Politics

Health Insurance Reform: This Week in Mythbusting

By Karina

Health insurance reform opponents continue to spread myths about components of America?s Affordable Health Choices Act. Time and again this week, the facts have disproven opponent?s claims.

The myth-spreading has gotten so bad, the Washington Post?s Steven Pearlstein wrote today:

The recent attacks by Republican leaders and their ideological fellow-travelers on the effort to reform the health-care system have been so misleading, so disingenuous, that they could only spring from a cynical effort to gain partisan political advantage. By poisoning the political well, they’ve given up any pretense of being the loyal opposition.

Myth: ?A government-run plan would? force employers to drop their coverage, creating a death spiral for private insurance and financial catastrophe for many hospitals and doctors.? - Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America?s Health Insurance Plans

Fact: The public health insurance option available in America?s Affordable Health Choices Act would provide consumers with a choice and encourage innovation and cost containment, especially in regions where one or two private insurance companies dominate the market and could use a little competition. Find out why>>

Myth: ?Independent analysis by the Lewin Group shows that 2 out of every 3 people would lose their current coverage, including up to 114 million people who receive health benefits through their employer or other current coverage if a government-run plan ?competes? with private companies.? –House Republican Whip Eric Cantor?s ?Key Facts?

Fact: While news reports have discredited the Lewin Group as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the insurance industry, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) confirmed the provisions in America?s Affordable Health Choices Act would result in dramatically increased coverage without crowding out private insurance. Find out why>>

Myth: ?Medicare Services For Seniors Will Be Cut To Pay For Government Takeover.? Congressman Cantor?s ?Key Facts?

Fact: While achieving new efficiencies, fighting fraud, and ending wasteful overpayments to Medicare Advantage providers, America?s Affordable Health Choices Act includes several key provisions that improve Medicare benefits and health care for seniors. Find out why>>

Myth: ?Record High Taxes To Be Paid By Small Businesses.? Congressman Cantor?s ?Key Facts?

Fact: Small businesses benefit enormously from America?s Affordable Health Choices Act. Find out why>>

Myth: ?The American people know what government-run health care will mean: ? bigger deficit…? ? Republican Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana

Fact: The non-partisan CBO found America?s Affordable Health Choices Act is deficit neutral. Find out why>>

Myth: ?Under the current draft of the Democrat health care legislation, members of Congress are curiously exempt from the government-run health care option, keeping their existing health plans and services on Capitol Hill.? ? Republican Congressman John Fleming of Louisiana.

Fact: Members of Congress? health care plan will be subject to the same rules as all other employer-sponsored plans. Nothing in the legislation exempts the Federal Employee Health Benefits plan (the plan members of Congress and staff enroll in) from the reforms. Find out why>>

Myth: The Republican reform effort, unlike the Democrats proposal, “is pro-life because it will not put seniors in a position of being put to death by their government.” ? Republican Congresswoman Virginia Foxx of North Carolina

Fact: America?s Affordable Health Choices Act extends Medicare coverage to cover the cost of patients voluntarily speaking with their doctors about their values and preferences regarding end-of-life care?empowering older Americans on this critical issue. These are deeply personal decisions that take thoughtful consideration, and it is only appropriate that doctors be compensated for their time. Find out why>>

Full post as published by The Gavel on August 07, 2009 (boomark / email).