Understand real cost of health-care bill

This is not the time for Congresswoman Melissa Bean to demonstrate party loyalty.

The health-care proposals before Congress will impact everyone she represents in Illinois' 8th Congressional District. Her first step should be to read the bill: over 1,300 pages so far, including amendments.

The Congresswoman's Schaumburg office stated that she "doesn't know" her opinion on this legislation. Therefore a second step would be for her to clarify her views on health care issues and the proposed law. For example:

• How many more people will receive insurance coverage? At what cost per individual? Has she considered alternatives to accomplish the goal?

• Does she support the proposed outlawing of individually purchased private insurance, health savings accounts, and catastrophic coverage?

• Does she agree that physicians should be fined for recommending medications or therapies not "preferred" for patients using the 'public option'?

• Congresswoman Bean tells us she is "a vocal advocate for seniors." However, Medicare home health services and hospice care will be defunded. Medicare Advantage insurance will no longer be available. What is her opinion on these measures regarding our nation's seniors?

• Tort reform would save billions of dollars. The bill provides none. What is her position?

• State mandates increase costs. Is she for or against a national market for private insurance?

• The bill may include employer or individual mandates. Does she favor either?

• As a former small business owner and current member of the House Small Business Committee's Subcommittee on Regulations and HealthCare, what is her understanding of the impact of this legislation on small businesses?

These questions barely skim the surface of the bill. It is hoped that Congresswoman Bean will delve deeper than she has, provide public disclosure of her analyses, and vote her conscience on these matters of universal consequence.

Dr. David McNeil

Barrington