Nobody brought bagels this morning. We won’t point fingers because we have never set up a regular schedule so everyone knows when it is his turn to bring bagels, cream cheese, or juice. So, instead of sitting down at a table we just gathered together for a few minutes after the last game of volleyball. Carmen, the only female among us, raised the obvious question, what does everyone think of the healthcare law? Not wanting to be the first to volunteer an answer I met her question with the usual question one poses in such a situation, do you have insurance? She responded that she did, but she was worried the new law would impact her rates in a negative way. Sam pointed out the new law took away tax breaks to companies who provide insurance to their employees between the time they retire and Medicare takes effect. He said without the tax incentive companies would opt to drop these payments and the retiree would be forced to purchase what is called a Cobra plan. Art indicated that Cobra plans are already subsidized to some level by state governments. Mike said a major concern for the states would be the rising cost of Medicaid. Mitch said being able to carry a child on a family policy until age 26 will allow young adults to make their way into the working world before having to assume this responsibility. Mike pointed out that the young and healthy really had no use for insurance and were being forced to buy it for the first time. For the sake of argument I pointed out that there is a crisis when individuals without insurance show up at emergency rooms and the cost gets passed on to all of the policyholders. If the young and healthy choose not to purchase insurance then the rest carry the burden. We never brought it up, but I wonder what it means to the healthcare system when these same young, healthy, and uninsured do show up at an emergency room due to an accident or unexpected illness. Looking back on my personal history when I went to work straight out of college my employer paid for my health insurance as a benefit. This was done in lieu of additional salary and was considered desirable because it was paid for with pre-tax dollars. I’m sure this is not too different from the situation many twenty-somethings faced over the past fifty years and will continue to face during the next fifty years. My oldest daughter feels fortunate to receive health insurance through her employer that covers her self-employed husband. As for the greatest benefit the new law offers in my estimation was that my second daughter who has diabetes, and has to give herself injections every day of her life won’t have to worry in two and half years when she turns 26 whether or not she will be able to purchase her own health insurance. Other news of interest appears to be the growing concern among Catholics regarding what role, if any, the Pope played when as a cardinal he was allegedly involved in a sexual assault case that has garnered recent attention. Finally, it would not be March without mentioning the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament. At this writing West Virginia and Butler have made it to the final four. Tennessee is battling Michigan State for their chance to go, and Duke, the last number one seed remaining, will face Baylor in two hours for the last seat at the concluding week of March Madness that takes place next weekend in April. One last thing, there will be no bagels next week due to the unleavened rule: no bread products, only matzo during Passover. Comments welcome.
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