Health care fix will cost us money, health care

The U.S. Senate health care reform bill is partially paid with a $400 billion cut from Medicare. Is this good for Iowa with its high percentage of elderly?

It adds 30 million patients. We're already short doctors and nurses in Iowa. How long will the wait be in Iowa?

The bill increases eligibility for Medicaid recipients. Is this another unfunded mandate for the states? Will competing government-run health care cost Iowa insurance industry jobs?

The projected cost is misleading - 10 years of tax collections, only six years of benefits paid. What are the numbers for the second 10 years?

Can we save money on health care with Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid “buying” votes for passage? How much is Iowa getting for Sen. Tom Harkin's vote? Can we get $300 million for Sen. Chuck Grassley's vote, too?

I think we're all for reform, but the game plan got changed somewhere. I think Iowans thought reform was about fixing the system we have, lowering costs and living within our means.

Bob Cook

Marion