Health care reform not about to usher in a doomsday

Tom Harper, Henderson

Thursday, June 17, 2010 | 2:02 a.m.

I agree with Sam Sainsbury’s Saturday letter to the editor, headlined “Don’t misrepresent health care reform,” in which he states that he could find nothing in the legislation that indicates a takeover of health care by the government and that the legislation will not change much except that “the ‘free market’ will not be able to exclude people from having health insurance.”

The letter was appropriately accompanied by a photograph of naysayers with doomsday posters maligning health care reform as ushering in socialism and the destruction of America as we know it.

So let’s look at the facts instead of the fear mongering.

The legislation was necessary, in part, to correct the “donut hole” in which Medicare recipients who incur drug costs (what your plan has paid plus your deductible and co-pays) in the year 2010 in excess of $2,830 and up to $4,550 will be required to pay all such costs with no coverage through Medicare.

Because of the legislation, Medicare recipients who hit the donut hole this year will receive a $250 rebate. In 2011, those recipients will receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs in the donut hole. Further, the donut hole will be closed completely by 2020.

If these improvements are not impressive enough, add in restrictions on discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions and extending coverage for young people up to their 26th birthday under their parents’ insurance.

No, this legislation isn’t socialism, and it will not result in Armageddon. Instead, it will significantly improve the lives of many Americans. We should be thankful for the brave public servants who showed the political will and courage to support the same.