Some 'alternative' health care plan

To the editor: While waiting to find out what the final version of the Democrat Party health care bill being debated today would be, I thought I'd take a look at what the GOP has offered as an alternative. Although there was much ado about a leak of this super secret document a couple of days ago, Ohio's own John Boehner has finally submitted the official draft. You can find it here: http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_hr3962_boehner_sub.pdf So - what's in it, what isn't? Here is what "Roll Call" has to say. "Under the GOP plan, insurance companies would still be allowed to exclude anyone with a pre-existing medical condition from coverage, there would be no national insurance exchange and businesses would not face any mandate to provide insurance nor individuals to buy it. also left out tax credits to help the poor and middle class buy insurance - a central pillar of most GOP reform proposals and a key feature of a four-page outline Republican leaders released in June. Boehner said Monday that the tax credits cost too much." A few things were not mentioned. The Boehner Bill keeps the anti-trust immunity that allows insurance companies to join together to drive up premium prices. The Boehner Bill continues to allow the industry to cancel your policy even though you've been paying your premiums when you get sick. The Boehner Bill continues limits on your lifetime coverage, which bankrupts American families every day. OK, none of that was unexpected. What was unexpected (at least to me) is the following, from the same source, "Roll Call". "The Republican plan relies on low-cost ideas, such as allowing purchasing of insurance across state lines... " No big deal, right? Well, that depends on how you define "State". From the definitions section at the end of the bill submitted by Mr. Boehner: " STATE.-The term "State" means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States, or any political subdivision thereof." [[In-content Ad]]