There may be a few people who haven’t caught up with the fact that Massachusetts’ elected officials passed, and Governor Romney signed, a major (and massive) health care bill last Wednesday, April 12.  He also vetoed certain provisions of the bill “on the fly” as he touched down at the State House, vetoes the Legislature has vowed to override.

     South Boston Online would like to point out a few facts to you:

     1. - Whatever the title of the bill says, it is most definitely not a “health care” bill.  It simply requires that most Massachusetts residents be insured.  Insurance for low-income residents will be subsidized.  The bill does nothing about costs or availability of medical care.

     2. - In the U.S., we spend 15% of our gross domestic product on health care.  Other developed nations spend 10% or less.  Of all the 50 states in the Union, Massachusetts medical care is by far the most expensive.

     3.-  The U.S., despite being first in the world in medical spending, ranks around twentieth in the quality of its health care.  For many, health care is poor or simply isn’t available.

     4.- The federal government has recently passed Medicare Part D.  The deadline for signing up is May 15.  Major confusion still reigns.  It’s a bad bill.  Politicians seem to do a particularly bad job on any legislation involving health care.

     5.-  Massachusetts has been here before.  Close to 20 years ago, then Governor Dukakis signed a health care bill.  The Legislature never funded it, so it died (even though it was the law).  It was finally repealed under Governor Weld’s administration.  Since medical costs continue to explode, the current bill may also die away from underfunding

     If you are feeling a bit uncomfortable at this point, that is our intention.  Because we are too.

In our opinion, which is shared by many others, the most significant health care problem in the U.S., and especially in Massachusetts, is its overwhelming cost.  Our health system is clogged with inefficiencies, duplication, and paperwork.  The new bill does nothing to eliminate this.  If anything, it will make it worse, i.e., more costly and complicated.

     Assuming Romney’s vetoes are overridden, the health care bill will contain an annual “fee” of $295 per employee for those businesses that don’t offer health insurance.  An article by Arnold Kling in The Wall Street Journal predicts that many businesses will simply stop offering health insurance and pay the “fee” instead.  What will South Boston’s small businesses (more than 10 employees) do?  We don’t know.

     The bill promises that more than 500,000 Massachusetts residents will now become insured.  A basic policy (large deductibles, gaps in coverage, no pharmacy coverage) costs more than $3,000 per year.  That means $1.5 Billion for additional premiums will have to be found.  So get set: if you are in the right income range, you will be forced to insure yourself as of mid-2007.  Are you able to afford an extra $300 per month – more, if you are the family breadwinner.  And your taxes will go up as well, to cover those who need subsidized health insurance.  And if you refuse to insure yourself, you will be fined – heavily.  Do you really want the state government involved to that extent in your affairs?

     Are you aware that there’s already a question on the ballot regarding health care reform?  Let’s see how the voters react to that in November, before funding the current bill.  You’ll have a chance to vote for yourself on whether there will be statewide health insurance.

     And don’t forget – even the bill’s strongest supporters admit it’s a first-in-the-nation “experiment”.  Welcome to guinea pig status.  All of a sudden, we’re lab animals.

     One final observation: recall the pictures of the elected officials, all of whom were wreathed in smiles as the bill was signed.  When everyone at the State House agrees on a new law so cheerfully, it’s time to get suspicious (cynicism intended).