Today’s New York Post posted an editorial by Betsy McCaughey about how the pending healthcare legislation affects various groups of people.  She lists winners and losers if the legislation is passed.

Some of the losers are:

• The Middle Class  –  the requirement to have government-approved healthcare, the increased cost per family (subsidies will not go to the middle class–they will help pay for everyone else’s insurance), and penalties (and eventually jail time) for failure to comply.
• People who currently carry health insurance only to cover emergency medical treatment (high deductible plans) who will be forced into a more expensive government plan.
• People with “Cadillac plans” who will be hit with an excise tax.  As the healthcare program grows, the definition of a “Cadillac plan” will change in order to raise more money.
• Women and men – the United States Preventive Services Task Force will be establishing new rules for routine medical tests.  These new rules will save money, but will put people at risk.
• Seniors and baby boomers – the plan cuts funds (and preventive screenings for seniors) in Medicare while increasing money and screenings in Medicaid.  We are taking money away from healthcare services for the elderly and giving it to the poor.

Some of the winners are:

• 21 million people who will be added to Medicaid.  The financial requirements to be eligible for Medicaid will be loosened so that more people can be added.
• People with pre-existing conditions who cannot be refused health insurance.
• Community groups seeking government money (p. 1209). (I can’t wait to see the ACORN application for this one!)
• Low-income recent immigrants who will now qualify for Medicaid.  (Actually, as long as they are legal immigrants, I think this is not an unreasonable idea, but I would like to see it done by tax rebates for buying private insurance policies in order to avoid the waste that government programs are so famous for!)

In her article, Betsy McCaughey lists the pages and sections of the healthcare bill that apply to each group on her list.  The currently proposed healthcare bill is a nightmare for the future of our healthcare system.  We need change in healthcare that involves less government regulation–not more.  Let’s start with tort reform, a risk pool for people with pre-existing conditions, portability of insurance across state lines, and tax credits for purchasing health insurance.  Those changes will bring down the cost and increase the availability for everyone.