What’s good for the goose

Debates continue to rage over the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. It is complex legislation. Many questions remain over its ultimate impact on individuals, families and the economy.

Portions of Obamacare go into effect soon, but the provision for small businesses has been postponed for a year. Implementing it has proven extremely complicated. On top of that, some states are not establishing a core element of the program—health exchanges.

Another complication with the bill is the requirement that Congress give up its federal health insurance.

Congress, due to a politically motivated late addition to the bill, must get its insurance through the new health exchanges.

Congressional federal insurance will end on December 31, and, as of that date, Congress will have to join the real world.

Those elected to Congress and hired as staffers will have to rub shoulders with the rest of us.

They will have to experience what double digit increases feel like. They will have to work though the limitations of various insurance plans and try to balance costs against benefits. They may even have to raise their deductibles just to keep their plans affordable.

In any case, it will be a good dose of reality, and, ultimately, it will enable them to see what the average citizen faces.

As so many have advocated, we all must share the pain. Put another way, what’s good for the goose . . .

Gordon Forgey

Publisher