Hope lawmakers will suffer, too
We all remember the eloquent words of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi when she opined that the Congress had to pass health care legislation in order for everyone to learn what was in the bill.
Well, it seems Congress is now finding out just what is in the bill and the individual members are not exactly thrilled with one particular aspect of it that applies directly to them.
No less a source than The New York Times reported a story under the headline, "Baffled by Health Plan? So are some Lawmakers."
The two main paragraphs of the story reported: "In a new report, the Congressional Research Service says the law may have significant unintended consequences for the "personal health insurance coverage" of senators, representatives and their staff members... the law may "remove members of Congress and Congressional staff" from their current coverage, in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, before any alternatives are available."
The minute the health care reform bill was signed and enacted, by law, our senators and representatives could no longer carry their existing federal health coverage.
Interestingly, the only apparent alternative available to them is to purchase coverage on the open market. The health insurance exchanges do not go into effect until 2014.
"Physician (politicians) heal thyself," will certainly be attempted here. Let us as the "huddled masses" make sure our kings and queens in Washington suffer for their own folly and enjoy the full benefit of health care reform just as we "unfortunates" must.
Steve Sarich
Grayslake