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Fact vs. Fiction: The Summit Edition

Posted by: Colleen Haller on Feb 26, 2010

After all the questions and anticipation surrounding yesterday's health care summit, it was finally here! Congressional leaders and President Obama had a unique opportunity to discuss health reform and, for the most part, move beyond popular talking points toward a substantive discussion of what's really in health reform. Despite moments of honest debate, Republicans tended to revert back to those tried-and often untrue-scare tactics about health reform. I'd like to set the record straight on some misinformation presented at the summit.

1. We should "start over on a blank sheet of paper" and take baby steps to reform health care.

Unfortunately, doing one reform at a time will actually make things worse. For example, prohibiting pre-existing conditions without expanding coverage will result in sicker and older people enrolling in coverage, while younger and healthier people drop coverage until they get sick, causing premiums to skyrocket.

2. The Senate-passed health reform bill will raise premiums.

The bipartisan, independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) states that premiums will actually be lower under health reform. While a few plans offered in the individual market will have higher premiums, the savings in lower out-of-pocket costs and premiums subsidies will more than offset these increases.

3. Selling insurance across state lines will lower premiums and give consumers better choices when shopping for insurance.

Selling insurance across state lines without any consumer protections would allow insurance companies to get around state regulations by locating their headquarters in the state with the fewest consumer protections, and then selling policies in other states without having to comply with their rules and protections. This could lead to a "race to the bottom" where insurers are competing to sell the LEAST comprehensive policies to consumers.

4. The health reform bills and the President's proposal will cut benefits in Medicare.

Health reform will actually use savings gained from stopping overpayments to insurance companies in the Medicare Advantage program to improve benefits in Medicare and close the prescription drug "doughnut hole." Health reform will stop these kick-backs to insurance companies and instead focus on improving Medicare for seniors.

5. We can't afford to do comprehensive health reform.

We can't afford NOT to pass health reform. Health care spending is a huge burden on federal and state budgets, and the economy; these costs will continue to rise without health reform. The proposals before Congress will not only help bring these costs under control, but they will actually lower the federal deficit by more than $150 billion over the next ten years.

6. This process has been too rushed; we should slow down and take our time.

Take our time?! Congress has been carefully preparing this legislation for a year (not to mention the last 50 years)-they've had hundreds of bipartisan hearings, discussions, and long mark-ups to construct these bills. It's not time to slow down; it's time to finish the job.

Passing comprehensive health reform is too important to waste time perpetuating misinformation that might poll well, but doesn't solve our nation's problems. It's time to stop playing politics and start getting serious about passing affordable, comprehensive health reform.