Chet Edwards: Health care reform: common questions and answers

Over the past two weeks, I have had nearly 30 meetings on health care reform with doctors, nurses, small business owners and everyday citizens.

Our telephone town hall included nearly 20,000 constituents from all twelve counties in District 17.

It is clear to me that citizens from all walks of life take the issue of health care reform seriously, and they want Congress to do the same.

The most common frustration I hear is that it is extremely difficult to understand what is in the House health care reform bill, HR 3200.

I share that frustration

because the bill is 1,000 pages long and written in the language of lawyers.

If that weren’t bad enough, some proponents and opponents of the bill seem more interested in sound bite marketing than in fair-minded analysis.

As a result, it is hard for any objective person to determine what is and is not in HR 3200.

I would like to share with you the most common questions I am hearing from constituents and respond to them.

1. Why did President Obama and Speaker Pelosi want to rush a health care vote through the House before the August congressional recess?

When you want to pass a bill, as they do, you schedule the vote as soon as you have a majority in favor of it. I disagreed with this approach and was one of the members of Congress who forced a delay on the vote by saying I would not support any health care bill until I had read it, reviewed it and listened to my constituents.

2. Have you decided how you will vote on HR 3200?

No. I will not make a decision until I have answered the questions I have about the bill and listened to people in our district. However, I will not vote for any bill I believe would result in a Canadian–style, socialized health care system.

3. I like my present health insurance and choice of doctors, so will HR 3200 force me to change?

No. The bill allows individuals, families and businesses to continue their present insurance and choice of doctors.

4. Will the plan include the so-called “death panels” and cut Medicare services for seniors?

No on both questions. There is absolutely nothing in the plan about so-called “death panels,” and it is a shame anyone would try to frighten seniors with scare tactics. I do want to be sure that the Medicare savings in this bill will come from new efficiencies, not cuts in services. On the plus side, drug costs would be cut in half for seniors in the Part D “donut hole”; co-pays would be dropped for preventative care; and doctors would be more readily available for Medicare patients.

5. How does the plan affect small businesses?

Businesses with annual payrolls greater than $500,000 would be required to provide health insurance for their employees or pay a tax penalty of up to 8 percent of their payroll. Those with 25 or fewer employees would receive tax credits for up to 50 percent of the costs of providing employees’ health insurance. Small businesses would be able to join together in an insurance exchange to obtain better rates, and insurance companies could no longer raise premiums on a company because one or two employees faced serious illnesses.

6. What is the “public option” and would it lead to a socialized health care system by wiping out private health insurance companies?

HR 3200 sets up an insurance exchange where numerous private insurance companies could compete for individual and small business customers by offering them better rates. The public option would provide a Medicare-like insurance policy as an option to the private plans. I would oppose a tax subsidized public option, because it would provide an unlevel playing field and could lead to a socialized health care plan. One alternative to the public plan under consideration is the creation of private insurance cooperatives.

7. Will illegal immigrants receive benefits under HR 3200?

No. Illegal immigrants are not eligible for the programs in this bill.

8. Given our present federal deficits, will HR 3200 increase the deficit?

According to a July 17 report of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, HR 3200 would result in a $7 billion surplus over 10 years. One-half of the $100 billion a year costs would be paid for by health care savings such as preventive care and getting people out of emergency rooms and the other half would be paid for by a health care tax surcharge on families making over $350,000. Despite the CBO report, I want to know what the bill would do if projected savings do not occur because I believe any health care reform bill should be budget neutral.

9. Are Members of Congress exempted from the provisions of HR 3200?

No. My wife and I presently have the same private health insurance plan that is available to all federal employees. Under the House reform bill, these plans are subject to the same rules as all other employer-sponsored plans.

10. How can I obtain more objective information on HR 3200?

There are many sources of information, but you might try the respected and nonpartisan Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania at factcheck.org. Additionally, reviewing the analysis of both those supporting and opposing the bill is important; often times, the truth is somewhere in between.

In the weeks ahead, I will continue to meet with the citizens and families of District 17 to hear your views and questions on health care reform. I will not vote based on partisan pressures or special interests — there is already too much of that in Washington — and health care is too important for that kind of politics. After careful review and listening closely, my vote will be based on what I believe is right for our district and country. In the meantime, let me know your views at www.house.gov/edwards.



U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, represents

District 17, which

includes Johnson County.

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