Health care costs

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Sen. Mike Lee doesn't like the Affordable Care Act. We get that. And he wants it repealed. We get that. And he and the Republicans in D.C. have worked from day one to impede its implementation. We have seen that.

Mitt Romney said nothing's wrong with our health delivery system, that people without insurance, or resources, receive the care they need so what's the problem? No problem? We all know the cost of these "free services" is passed to the rest of us in increased premiums/fees.

In 2011 the U.S. spent more on health care per capita ($8,608), and more as percentage of GDP (17.9 percent), than any other nation. The Commonwealth Fund ranked the U.S. last in care quality among similar countries. Health and Human Services expects health care costs will reach 19.5 percent of GDP by 2017.

No problem? Sen. Lee's solution: ongoing obstruction.

But ignore data. He's satisfied with the current system. Hey, maybe he could get the rest of us the health program Congress has. But wait. Starting 2014, the only coverage for Congress will be from ACA's health insurance exchanges — "Obamacare."

Hmmmm.

Michael Marker

Sandy