What Happens If Government Takes Over Health Care?

Radio Commentary, WMVV 90.7 New Life FM, December 18, 2009
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. We’ve been fighting federal health care bills for months, but don’t stop now. If the Senate passes its plan, even then we won’t know what’s in it until a joint conference committee writes a compromise bill. Meaning, the easiest way to stop a government take-over of health care is to defeat the Senate bill. Otherwise, both versions – the House bill and the Senate bill – will go into conference committee, where everything they took out will be put right back in. Then, it goes back to the House and Senate for their final votes. A conference committee bill is final. It cannot be changed and, if they handle it like they’ve handled the other bills, they won’t read it before they vote and we won’t know what’s in it until it passes.

The Senate calls its plan “affordable,” but it’s not affordable to any person or any business. They say we’ll have better health care, but we won’t. We’ll pay more for less care, taxes will go sky high, the cost of health insurance will be outrageous and people who refuse to take their plan will be fined for not having coverage. Companies with over 50 workers must offer health coverage or pay a $750 tax for each full-time worker in the government plan. From 2010 ’til 2019, hospital insurance tax goes up $54 billion. New taxes on high-cost insurance totals $149 billion and fees on insurance companies and some manufacturers increase $102 billion.

Not only will insurance cost more, beginning in 2014 you’ll be fined $95 if you don’t have insurance and that fine goes up to $750 a year in 2016. Families without coverage will be fined up to $2,250 a year. Income tax goes up a half-percent on singles earning over $200,000 a year and couples making $250,000 and filing joint returns. That totals another $54 billion in taxes over ten years.

Ever year government would collect another $2 billion on medical devices and new taxes on pharmaceutical firms and insurance companies would amount to still another $2 billion a year. So, keep calling your U.S. senator and congressman at 1 877 762-8762*. Ask for their office and tell them to vote NO on health care bills. It’s not good health care and it costs too much. And, if you’re planning a face-lift, you’d better get it done before the government takes over. Senator Reid wants to put a five-percent federal tax on elective cosmetic surgery. I’m told, “A word to the wise is sufficient.” For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.