The UW Madison College Republicans hosted a health care panel discussion Tuesday in response to the current bills moving forward at the federal level.
The health care reform bill, recently passed in the House, is currently in the Senate where Democrats are attempting to pass their own version of the bill.
Tuesday’s panelists spoke to the potential impact such bills might have on students, the insurance industry and health-care delivery.
Jon Sender, director of Federal Relations and Strategic Communications for UW Health, speaking solely on his own behalf, said the current delivery system of health care was unsustainable and costs were growing at an unacceptable pace.
Sender said the government must find a way to cut spending on health care in the future.
Although some audience members said they worried such cuts may lead to rationing, Sender said the health-care system is not limitless and there are already restraints on who can receive certain services.
“Rationing occurs every single day in our health-care system,” he said.
Terri Courtney, who works with the Wisconsin Association of Health Underwriters, defended the insurance industry, saying they pay out 85 cents of every dollar they take in.
She also questioned the claim that there are 47 million uninsured persons in America, citing that most of the uninsured choose to be that way.
“The real number of uninsured is probably closer to 18 million people,” Courtney said.
When asked about a mandate requiring all uninsured people obtain insurance, a provision included in several proposals, Courtney said that it would help spread costs and control prices.
“Health insurance becomes affordable if everyone is in the pool,” she said. “The risk is spread across more bodies.”
Panel addresses setbacks with health-care bill
Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Updated: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
 "Photo: danny marchewka/The Daily Cardinal")
danny marchewka/The Daily Cardinal
UW-Madison College Republicans held a panel Tuesday to address the possible impacts the recently passed health-care reform bill may have on students as well as the insurance industry.
3 comments
That's the whole point! The "Obamacare" bills being pushed through congress will only greatly increase the scope and severity of rationing, as it has done in the UK, Canada, Europe, etc.! And, some Washington bureaucrat will be the one deciding who gets what care. This will be based on rules and regulations written by some agency or commission (depending on the final bill) based on an analysis of the cost vs. patients "worth" to society.Also, if you have money for any denied treatment, you won't be able to purchase it yourself - The doctor's won't be allowed to provide it to anyone!!! (Example: UK - No Steroid Injections for pain allowed) (Exception: Obama, Congress, Federal Judges, and future federal electees and appointees!!!)Second: "Health Insurance becomes affordable if everyone is in the pool" - Not True. Taxpayers will be forced to not only pay for themselves; but, pay for the almost 1/2 of American's that don't PAY any taxes + The Illegal Aliens who don't pay taxes (Now, or after they push through an amnesty bill)Also, please notice (Because this is VERY important to this discussion!!!) Ms Courtney said, "Health INSURANCE becomes affordable..."! That's INSURANCE, NOT Health CARE!!! (It will also greatly increase the insurers profits IF, and only IF, there is no public option in the bill. In that case, Insurance Companies will just be forced out of the Health Insurance Market; and, the taxpayers who work and actually PAY taxes will pick up the tab for the rest.A third point: For all you STUDENTS - Currently, as it has always been, many young, healthy, working adults CHOOSE to put off purchasing health insurance, paying directly for any care they may need. (This is how it was all done before democrats made insurance by employers popular to keep the unions happy) I did it. My son is doing it. They want to wait awhile and use the cash for other things.With Obamacare: You will be FORCED to pay not only for insurance for you; but, to cover the ever aging older adult population. Just as you will be forced to pay for Social Security because congress stole all the money that we have paid in for our entire working lives that was suppose to be for our retirement.