Epic Solution To Health Care For The Uninsured Fail

This one's been making the rounds of Left Blogistan this morning, so I thought I'd play along. First, the problem: Uninsured Americans...

Texas once again led the nation with the highest percentage of residents without health insurance, a U.S. Census Bureau report showed Tuesday, although the same study also reports a slight dip last year in the percentage without coverage across the nation.

Almost one of every four Texas residents – 24.8 percent – were uninsured in 2006 and 2007, based on an average of the rates for those two years. That's up from 23.9 percent for 2004 and 2005.

The national number also increased a bit for the two-year period to 15.5 percent. However, looking at 2007 by itself, the percentage of uninsured in the country fell from 15.8 percent in 2006 to 15.3 percent in 2007. (State percentages were given only for two-year periods.)

California still has the highest number – not percentage – of uninsured residents at 6.7 million, compared with 5.7 million Texans. The Texas number is up from 5.5 million in 2006.

...Now, the solution, courtesy of McSame's main health care policy adviser, John Goodman.

But the numbers are misleading, said John Goodman, president of the National Center for Policy Analysis, a right-leaning Dallas-based think tank. Mr. Goodman, who helped craft Sen. John McCain's health care policy, said anyone with access to an emergency room effectively has insurance, albeit the government acts as the payer of last resort. (Hospital emergency rooms by law cannot turn away a patient in need of immediate care.)

"So I have a solution. And it will cost not one thin dime," Mr. Goodman said. "The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to cease and desist from describing any American – even illegal aliens – as uninsured. Instead, the bureau should categorize people according to the likely source of payment should they need care.

"So, there you have it. Voila! Problem solved."

Yes, he was serious when he said this. That is his solution to the health care crisis, recategorize the problem and it vanishes. This is the man giving John McSame health care advice. This is what John McSame has planned for your family should you lose health care. The one out of six of us who are uninsured are "categorized according to likely source of payment."

Just like Iraq became "mission accomplished", just like Afghanistan became "a success in the War On Terror", just like Katrina became "a growth opportunity for the Gulf Coast", just like Gitmo became "the first line of protection for America from terrorists", just like torture became "vigorous, robust, and effective interrogation methods", just like the police state became "guarding the homeland while respecting your rights", just like John McSame is "a maverick".

Just like four more years of this is "a good idea for all Americans".

I do believe this one deserves an EPIC FAIL.