Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 18, 1994 TAG: 9408310015
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN S. EDWARDS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The present situation demonstrates what's wrong with Congress. It is captured by powerful special interests, and is seemingly unable to debate important public issues in a reasoned manner.
The truth is that health-care reform, including universal coverage, is essential not only for the 37 million Americans without health insurance, but also for the insured, including the middle class and businesses, who pay ever-increasing health-care costs. These costs include payments to cover the health care provided the uninsured. This newspaper reported that Roanoke Valley hospitals alone provided almost $30 million dollars in charity care and unpaid care in 1993 (Aug. 7 Horizon section chart). Nationally, hospitals write off billions of dollars each year. These costs are shifted to the middle class and businesses, which must pay higher bills.
Thus, it's in everyone's interest to have universal coverage - the more people covered, the less cost per person. It's a basic insurance principle of spreading the risk.
The Harry and Louise TV commercials brazenly distort the truth. They say the Democratic proposals would limit choice. But freedom to choose one's health-care provider will remain under the reform proposals. They also say there will be rationing of health care, but this isn't true. The specter of more big government is also false because reform proposals will build upon the existing private-insurance system.
The reform package is complicated, and reasonable people can debate the details. But opponents offer no constructive solutions to reach the twin goals of universal coverage and cost control. These goals are interrelated, which is why the existing system of limited coverage and high cost is hopelessly flawed. It's a ``death spiral'' of ever-increasing costs, leading to fewer insured, leading to even higher costs to be shifted to private payers and insurers. Even those insured today risk losing coverage tomorrow if they change jobs, in the event they have a pre-existing health condition.
The plight of the uninsured, so poignantly reported in this newspaper, should not be understated or ignored. These people typically delay treatment until emergency-room care is needed, and then face bankruptcy to escape the bills that are now higher than had they received earlier or preventive care. They face ruin of their physical and financial health. Universal coverage is thus right morally.
But it is also the insured - and businesses who pay employees' health benefits - who need universal coverage so that health-care providers will not shift the cost for the uninsured to the insured and private payers.
A more reasoned - and less heated - congressional debate would bring this fact to light, and in turn light the way to passage of the most important social legislation in the last one-third of this century.
John S. Edwards is vice mayor of Roanoke.
by CNB