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Dear Ms. Born A Truman:
As Congress breaks for the August district work period and I return home to my California constituents, I want to take this opportunity to update you on the ongoing health reform debate.
I have appreciated the many letters and phone calls I have received from constituents like you. The passionate voices I have heard, from all points of view, are a reflection that health care is a deeply personal issue. That is why I am glad that the congressional break will give more time for Congress and all Americans to evaluate the health reform proposals that have been introduced and consider alternative solutions.
There is no question that we face difficulties and inequities within our overall health care system, and we must find a way to make affordable health insurance available to as many Americans as possible. However, I strongly oppose the current drafts of the House and Senate majority proposals. I believe that the bills, as written, will lead to an eventual government takeover of health care.
The President and Congressional leaders have promised that if you like your health insurance, you can keep it. But independent and non-partisan studies of both the House and Senate proposals have estimated that tens of millions of people could lose their current health insurance. I cannot support a bill that would force people who are happy with their employer-based coverage into government-run health insurance.
I am also very concerned about major job losses that could be caused by the proposed taxes and mandates on small businesses. According to independent analysts, the House plan would impose $208 billion in taxes on businesses who cannot afford to finance their workers' health coverage. This is especially dangerous during our rough economic situation, when the Inland Empire already faces unemployment of over 13 percent. I will not vote for a plan that will cost more jobs.
I have heard from many seniors who worry what these plans could mean for them. To pay for this new trillion-dollar government takeover of portions of health care, the bills propose further Medicare cuts of up to $400 billion. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated the House plan would lead to $162.2 billion in cuts being taken from Medicare Advantage plans. These plans provide a choice of health care options to over 50,000 seniors in my district. It would be irresponsible to approve legislation that cuts benefits and raises premiums for seniors, while doing nothing to fix the long term solvency of the Medicare trust fund that will go bankrupt in 2017.
The current proposals open the door to government rationing of health care. The House plan claims that health care costs could be reduced by letting a board of unelected bureaucrats make health care decisions, including decisions about which therapies and treatments the federal government will cover. The legislation would prevent patients in a government-run health care plan from paying for uncovered treatments out-of-pocket. My constituents have been clear in telling me that these are decisions that should be made between a doctor and a patient - not a government bureaucrat. I cannot support a plan that would ration care and stifle innovative treatments.
We do not need a government takeover to make health care in America more affordable, more personal, and to ensure that all Americans - including those with pre-existing conditions and those who cannot afford the cost of health care - receive the care they need. In a plan I would support:
-- Americans who like their employer-based coverage would keep it and keep the tax exclusion on health benefits.
-- Individuals and families who don't like their coverage or don't have employer-based insurance should be able to buy their own plan on the same tax-advantaged basis as businesses. Americans who pay taxes should get a dollar-for-dollar reduction on their taxes of up to $2,500 an individual and $5,000 per family, and low-income individuals who don't pay taxes should get the same subsidy from the government to buy a policy of their choice.
--A national health-insurance market would be created, allowing small businesses, associations, churches, and other civic groups to set up new insurance pools and offer more affordable and portable health packages to their members.
-- Out-of-control health care costs would be contained by fighting the waste, fraud and abuse that is costing our health care system billions of dollars. We must also have liability reforms to end frivolous and expensive lawsuits, which could save billions that doctors currently spend by practicing defensive medicine.
I look forward to talking with my constituents and local health care providers over the next few weeks about their ideas, thoughts and concerns. I am ready to work in a bipartisan way on common sense solutions that can make a positive difference for the families, small businesses and seniors who I am proud to serve.
Sincerely,
Jerry Lewis
Member of Congress
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My response to him:
Dear Representative Lewis,
Greedy insurance companies have already rationed our health care. I have Blue Shield PPO and they deny medication prescribed by my doctor in favor of cheaper drugs which require me to take more pills. Our deductibles have doubled, and my husband has no medical coverage should he retire before he is medicare eligible, so this issue is very important to my family.
Furthermore, the outright lies trying to scare senior citizens about end-of-life issues by certain members of Congress is repugnant and needs to be addressed by standing up to the scare mongers with facts. If you have the courage to do so it would be appreciated.
I find it curious that spending on health care is considered bad, but spending on the Iraq war was not a problem. Did you author a health care bill during the past eight years that you mention below? Did it fail to pass? Congress was elected to do a job and they have failed miserably. Get to work and do your jobs!!
Sincerely,
Born A Truman
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