The Cost of Doing Nothing

The Robert Woods Johnson Foundation released a report today projecting what would happen to the states within ten years if health care reform fails.

This important study exemplifies the failure of the status quo. In workplaces across Texas, because of skyrocketing insurance rates, you don't get a pay-raise, you simply get to keep your insurance. And the coverage provided to you is not as good as it was previously; the net result being that you pay more to get less.

The failure of reform will hurt Americans' pocketbooks and will crush state and local budgets. According to the study, the number of uninsured residents will increase if reform is not enacted. Additionally, the number of employers offering coverage will drop, out-of-pockets costs will skyrocket, and spending by states on public programs will drastically increase. These costs will likely be passed along to Texas businesses and taxpayers. Click here to read the full report from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation.

An article in today's Houston Chronicle, Cost higher if health reform fails, study says, details the report's Texas specific findings. It found middle-income working families would be hardest hit:

"The study, which estimates how coverage and cost trends would change from now to 2019 if health care isn't reformed, found out-of-pocket expenses could increase by more than 35 percent in every state. . . . The effects in Texas within 10 years include:

• As many as 8.3 million residents would be uninsured, up from 6 million this year.
• The average resident's health care spending would increase as much as 81 percent.
• Employers' premiums would increase as much as 121 percent.
• Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program spending would increase as much as 117 percent.
• Uncompensated care would increase by as much as 138 percent."

Our families, businesses, and state and local governments cannot afford the status quo.

Update on Legislation

Yesterday, the Senate Finance committee took up a series of amendments to their version of the health care plan. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Chuck Schumer offered amendments to the bill that would have created a public option, and both were voted down. Senator Schumer noted during the debate that this was but one step in the legislative process, as the four other versions of the bill (one in the Senate and three in the House) all contain a version of the public option. Click here to read a summary from the Washington Post on yesterday's debate.

As the legislation makes it's way through the process, I will continue to update you on it's status.