Congress gets elite health care

Most countries have limited health care.
Most countries recognize the three components of health care.
l Cost (low).
l Access (easy).
l Quality (high).
Seldom does any country enjoy the best of all three components. Congress would have us believe all three are available for all.
History and sound judgment knows we can only enjoy two. If there is high quality and easy access, then the cost is high (example: Canadian comes to the U.S. for elective surgery, but pays the $30,000 cash out of pocket). If there is high quality and low cost, access brings long delays (example: the Canadian folks waiting for the above surgery).
The U.S. Congress currently seems to be the only organization that enjoys all three components at once (high quality: top physicians and hospitals available 24/7; easy access: medical facilities located inside the Capitol building; low cost: $42 a month and $0 for many services) — and we pay.
Are you ready for real change?
A new guideline for members of Congress:
As the legislative committees draft and redraft health care reform they need to be guided by the principles that:
l In the legislation they pass, they as legislators would happily live under it.
l When passed, it would apply to everybody — the Congress, public sector, employees, union members, private policy holders, everybody.
Only then can meaningful, thoughtful, comprehensive legislation emerge. Only then can genuine bipartisan support be realized.
It would also raise the present dismal image of the Congress in the eyes of the American people.

James R. Hagadone
Albemarle County