If You Like Bureaucracy And Red Tape, Then You’ll Love The Health Care Bill

Richard Sherwood and Vivek Rajasekhar / January 27, 2010

Time and time again, congressional leaders have denied that the proposed health care legislation would result in a federal takeover of health care.  Proponents of Obamacare claim that consumers would retain personal choice in selecting health plans and physicians.  For example, consider President Obama’s comments at a Raleigh, NC town-hall meeting on July 29, 2009:  “Nobody is talking about some government takeover of health care.  I’m tired of hearing that…Under the plan I’ve proposed…if you like your health care plan, you keep your health care plan.”

The President and Congressional leaders fail to mention that, under the House and Senate bills, the federal government would determine the kind of health plans Americans get— the kinds of insurance Americans would get, the level of coverage they can receive, and the premiums, co-payments and taxes they would pay.  It even mandates that all individuals purchase a government-defined level of health insurance coverage, regardless of their personal wants or needs. (more…)