It's Not ObamaCare, It's ObamaScare

Just as the "birther movement" was long ago discredited to rational people, and more recently by even the irrational who had to cave when the "smoking gun" birth certificate turned out to be a product of "forgery-R-us," opponents of health care reform will also be discredited because they aren’t really worked up about health care, they are energized in their fear and distrust of President Obama by buzz words like "socialism." They lost the election, and now, it seems, they are losing their minds. They are being manipulated by the for-profit health insurance lobby, who knows they are in the fight of their corporate lives if the legislation proposed by Congress includes a "public option" or (gasp!) even worse for them, becomes Medicare for All, the "single payer" option.

Even the term "ObamaCare" is a misnomer. The truth of the matter is that President Obama set out to accomplish health care reform by only specifying expectations for legislation, leaving the details (and presumably any attendant devils) to Congress. He specified three bedrock principles of health care reform: reduce costs, guarantee choice, and ensure quality care for all. He left the actual design of the legislation where it should be - in Congress, where there are now 3 bills pending in the House, and one in the Senate. The bills still need to be reconciled in the legislatures before going to the President.

The bills drafted in Congress offer a number of new essential consumer protections:

• No Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.

• No Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.

• No Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.

• No Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.

• No Gender Discrimination Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.

• No Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.

• Extended Coverage for Young Adults Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.

• Guaranteed Insurance Renewal Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.

Each of these consumer health insurance protections was designed to eliminate health insurance industry practices and abuses. Which of them are repugnant to health care reform opponents? Which would they argue for? Yet, that is exactly what they are doing with their misplaced ObamaScare.

With the cost of health care doubling every nine years, and the strain that puts on families, businesses, and state and local governments, it is apparent that change must occur. And yet, these scared belligerent people can’t see the issues for their irrational fear of President Obama.

Their outrageous conduct is designed to block discussion and consideration of alternatives, and is undemocratic because it obstructs the process. It is also irrational, just as irrational as the discredited birther movement.