subject: If You Don't Like National Affordable Health Insurance Reform, Create Your Own [print this page] One of the main criticisms of the Obama administration's healthcare reform law is that it puts too much responsibility and power in the federal government's hands. Many people believe that regulating insurance companies, for example, is a responsibility that should be left up to the states.
According to the constitutional theory of federalism, that is true. However, it becomes more difficult to make the case for repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act if there are no viable alternatives. Largely Republican opponents open themselves up to criticism that portrays them as the "party of no" that prefers to oppose Democratic proposals without many new ideas of their own.
The cost of health care has skyrocketed over the past several decades. With the exception of the ill-fated attempt early in the Clinton administration, the federal government and most states alike ignored the issue. That was fine when unemployment rates were relatively low, and most people had one steady, full-time job with benefits.
As a result, millions of Americans have become uninsured. Governments and businesses all over are now scrambling to keep up. Modifications that could have been done gradually several years ago are now the sweeping reforms that may need to be passed soon.
According to the conservative Heritage Foundation, Utah did it the right way. The state began enacting affordable health insurance reform in 2005, when only 10 percent of its residents were uninsured and health care expenses were the lowest in the nation. Although it was not an immediate problem, state legislators had the foresight to tackle it.
In Utah, health insurance reform came in several small pieces, as opposed to one huge chunk. It also took into account the most pressing concerns for local citizens and businesses, including the high prevalence of part-time workers. In the end, they decided on creating portable defined contribution plans--where businesses of all sizes could deposit a certain amount for employees' insurance costs (which could be pro-rated for part-time and seasonal employees, who typically are not eligible for standard employer-based coverage)--combined with a transparent exchange market.
The solution succeeded on a bipartisan level, without causing major controversy. It is significantly harder for the federal government to replace a program that is already active than establish one where it currently does not exist. Now Utah, which implemented healthcare reform more in tune with its free enterprise market values before it had to, is in a far better position than other states that had to be dragged kicking and screaming to make their moves.
States will have greater success in fighting "Obamacare" if they have their own healthcare reform in place. If they leave a vacuum, the Department of Health and Human Services is likely to fill it. It also shows a good faith effort in addressing the concerns and struggles of a significant portion of their residents.
If You Don't Like National Affordable Health Insurance Reform, Create Your Own
By: Yamileth Medina
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