An open letter to the GOP

Dear Republicans,

The American people are hurting and though I know there are some differences between the Democrats and Republicans with respect to policy and priorities. But you guys are making it sound like the issues facing Americans only have solutions that are diametrically opposed to each other. Both parties ran on the platform of making a real effort to solve structural problems with our health care system. Before the economy crashed it was one of the most important issues that voters cited as a concern.

So here we are months later, the Senate health care bill has been demonized to the point that many Americans who would benefit greatly from its passage, even to the point of literally saving their life, oppose it. The problem is that they don’t oppose it on its merit; they oppose it for “death panels”, “government takeovers” and “pulling the plug on grandma”.

As an American how am I supposed to react to the concept that having the opportunity to talk to your doctor about advanced directives is somehow akin to death panels? Doesn’t your doctor talk to you about what your wishes would be if you were not able to communicate them due to a medical emergency? Why would having your health insurance policy cover such a consultation be a bad thing? What possible advantage did the American people derive from having the conversation be about something so twisted, misleading and beside the point?

So where are your ideas about solving the crisis facing this nation with respect to healthcare reform?

Tort reform is fine with me but can you do it in a way that if somebody is truly damaged through negligence they could be fairly compensated for their loss of life or limb? Could you also see to it that it’s not just a contest to see who can field the best team of lawyers since the ability to pay for justice makes justice moot.

Selling insurance across state lines is also agreeable, but while you are at it please make sure that every insurance company in the country doesn’t just move to the State that has the weakest consumer protections, because I am very small compared to my insurance company and that whole paying for justice thing.
Don’t you think it would be a good idea to make it possible for American citizens to get health insurance at a decent price, even if they have a pre-existing condition?

Don’t you think that a person should be able to keep their insurance for roughly the same premium if they lose their job?

Don’t you think that we should make it illegal for insurance companies to rescind a policy because the person had acne or a foot fungus fifteen years prior but didn’t disclose it on the application form?

Don’t you think the burden of proof should be on the insurance company that fraud was perpetrated before a policy is rescinded?

Is there some inherent value added to our health care system by insurance companies? I know you guys hate the idea of single payer but why?

Based on the news coming out of Anthem Blue Cross this week we can be pretty sure that the problem will not solve itself. The nation is waiting, will we come together for the good of all to work on these issues or will politics once again trump policy leaving families to struggle with the fallout.

Please put away the talking points and help the American people with this very pressing problem, the nation deserves it.

Respectfully

R. Paine

P.S. It is the “Democratic Party” not the “Democrat Party” could you at a minimum have enough respect for your colleagues to get the name right?

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