Today in the state of New York, a pack-a-day smoker spends $250 of his disposable income each month and destroys his health in the process. He then seeks medical insurance and finds it “too expensive” — after all, insurance is a form of sharing risk and his is a risky and expensive future — and then he cries out to the political leaders of his country for medical coverage regardless of “pre-existing conditions.” Other examples of self-destructive behavior can easily be substituted.

Over the past year the House and the Senate have been working on an effort to provide health insurance reform that lowers costs, guarantees choices, and enhances quality health care for all Americans.

* Read the text of the Senate bill and the changes passed by the House.

So here is a little extract of some of the “new programs” that will be created through recent health care “reform.” 1. Grant program for consumer assistance offices (Section 1002, p. 37) 2. Grant program for states to monitor premium increases (Section 1003, p. 42) 3. Committee to review administrative simplification standards (Section 1104, p. 71) 4. Demonstration program [...]