An Open letter to Congressman David Young:
Dear Congressman:
Your email this morning asked me whether I oppose or support the provision of the 2018 tax bill you approved this week to repeal the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act. Of course I oppose that provision. Even more, I oppose this portion of your message:
“The individual mandate requires everyone to purchase health
insurance, whether they want to or not, and imposes a financial penalty on
those who do not purchase health insurance. Repealing the individual mandate
will not change any other part of the Affordable Care Act.”
The individual mandate made its way into Obamacare during the congressional debates which led to its passage. For insurance to work, all must participate. Proposals during the debates to have universal coverage were rebuffed by Republicans who proposed the individual mandate as a compromise. If all do not participate, those who think they don’t need health insurance can opt out, leaving only those who think or know that they do need it. Those who file no claims help pay for everyone, including those with claims. This is how insurance works.
It is argued that people who forego insurance will simply pay for their health care directly. But that’s not how health care works. Since 1985 federal law has required health care providers to care for anyone with an illness or injury regardless of ability to pay. This policy constitutes universal coverage. We’ve had it for years. The costs of caring for uninsured Individuals are born by the rest of us. The individual mandate requires participation by all and is an important part of how we pay for our long-existing universal coverage. That’s why it’s a lie to say repealing the mandate will not change any other part of the Affordable Care Act. It will underfund it.
Your opposition to the individual mandate is unwise, Congressman. Stop trying to trick your constituents into thinking repeal would be good for them.
Thank you, David J. Nelson
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