Health Care Reform Bill Pros and Cons on Ask the Expert

Questions for Tom Henry, second session
1. What are the major pros and cons of the bills being considered to change our health care system?
a. Pros i. Other than the fact that they are making the attempt, there is nothing good I can say about the bills

b. Cons i. The government is already heavily in debt and cannot afford to go deeper. ii. No tort reform iii. Mandating that people buy health insurance may be an insurance agents dream, but it is probably unconstitutional.

2. But wait, doesnt the government require us to purchase insurance to drive?

a. No. We must buy insurance if we wish to drive on government provided roads. As any farmer will tell you, you dont need insurance or even a license to drive on private property.

3. But dont we need to cover the 46 million people in the U.S. without insurance?

a. People tend to confuse insurance with the health care delivery system. Not having insurance does not mean a person does not have access to care. But lets break down the so called 46 million uninsured. i. According to wiki answers, there are a minimum of 12 million illegal aliens. They are part of that number. ii. Some 10 million uninsured live in households making over $75,000 per year who could qualify and purchase if they desired to. iii. Many of the remaining 24 million have access to Medicaid, or SCHIP. iv. The remaining number consists of people who either cannot qualify or cannot afford to purchase insurance. These we need to help with reform. The proposed bills do nothing for these people.

4. What do you think should be done?

a. We need to help those who either cannot qualify for or afford insurance. This is a social issue, not an insurance reform issue.

b. As to affordability, there are so many issues that go into that discussion, there simply is not enough time in this forum. But basically, Americans buy more health care than other countries because 1) we can afford it, and 2) we need it because we are so unhealthy due to lifestyle choices. We have ourselves to blame more than doctors, hospitals, insurance companies and even government meddling.




Thomas Henry Biography -




Born 1946 in Albany, GA
US Air Force 1965 - 1968, Russian Linguist
Graduated 1972 SF State University, BA in International Business Marketing
1972-1973 Pharmaceutical sales rep for Parke Davis
1973-1976 Graduated University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
1976 passed California State Bar
1976-1986 practiced law civil litigation
1983 to date insurance sales focusing on group benefits
1995 Incorporated RealCare Insurance Marketing, Inc. focusing on group benefits
1992-1993 Two terms as president of NCAHU.
2004 to present serving as treasurer of NCAHU.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Ask the Expert
• Sonoma County
• Health Care Reform
• North Bay

[itscrazycock]

tort reform is an insurance companies dream. look at the cost after tort reform passed in Texas insurance cost to doctors didnt go down but pay outs did. what happened to trusting a jury of our peers? the justice system isnt perfect but telling Americans that they cant be trusted to make decisions is criminal. Who gets to decide whats frivolous and what is not? and when a jury decides that a plaintiff should get what ever why should politicians and judges get to say no thats too much?

[ouman81]

I guess he didn't count on the millions who file for bankruptcy bc they're under insured. All those folks are illegal wanting this thing for over a hundred years.

[dahbossontop]

seriously and he is the EXPERT??? LOL

[geiger1989]

so much for the pros haha