Americas unAffordable Health Care Bill

Don't Nationalize Massachusetts' Health Care Mistakes!

Three years ago Massachusetts legislators passed health reforms aimed at universalizing coverage and reducing costs. As the national health care debate heats up, many of our legislators are turning to Massachusetts as a possible model for reform.

Massachusetts reforms comprise several features: individual mandates, employer mandates, an exchange, and subsidies. Individual mandates require all state citizens to purchase a government-approved policy. Employer mandates require businesses to contribute to their employees coverage, fining those that do not meet minimum standards. The exchange creates an artificial, heavily regulated market place. Finally, the government subsidizes the policy for people making up to 300% above the poverty line.

President Obama and other Democrat leaders have proposed a similar package of national reforms in order to reshape our nations health care: mandates, an exchange, and a public plan that will likely be subsidized. But before we enact these reforms at the national level, lawmakers should reflect on the results of Massachusettss attempts at achieving cheap, universal health care.

Three years later, Massachusetts has failed to accomplish its goals. In this briefing, Michael Tanner of the Cato Institute explains the disastrous legacy of its reforms:

Rising insurance premiums:
- Premiums rose 8-12% in 2008. These cost increases outpaced national averages 4.7% in 2008.

Out of control spending:
- Massachusetts projected to cost $1.56 billion. Costs for 2009 may now be as high as $1.9 billion. These costs lead to new taxes.

Waiting lists:
-The number of people foregoing care because of difficulty finding a provider has increased from 3.5% to 4.8%.

Failure to universalize coverage:
2.6% of the states residents are still uninsured 167,300 people.

Full article: http://bit.ly/4LtZc2

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News & Politics

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• Americas
• unAffordable
• Health
• Care
• Bill

[unripevocal]

I live in italy , I don't have a decent job . I take less then 10.000 euros a year . At the hospital they asked me to sign some paper that demonstrate what I just said . So after 1 week I finally got my , ISE paper . With that paper I don't even have to pay the taxes for my health care , this means I can even cure my teeth when I feel some little ache .. If my salary was more than 10.000 i had to pay some small taxes , but still not comparable to the high rates of the private hospitals .

[unripevocal]

I live in italy , I don't have a decent job . I take less then 10.000 euros a year . At the hospital they asked me to sign some paper that demonstrate what I just said . So after 1 week I finally got my , ISE paper . With that paper I don't even have to pay the taxes for my health care , this means I can even cure my teeth when I feel some little ache .. If my salary was more than 10.000 i had to pay some small taxes , but still not comparable to the high rates of the private hospitals .

[ZeckRichards]

OH NO!!! AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE!!!! I'm terrified!!! Please, send my health care bills skyrocketing agian!!! PLEASE! I just LOVE paying 11 thousand a year instead of 1 thousand a year!!!.......seriously.....??­??

P.S. We DON'T have the best health care system in the world