A letter from a Congreesman

Yesterday I received a letter from Congressman McCaul promoting HR 3218 the Republican Healthcare bill
This is the most useless piece of legislation I have seen in a long time. I wrote to him and explained that this bill would be less than useless for me. I thanked him for sharing his viewpoint and begged him to please support regulation of the Heath Insurance and Pharmaceutical industries, reform of the Madicare system and a viable public ortion to private health insurance.
the follow ing is the summary of the bill and my notes.
Do your own research, call and write your representatives. Do SOMETHING to change this mess.

Under the Improving Health Care for All Americans Act:
 KEEP YOUR COVERAGE (my note: NOTHING CHANGES)
o Americans can keep employer-provided care without changes.
o Will not tax your employer-sponsored plan to pay for a government-run system.

 CHOICE IN COVERAGE
o Allows Americans who don’t have employer-sponsored care or those not
satisfied with their employer-sponsored plan to buy their own plan on the same
tax-advantaged basis their employer enjoys.
o Americans who pay income taxes get a dollar for dollar reduction in their tax bill
up to $2500 for individuals and $5000 per family. (I pay nearly $5k/year for crappy insurance [on an individual] - no help here)
o Americans who don’t pay income taxes get the same amount from the
government to buy a policy of their choice. (Paid for how??)
o Reduces the cost and improves the quality of health care while expanding access
and portability. (HOW???)
 POOLING OF BUSINESSES OR GROUPS TO LOWER COSTS
o Expands insurance pools by allowing churches, alumni associations, trade
associations and other civic groups to set up new insurance pools and offer
affordable health care packages for their members. (I am not a member of any of these - NO HELP HERE)
o Choosing from “group plans” will make health care more affordable and portable
while not locking individuals into keeping a job to keep their health coverage.

 PRE-EXISTING AND CHRONIC CONDITIONS COVERED AT AFFORDABLE
RATES
o The sick and those with chronic conditions will be able to buy coverage at
competitive rates through high-risk pools and reinsurance mechanisms. (Competitive compared to what???)