By Jaren Love

As of two weeks ago, the media seemed to have all but completely sworn off the chances of a so-called “public option” in the comprehensive health care package that the United States Congress is trying to pass. The more moderate United States Senate seems to have not nearly enough support for a public option but a stunning development came about this week.

Much of the dissent against the public option has been a claim that it would cost too much. Many conservative Democrats from less liberal states or districts have to worry about alienating constituents with a bill that costs too much. The House Democratic leadership, which more strongly backs a public option, has done something to address this head on. At President Obama’s speech on health care that had the now infamous “you lie!” moment, he said he would not sign any legislation that costs more than $900 billion. The conventional wisdom on the Hill was that any legislation with the public option would be much too costly. The House has taken this for a twist by proposing legislation that costs much less than Obama’s proposed ceiling of $900 billion, clocking in at $871 billion, and still includes the public option.

With 50% of the American people specifically wanting a public option according to a just released poll, it is time for the media and conservative Democrats to stop acting like the public option is so polarizing. Let’s remember this is not scary socialized medicine with Josef Stalin coming into the doctor’s office in a nurse’s gown. This is a merely a competitor with no profit motive competing against those health care providers who put you on hold for 15 minutes or deny your claims after you have already have had a 300 dollar procedure. I hope Nancy Pelosi and the congressional Democrats stand strong on their budget friendly legislation with the public option.

Image Source: http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2009/09/11/alg_house_nancy_pelosi.jpg

By Jaren Love

I feel that it would be wrong for me to not share a personal story that has made me even more passionate about the health care issue than I already have expressed on this blog. It seems that the beginning of the semester is the prime time to get a little bit of sickness in your life and the University of Maryland (where I attend) has had a terrible swine flu outbreak. Fortunately, my sickness was initially limited to a common cold tinged with seasonal allergy symptoms. After fighting off the cold for about a week, one week later I started to feel ear infection-like symptoms. I felt it would be in my best interest to go to the University of Maryland health center.

I have never liked making appointments, so I went to the health center after my 10:00 class hoping to get the whole ordeal done before my next class at noon. Amazingly, I was able to see a doctor after about 10 minutes, something conservatives claim will not likely be the case if Democrats have their way with health care. Anyway, I figured this would be real nice and easy: the doc looks at my ear, concludes it is an ear infection, gives me a cheap antibiotic, and then I would be off on my way feeling better after about 48 hours. This was sadly only half right. The antibiotic was $69.75 even in its generic form AND after my insurance was applied. I now realize it was probably a mistake to tell the doctor I had prescription insurance when she asked. I’m guessing that upon hearing this she felt more inclined to give me the more expensive and more new and hip antibiotic. Unfortunately, this antibiotic did not work, and, upon research, I found that it is an antibiotic used for severe upper respiratory infections. I initially went to the doctor on Wednesday. By next Monday, I was feeling no better. This ear infection was now (antibiotics plus health center visit) $84.75 plus an estimated $15 more for the over the counter medications I used to help. For those too lazy to do the math, that’s a grand total of $99.75.

So on Monday, when I was not feeling any better and also frustrated by the money I spent on those antibiotics, I took the risk and went back to the health center. I made an appointment this time and was able to meet with a Physician’s Assistant. The PA listened to my story, including my sob story about being upset about the high cost of the antibiotic. She then recommended to switch me to a cheaper antibiotic and to take some flonase. The antibiotics were $10 and the flonase, in its generic form after insurance, was $30. These costs coupled with a second $15 visit made this ear infection roughly $154.75. It is now Thursday and, fortunately, after taking the cheaper antibiotic that I should have taken in the first place, my ear finally feels like it is better.

I will admit, it is nice to not have to wait in line at the doctor’s office and many claim if we have comprehensive health care reform that will be the case. But I am tired of health care having a country club style feel to it in the United States, an elite and expensive “business” where doctors push on us the more  expensive medicines. They’re doctors, but they act like they’re peddling designer jeans at Bloomingdales. The problem is, this is not fashion, this is life and death. I can not for the life of me remember the antibiotic I was initially prescribed, but after consulting the opinions of two other doctors and a pharmacist from my home state, I concluded that the antibiotic I was given was totally wrong and not only cost way too much but also could have weakened my immunity to weaker antibiotics. It also did not work.

I am not going to question the intentions of this doctor but I am rightfully skeptical knowing what I know now and from seeing articles like this. I also now realize a simplistic truth and a further reason why we need meaningful health care reform in this country. It just flat out costs too much! It should not be the cost of a cheap suit, a weeknight stay at a four star hotel, the cost of 6 full tanks of gas in my Hyundai, or four I-can-barely-walk-out-of-the-restaurant-I’m-so-full Italian dinners to cure a simple ear infection. I shudder just to think if I get anything worse than such a minor problem someday and now have great empathy for those who do. Meaningful health care reform is a must for the simple fact of the high costs alone.

Image Source: http://www.toddalbert.com/files/images/health_care.jpg

Senator Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance committee and a key player in the health care debate.

Today, Bloomberg had a story comparing the different forms of legislation for the health care overhaul going on right now. Using this finely crafted breakdown by those journalists, I will try to explain the health care situation as it is right now.  Health care overhauls have been debated in five different congressional committees and have lacked the bipartisan support that President Obama hoped for but there is always hope that some will be won over.

Some of the similarities include all plans requiring Americans to buy health insurance, yet all plans being debated so far would not cover all due to technicalities and illegal immigrants. All five of the bills also attack the problem of those with pre-existing conditions being denied care. The legislation in all of the bills also aims to lower costs for the American people.

Some of the differences include some bills having a Medicare-esque public option while others use the more moderate (and possibly compromising) “co-ops,” which are more private sector-based. Four of the five committees require employers covering their workers or facing a fee (with some exceptions), excluding the Senate Finace committee, which only requires it for firms of over 50 workers. All three House commitees agreed to put the tax burden for the legislation on the wealthy with a one percent increase of taxes for Americans making over $350,000 or with up to a 5.4% increase for Americans making more than a million. The Senate legislation is much more vague on the sources of revenue.

There are plenty of ideas on the table but the bipartisan support that President hoped for is just not there. More and more, it seems the Democrats should just go for broke and abandon the more moderate legislation designed to attract Republican support because at the moment, the support is not there. The Democrats have a little tool at their disposal, or a so-called “nuclear option” in the form of the budget resolution. With Republicans being so hesitant to support any legislation, it probably is seeming more appealing. This week, I am sure, we will see many developments addressing just what the final legislation may look like. Stay tuned…

photo source: http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/ap/aac0a2ef-20ce-402a-ad97-0c29568c38eb.widec.jpg