David Newby: Ryan's health plan step in wrong direction

David Newby  —  6/01/2008 7:31 am

Dear Editor:

On May 21, Congressman Paul Ryan released his "Roadmap for America's Future," which includes a health insurance reform proposal just about identical to that proposed by Sen. John McCain (is that a coincidence?). If ever adopted it would move us even further away from quality, affordable health care for everyone in America.

Ryan adopts McCain's proposal to count the value of employer-provided insurance as taxable income. Most comprehensive family health insurance policies cost on average at least $10,000 a year. So workers would have to pay taxes on this amount added to their regular wages.

What do we get in return? A tax credit or payment of $5,000 for a family so you can buy your own insurance. What a deal!

Ryan adds other measures as well: the virtual elimination of state standards for health insurance policies, promotion of health savings accounts (which means you pay high yearly deductibles with pre-tax income -- if you have enough), and totally inadequate access for those with pre-existing conditions to get the health insurance they need in the private "market."

The Ryan-McCain "reform" does not improve the current unfair, unworkable, unsustainable health insurance industry. It leaves us at the mercy of health insurance companies and their insatiable appetite for profit.

I suppose this is a good proposal if you want John McCain to choose you as his vice presidential running mate. But if you want health care reform that guarantees that everyone will have affordable access to the quality health care they need, you'd better look elsewhere. We need broad reform which guarantees that everyone in America gets the health care they need, regardless of income or health status.

David Newby, president

Wisconsin AFL-CIO

Milwaukee

David Newby  —  6/01/2008 7:31 am