Unions pressure Democrats on health insurance tax

Nick R. Post #10 Unions Pressure Democrats on Health Insurance Tax by Erica Werner AP
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091210/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

This article talks about three issues that all intertwine. First about health care reform, second prescription drug cost and third medicare. The article begins by talking about how the unions are pressuring congress to change the health care reform bill. Unions are saying that it is a Cadillac plan. This means that it taxes everyone from the rich to the middle class. Unions are saying that the average American cannot afford to pay for this type of plan. They are pushing for individuals who make more than 500,000 a year and couples making more than a million a year to foot the bill for the proposed tax. The tax itself is a 40% excise tax on insurance companies. Health care premiums costing more than $8500 a year for individuals and $23000 for families will be hit with the proposed tax. This should generate 150 billion over ten years and would help to foot the rising cost of health care reform. Also on the bill is the ability for Americans to order prescription drugs online from foreign countries. This is usually cheaper than purchasing prescription drugs here at home. The backing of the drug industry is vital to this aspect of the bill. Medicare is also in need of an overhaul. The option of allowing medicare receivers to pay for coverage starting at the age of 55 is on the table. Opponents of this part of the bill are saying that it will make it more expensive for hospitals and health care providers.

Health care reform is a big deal right now in terms of social control. The way I see it is that in part it is an economic issue. First we have to find a way to pay for it. Second the privatization of health care has made many people rich and they don't necessarily want to lose this cash cow. The third reason I thin kit is important is because the little guy cant always afford health care form themselves or their families. Other countries have shown the U.S. that a public health care is both affordable and that it works. I think the biggest issue is that companies do not want to give up the monopoly they hold over this market. They can charge whatever they want and people have to pay. everyone should be able to receive low cost health care that can afford them the best treatment they can get. I think not reforming this broken system is a way to marginalize the poor and middle class. The cost of health care is helping to widen the class gap between the rich and middle class. Personally I am a member of a union and through my contract my health care is provided at no cost to myself. Also through the military I have an option for free health care. These options save my family so much and is probably what keeps us from going under. I do not see why other people cannot be provided the same option through the government or their prospective employers.