“Nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or doctor you have. “ – President Barack Obama, September 9, 2009
In theory, government-run healthcare might not be a bad idea. But then again, that’s theory, and most of us have to live in the real world.
With the recent opening of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) exchanges, I’m experiencing first hand what many of us know to be true; theory and reality are often very, very different.
After accepting a position with Empower Texans, I sat down with my employer to decide what health coverage was going to work for both sides. We settled on a plan where I was allotted a certain amount of money per month which I then used to purchase individualized insurance, while the remainder went into an HSA (Health Savings Account) for me to use towards medical bills/expenses.
A great system for a somewhat younger guy like myself who doesn’t go to the doctor too often (mom don’t be mad), but still needs the ability to pay my medical bills should something happen.
Under Obamacare we’re no longer able to do this.
Instead, we’re being forced into a one size fits all system that leaves us with less options and less money to contribute into an HSA.
Team Obama (more specifically the Dept. of Labor and the IRS) is afraid we’ll receive government subsidies while drawing money from our employer at the same time. Despite Obamacare being more than 20,000 pages of legal code, this provision wasn’t in it. It was left to the bureaucrats to decide, just weeks before the rollout of the exchanges.
Government subsidization of healthcare is more important to them than allowing Americans choices over their own health.
Funny, I thought those on the left wanted “choices” when it comes to our health. Maybe it’s because I’m not a woman seeking to terminate her pregnancy? But then, Obamacare will very likely require coverage for procedures I know I will never need.
I won’t get into the weeds of the issue and talk about how Obamacare is a tax unlike anything in the history of our country, or even go so far as to bring up how we’ve dealt with bad laws like this in the past.
The simple fact is President Obama, and those who pushed for the passage of Obamacare lied about the impact this law would have on Americans who already have healthcare.
I work for an employer who chose to provide me and the rest of our staff with an insurance plan that best fit our needs, and for this gesture is being punished with burdensome regulations from the IRS, DOL, etc. that will inevitably lead to less flexibility and access to the services we need.
Media outlets, political pundits and lobbyists will tell you that Obamacare won’t negatively impact Americans. They’ll say, just as President Obama did, that if you like your plan or your doctor then you can keep them.
Along with the entire Empower Texans team, I am an example of what happens to average citizens when the federal government operates in theory rather than in reality.
At this moment, President Reagan’s words ring quite true: “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”
I like my current health care plan, and despite President Obama’s repeated promises, I don’t get to keep it.
