The "Pass This Because Ted Kennedy's About to Die" Act

That's what the new health care bill really ought to be called:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Employers would be required to offer health care to employees or pay a penalty - and all Americans would be guaranteed health insurance - under a draft bill circulated Friday by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's health committee.

The bill would provide subsidies to help poor people pay for care, guarantee patients the right to select any doctor they want and require everyone to purchase insurance, with exceptions for those who can't afford to.

Insurers would be supposed to offer a basic level of care and would be required to cover all comers, without turning people away because of pre-existing conditions or other reasons. Insurance companies' profits would be limited, and private companies would have to compete with a new public "affordable access" plan that would for the first time offer government-sponsored health care to Americans not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid or other programs.

This will be rushed through the Congress for two reasons: 1. Obama wants it done before the next elections out of fear of losing support in Congress, and; 2. Democrats want this to be Ted Kennedy's legacy and they'll do just about anything to jam it through before the brain tumor finishes him off.

This bill has so many problems. Let's look at a few:

• There are lots of people who aren't going to be able to afford this. How will the government decide who really can't afford it or who is just slacking off because they don't want to afford it.
• Limiting health care insurer profits will guarantee that private insurers will get out of the business. It means that no matter how well they manage their businesses, there's only so much profit they can make to expand and improve their businesses. Why bother?
• As private insurers fail or bail the only alternative left will be the government option, which is just what the Democrats want - pure socialized medicine. At that point the decision is no longer about saving lives, it's about saving money and rationing will be the required response.
• Taking the profit out of health care will also make it a less desirable profession for those who might in previous years have wanted to be doctors, nurses, etc. Medical professionals will just become another government employee, like the droids that run the DMV. There won't be enough money for doctors to pay down staggering school loans and malpractice insurance premiums, so of course, the government will have to do that too in order to get providers.
• Requiring insurers to take everyone, regardless of pre-existing condition, is a guaranteed money loser because the insurers will no longer be able to manage their level of risk. How do you price an insurance product when you no longer control the risk?

If you want to create an appropriate memorial to Ted Kennedy, don't pass nationalized health care.

Build a new bridge in Chappaquiddik.