Anti-Obamacare legislators have moved beyond criticizing and
offered the
Health Care Freedom Act as an alternative to nationalized health
care. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.)
spoke out today to announce the plan and react to President
Obama’s Wednesday press conference. Like Obama’s plan, Sen.
DeMint’s bill also aims to get all Americans health care
coverage. But the conservative alternative does so by encouraging
free market competition and using existing funds. Price
argued that Obama was wrong to say the public option won't impact
people's private health coverage: With tax subsidies for the
government-sponsored plan, many employers and insurance companies
may find it difficult to stay competitive. Some companies
may drop their coverage and dump their employees onto the
government plan.
Under the DeMint-Price bill, those who are satisfied with their
insurance company can maintain their current coverage. Those
whose employers don’t offer insurance or aren’t satisfied with
their current coverage qualify for a $5,000 certificate to seek
insurance on their own, from any state. DeMint pointed to
the cost and ineffectiveness of existing government health care
programs like Medicaid and Medicare. His bill reallocates money
from the Troubled Assets Relief Program (currently a “Treasury
slush fund,” according to the Senator).
Opponents of the bill say that the $5,000 is not nearly enough to
cover insurance costs for a family and individuals remain at-risk
of being denied by the insurance companies. While the
Health Care Freedom Act may not solve everything, it does at
least show critics are offering positive alternatives to
government-run universal health care.
