"Access and Affordability"

A lie told often enough becomes the truth.
- Vladimir Lenin

President Obama has repeatedly stated that all he wants from healthcare legislation is for all Americans to have "Access and Affordability" to healthcare. The Democratic leadership has argued that the only way to accomplish this is to have the "public option" or "government option" that would bring "competition" to the marketplace. They argue that in most parts of the country, there are only a couple of choices among private insurance companies.

Well, I did a little research by simply going to http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ and my conclusion: YOU LIE! LIE! LIE!

Since I believe that insurance is a personal responsibility, I looked at just options a family of four would have in 11 different states. The results are as follows:

Source: www.ehealthinsurance.com

Family: Dad - 47  Non-smoker
             Mom - 41 Non-smoker
             Son - 8
             Daughter - 14

City                 State           Nbr Plans          Starting Cost / Mo.
Atlanta              GA                111                            $245
Dallas                TX                 107                            $189
Los Angeles       CA                 114                            $279
Seattle              WA                 57                            $271
Denver             CO                 113                            $234
Minneapolis     MN                   46                            $231
Chicago            IL                    98                             $206
New York         NY                   16                             $340
Boston            MA                    6                         $1,176
Hartford          CT                     82                            $190
Las Vegas       NV                  123                          $142

Do these plans offer a $20 doctor visit? $3 prescription drugs? NO...But they do offer "insurance" for catastrophic illness so that the family would not have to declare bankrupcy to pay medical bills. The family would have the responsibility to pay for care up to the deductibles. After all, isn't that what the definition of "insurance" is anyway?
 
It is interesting that far and away the most expensive plan is in the only state that mandates that everyone be covered...Massachusetts. Interesting too is that it is the state with the fewest choices. Also interesting is that Nevada, Sen. Reid's home state, has the most choices and the most competitive prices.
 
Therefore, when you tell us that we need the federal government to solve our "crisis", you distort the truth. Obviously, applying more rules, regulations, and mandates is not the answer to "Access and Affordability", but just the opposite! So, why not just fess up and be truthful with the American people? It's all about power and re-election isn't it?....Come on, you can do it...I know you can....