfare is not “free” money, and public schools are not “free” education, the money for a universal health care plan will need to come from somewhere. So get ready to dig into your pocket’s Steve, your taxes will be going up again. (That is if you even report any of the income from your mostly cash business).

The largest problem with the misconception among many people that universal health care would mean free health care will be the huge increase in demand for services.

During the same Q&A Michael responded to a question regarding the likelihood his proposals will be embraced by politicians. Michael proudly responded “My proposals will be embraced by some politicians (over 70 members of congress now support the universal health care bill HR 676)”

H.R. 676 is the United States National Health Insurance Act, which currently has 75 co-sponsors. Right from the very first paragraph, this bill is a complete disaster.

SEC. 101. ELIGIBILITY AND REGISTRATION.

(a) In General- All individuals residing in the United States (including any territory of the United States) are covered under the USNHI Program entitling them to a universal, best quality standard of care. Each such individual shall receive a card with a unique number in the mail. An individual’s social security number shall not be used for purposes of registration under this section.

Notice the term “All individuals” in that first paragraph? Based on this section, anyone residing in the United States, including millions here illegally will be given tax payer funded health care. Also included in this plan are territories of the United States such as Puerto Rico (whose residents do not pay federal income tax unless employed by the government), and Guam (who pay absolutely zero federal income tax).

So where will the money come from to pay for this “free” health care you ask? You do not need to be a Marxist scholar to deduce the money with come from the “rich”. After all, “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need” has become the new political slogan of the Democratic party with regards to health care. Here is how H.R. 676 will be funded:

• Increasing personal income taxes on the top 5 percent income earners.
• Instituting a modest and progressive excise tax on payroll and self-employment income.

Many of you will say, well it is only the top 5 percent of income earners being affected, they can afford to pay. This was the exact same argument used when Congress voted on the Internal Revenue Code which initially had a nominal tax rate of 1% for those earning over $3,000, with a top tax rate of 7%. Ever since the dawn of the income tax the American government has lied to the people promising them only the rich would pay, and like sheep being led to slaughter, the American people continue to push for increased spending under the premise only the rich will pay the costs.

So how would we go about lowering government costs under the universal health care plan, in an effort to avoid having the tax increases eventually trickle down to the middle class? Well one answer could be instituting a small co-payment, maybe $10-$25 per doctor’s visit. This nominal fee would be enough to prevent individuals from visiting a doctor every time they sneeze, or stub their toe. Under HR 676 this is not allowed however:

Sec 102(c) No Cost-Sharing- No deductibles, co-payments, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing shall be imposed with respect to covered benefits.

I suppose a $10 co-payment would be quite a hardship on the poor, and after all that is who we are trying to help with this bill, so let’s forget about that for a moment. How about mandating those in the top 10% income bracket obtain their own insurance policies as a means of lowering costs of the universal plan?

Wait, we can’t do that either because Sec. 104(a) states: “In General- It is unlawful for a private health insurer to sell health insurance coverage that duplicates the benefits provided under this Act”.

Anyone else find it somewhat odd that although the Democrats promise us their universal health care will be far superior, they also feel the need to outlaw competition?

So in Michael Moore’s America with universal health care, we have higher taxes, longer wait times to see a doctor, and a governmental body which will decide what procedures are necessary and which are not.

I am sure Thomas Jefferson would be proud!

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Congress, Politics, Taxes