Health Care in Haiku

HEALTH CARE HAIKU
by Roger Pol and Matthew Gelfand

The goal of providing access for every American citizen to health insurance is laudable. But the 2,700-page health reform bill that the President has signed represents an overly complicated, lengthy and micro-managed approach to restructuring the health care industry. This health care reform bill ignores the laws of economics. Congressional Budget Office estimates of the plan's costs are based on unrealistic assumptions. Government run entitlement programs such as Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid historically run well above budget projections. It seems very unlikely given historical experience and unrealistic projections that this bill will decrease the deficit. As a business entrepreneur and an economist, we favor a market-approach to health care reform with appropriate guardrails to ensure a fair but efficient system. In our view, a superior program with fewer dictates and a lot fewer words would have been – indeed still is – feasible. We demonstrate our approach with a 16-point health care reform program in Haiku.

"Preamble"

The health care reform:
Americans would prefer
A common sense approach

"Constitutionality"

Required purchase:
Unconstitutional and
Unenforceable

"Citizens Request"

We, the People, ask,
“Why no market solution?”
There is an answer

"Coverage"

Basic benefits
At regulated prices
No underwriting

“Preventative Care”

Annual checkups
Catch problems early enough
to lower health costs

"Personal Responsibility"

Private ownership
Forces people’s attention
On personal health

"Eligibility"

Cannot consider
Pre-existing conditions.
Insurance for all

"Open Season"

Anyone can buy
During first open season
Of six to twelve months

"Waiting Period"

Open-season done?
Pre-existing conditions
Must wait for six months

"Affordability"

Subsidize the poor
Who cannot afford to buy
Their own insurance


"New People?"

Open season for
New born babies and
Naturalized citizens

"Reality"

Increased demand and
Stable supply of doctors
Breaks the camel’s back

"Exchanges"

Jobs and insurance
Are very different matters.
Separate the two

"Taxation"

Eliminate the
Tax deductibility
Of health premiums

"Tort Reform"

Limit punitive
Awards to one million
So doctors can work

"Economics"

Lower demand and
Increased supply of doctors
Cuts the cost for all

A few simple questions --

I try to keep things simple and apply common sense solutions to whatever I attempt. So, after watching the passage of the health care bill last evening, I am left with the following questions:

How can this be considered a good bill and good policy for the American Public when the first and most immediate action will be the hiring of an additional 15,000 IRS Agents to police the program and fine those who don't comply??

How can this be good policy when the only bipartisanship was in opposition to the bill?

How can this be good for the nation when a majority of American citizens do not support it?

How can the President celebrate this as a victory when a majority of the states are contemplating or preparing legal action to invalidate the bill on the basis of constitutional legality?

When are our legislators going to wake up and listen to their constituency?

Remember this in November and vote them all out! It is time for fresh blood and fresh thinking.