John McCarron needs to take his head out of the sand and face up to the realities of our failing managed-care system.”Medical malpractice? When Congress plays doctor, pray for gridlock,” Commentary, July 12). To make a statement that the best thing that could come of the health-care debate is absolutely nothing is not only ludicrous and destructive but potentially devastating to the more than 43 million Americans without health insurance coverage. Am I the only one disturbed by the fact that at a time when our nation’s unemployment rate is at an all-time low, more than 100,000 working Americans are forced to drop their coverage every month?
Mr. McCarron chose to overlook a significant and important piece of legislation contained in the Republican-sponsored bill–the expansion of Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs). If the debate ends in a partisan stalemate–as Mr. McCarron hopes–the MSA could simply disappear. This would truly be an injustice because MSAs get to the core of our nation’s biggest health-care issues: affordability and the uninsured.
I’m an MSA advocate because the simple truth is they make good financial sense. It’s a first-class insurance plan that caps out-of-pocket at a manageable limit. You have the freedom to pick your own doctors and hospitals. Claims are paid with tax-free dollars, and if you enjoy good health, you can build savings for future medical expenses or retirement. Best of all, MSAs are significantly more affordable than our current managed-care system, offering up to 50 percent savings on premiums.
Mr. McCarron’s perception that employers can best solve HMO problems is unfounded. Does he really think that employers have any control over health-care inflation?
It’s time to come to a compromise, and it’s time to realize that expanding access to Medical Savings Accounts is a viable solution that both parties should agree upon.
The reforms our nation really needs are those that address affordability and the uninsured. The debate should focus on legislation that brings people back into the insurance pool with MSA expansion a top priority.
