A look at what the bill means to you
WASHINGTON D.C., MIDLAND -- The celebrations of historic health insurance reform in the US House of Representatives continued into Monday, with U-M Flint Dean of Health Professions and Studies Dr. Barbara Kornblau playing a direct role in the policy setting. She helped write the legislation that will be heading to President Barack Obama for signature on Tuesday.
“Now your kids, up to age 26, can be covered under your employer’s policy. That’s a real important one,” she said of the many reforms in the legislation.
“If you have a pre-existing condition, there are pools that are going to be starting soon so you will be able to get insurance, also very important,” she added.
Kornblau said insurance will be offered for people who have lost their jobs in the auto industry. Among other changes, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage for people that have pre-existing conditions. Tax breaks will also be issued for people who cannot afford coverage, however fines will be assessed towards people who can afford but refuse to get coverage. It is that issue that has several state leaders across the country including Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox filing lawsuits alleging such a requirement is unconstitutional.
Those at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, however, see other problems with the bill. “It could not happen at a worse time for Michigan,” said Michael Jahr, of the conservative think tank.
“Our taxes are already too high. We’re having a hard time getting people employed in this state and now we add a whole new federal bureaucracy that’s going to require higher taxes, and more federal levels of bureaucracy,” he said.
Jahr added that doctors may be less inclined to stay in medicine, since incentives may drop with the overall quality of care.
“If we’re going to have to implement rationing in order to keep costs down, if we see millions of people that are going to lose their employer-provided benefits that they have right now and enjoy, the system is going to grow and grow and grow. It’s very bad for Michiganders and very bad for the nation,” he said.
