Insurance Reform

There's been a lot of yelling lately about President Obama's insurance reform. I can totally understand why people are upset and even a little scared. I have no idea what this administration and congress will put into practice, but I do think it's fair for me to worry some of it will go against my moral beliefs. (ahem - Mexico City Policy)

I am not totally opposed nor totally against government health care. People need to be taken care of, and I think a people's government should take on that responsibility.

I do worry, though, about companies dropping their benefits and creating an even greater burden on the federal government and therefore the taxpayers. I also worry about, though this is not what President Obama wants, public care being worse than private. For example, I've heard the waiting lists for cancer treatments in Canada (where there is public insurance) are much longer than in America and therefore more people die of cancer there than in the USA. But the best source I've found on this was a wiki sight, which was pretty inconclusive. Otherwise it's just been stuff I've read on other blogs...

However, I just read a statement by Archbishop Chaput of Denver about what he wants the government program to cover. His points:

A few key principles should guide the development of any health care reform legislation, especially in light of the mixed and sobering track record of national health plans in other countries:

• It should provide access to basic, quality health services for all persons, from conception to natural death, with a special concern for the poor, elderly and disabled, and the inclusion of legal immigrants;
• It should protect the conscience rights of individuals and religious institutions;
• It should exclude all so-called “services” that involve violence against the dignity of the human person, such abortion, physician-assisted suicide and their funding;
• It should be economically realistic and sustainable, with costs spread equitably across all taxpayers.

I love what he says, and I'm glad he says it rationally yet with conviction (no shouting). If you'd like to read the rest of his short statement, go here.