Insurance Industry Assails Health Care Legislation

Washington-In a blistering new attack, the health insurance industry said Sunday that the health care legislation drafted by Senate Democrats would drive up premiums, rather than making coverage more afforable, as the White House contends.

A lobby for the industry, America's Health Insurance Plans, focused its criticism on a bill likely to be approved Tuesday, by the Senate Finance Committee.

Democratic aides on the Finance Committee disputed the conclusion. They said the bill would provide tax credits to millions of people to help them afford coverage. Moreover, they said, people could keep the coverage they now have if they wanted. In addition, they said, some provisions of the bill would reduce administrative costs of insurance.

The report says that the cost of the average family coverage, now $12,300, will rise to $18,400 in 2016 under current law and to $21,300 if the Senate bill is adopted. Likewise, it said, the cost of individual coverage , now $4,600, will average $6,900 in 2016 under current law and $7,900 under the bill.

From what the White House states, this bill seems a little redundant since its purpose is to make health insurance coverage more afforable; meanwhile, the prices are scheduled to increase anyhow. However, if it is true what the Democratic aides are stating, then this bill may actually do some good if passed. For example, since we are already in a treadful economy, by making coverage more affordable will help many families make due with what they have. In addition, it will help them get the Swine flu vaccination since it is in high demand right now, as well as the regular flu shot. Since many of the people who will need this coverage have young children, this will be most benefiical to them since children under 18 are most affected by the Swine flu.

The downside to this bill is that since coverage is due to increase, government will be spending a a great sum of money, and may make us as a country even more into debt. Although this would be of great help to our people, we must ask ourselves if we can truly afford spending this type of money; especially since we are currently at war and are in a recession, and will most probably be paying for the war within the next few decades. Thus, although this bill if passed will definitely be a positive side to the healthcare bill, as a country, we may not be able to back up everything we promise at the present moment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/health/policy/12insure.html?ref=politicshttp://