U.S. Congressman Adrian Smith of Gering said the recently passed House version of a nationalized health care bill would further weaken a struggling economy.

“This 2,000 page bill creates 118 new agencies and boards,” Smith said. “In addition to the expense of staffing these organizations, some of them are charged with establishing standards for both public and private insurance plans. We already have enough state mandates that drive up the cost of insurance.”

The bill covers 10 years, but any perceived benefits don’t become effective until the fourth year. For the first four years, there will be taxation with no benefits.

“It’s impossible for this bill to not add to the national debt,” Smith said. “Raising taxes on small businesses is where it’s going to hurt the most and will raise unemployment.”

Smith said the addition of the Stupak amendment, which prohibits federal funding for abortions, was one of the reasons the bill passed. However, several members of Congress have already said that funding will be replaced in the future.

The “public option,” having the government as one source for health insurance, is another sticking point in any proposed bill.

“With the public option, the government establishes a public plan that competes with and sets all the rules for private insurance,” he said. “That’s not sustainable in the marketplace. Saying the public option will bring about more competition is just false. It will only get rid of private insurance.”
Smith admitted that even if people like their insurance, most of them have had at least one bad experience with their insurance company. “History shows that the more government gets involved in health care, the more it costs. When someone else is paying the bill, it’s an opportunity to charge more.”

Smith said that what bothers him the most under the proposed health care bill is that government will decide what health care looks like rather than the consumer. He said the optimal scenario would be employees making enough money to be able to purchase the health care plan that best fits their needs.

Currently, health care tax benefits are only available to employers and unions, not individuals. “That discourages consumerism,” Smith said. “The biggest problem we have in health care today is the lack of consumerism. That points to ever-increasing costs.”

Smith added that in order to pay for the proposed health care, major cuts would be necessary in Medicare Advantage, with which many seniors are happy. Also, taxes on medical devices would increase dramatically. Consequently, he said, “the sicker you are, the more you pay.”

While Smith said Americans want changes in health care, but want to do it one step at a time.