Putting Michigan’s Families First in Reforming Health Care

We do need reform to reduce skyrocketing medical costs and improve access to quality health care for all of Michigan’s families. But we must uphold fundamental principles as we seek reform.  First and foremost is the guarantee of the sacred doctor-patient relationship.  Patients must be able to seek care from the doctor of their choice, and the decisions they make should be made without delay or denial of care by the government.  Americans should also be allowed to keep their current health insurance if they desire to do so. Most Americans are happy with the quality of their coverage and do not want their services reduced.  Insurance companies can not be allowed to discriminate for preexisting illnesses. And, we need to have incentives for employers to provide health insurance for their employees, rather than penalize them with higher taxes and mandates.

The Waxman-Pelosi bill threatens these core principles and promises to raise costs for all Americans. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that this bill would cost over $1 trillion and increase the deficit by some $239 billion in the first ten years.  The Waxman-Pelosi plan would also penalize families and businesses that do not conform to specific federal standards of coverage, while the “government-option” component would drive many private providers out of the market. 

What’s more, when using a formula developed by the Chair of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors, the employer mandates imposed by this legislation could result in as many as 5 million lost jobs.  A number of employers in southwest Michigan have already shared their concerns with me, warning that the added costs of compliance would require them to make substantial job cuts. Additionally, under such a plan, nearly two out of every three people would lose their current coverage, including over 100 million who receive employer-provided health benefits.  Over 10 million seniors would also lose their coverage under Medicare Advantage and more than 8 million Health Savings Accounts would be deemed unacceptable and subject to a tax penalty.

I agree that our health care system needs serious reforms, but we can not mandate drastic change at the expense of jobs or by jeopardizing the health benefits we presently enjoy.  Unfortunately, the Waxman-Pelosi legislation does both – Michigan’s families deserve better.