Democrats’ Health “Reform” Shortchanges People with Pre-Existing Conditions
Last week, Health Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released a policy brief on the new high-risk pool program created in the health care overhaul – and the conclusions in it should not be comforting to Democrats who justified passing the unpopular measure on the grounds that it “protects” people with pre-existing conditions. Here’s what the liberal-leaning Robert Wood Johnson Foundation said would happen as a result of a law Democrats wrote:
- Delayed Implementation: “Coverage will not begin in some states until September 2010, two months behind schedule.”
- Lack of Funding: “The $5 billion that Congress appropriated for the program is generally recognized as insufficient to cover all those who may be eligible until the broader reforms take effect.”
- Sick Individuals Left Out: “Approximately five to seven million Americans are estimated to lack health insurance and have a preexisting condition….Only a fraction of those who need coverage are expected to enroll in the program.”
- Higher Premiums: “If the costs of the program do end up exceeding the available funding, HHS may have to make other difficult decisions about how the program is structured, including increasing premiums.”
- Rationing with Our Eyes Open: “Although Congress specified a number of requirements for the program, difficult decisions may still have to be made about who is eligible and what health care services will be covered in order for the plans to stay within the spending constraints….For example, HHS can simply stop taking applications for enrollment….The interim final rule issued on July 30 would permit adjustments to premiums, changes in the benefits the plans would be required to offer, limits on new applications, and other measures to limit program costs.”
During the 2008 presidential campaign, one member of the current Administration claimed that a national high risk pool “may cost $7-10 billion a week.” Yet Democrats’ health care law provided only $5 billion to cover vulnerable individuals with pre-existing conditions between now and 2014 – so the majority could spend more of taxpayers’ money on backroom deals and a $15 billion “slush fund” to finance pet projects. When will Democrats admit that their flawed law will do little to help the most vulnerable people they claimed to protect?