So, You Believe

that Obama is being straightforward when he looks into his teleprompter and proclaims that, if you are happy with your current private health insurance coverage, you will be able to keep it?  Before you let yourself be led down that path, you might want to read the following verbiage from page 15 of the proposed (and still unread by legislators) Government health control plan:

SEC. 102. PROTECTING THE CHOICE TO KEEP CURRENT COVERAGE.
(a) GRANDFATHERED INSURANCE OVERAGE DEFINED.—Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, for purposes of establishing acceptable coverage under this division, the term ‘‘grandfathered health insurance coverage’’ means individual health insurance coverage that is offered and in force and effect before the first day of Y1 if the following conditions are met:
       (1) LIMITATION ON NEW ENROLLMENT. ---
               (A) IN GENERAL—Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day of Y1.
               (B) DEPENDENT COVERAGE PERMITTED—Subparagraph (A) shall not affect the subsequent enrollment of a dependent of an individual who is covered as of such first day.
       (2) LIMITATION ON CHANGES IN TERMS OR CONDITIONS.—Subject to paragraph (3) and except as required by law, the issuer does not change any of its terms or conditions, including benefits and cost-sharing, from those in effect as of the day before the first day of Y1.

The bottom line is:  If you have coverage under a private option insurance plan as of the day this piece of crap goes into effect (day 1 of Y1), you will be allowed to keep that coverage.  Sounds just like what The One says, doesn't it?  But there is a big message hidden in plain sight here.  They are hoping that we, the people, won't read this thing any more than those  legislators (who, by the way, get a huge salary and lots of "perks" for supposedly representing us).   I have this crazy right-wing idea that "representing us" means reading and understanding bills before they vote on them.

You have to do a little third grade logic to connect with the message, but I'll make it easy:  This says no new policyholders for those private companies as of that day, and that any term or condition that gets changed after that day will allow the shut down of that coverage (i.e., all covered persons will have to move to the so-called public option).  Now, how long do you think your insurance company can hold out in the face of:  initial defections to the ObamaNation plan, older customers dying off, and lack of ability to adapt coverages to changing needs.  These private companies will need to get funds from some place to provide coverage.  Guess what?  Higher premiums, which you can bet will be one of the terms which, if changed, will trigger the shutdown of that insurance plan.

A disclaimer:  I am not a lawyer (thank goodness), but that doesn't mean I rode in on a turnip truck.  I did develop, write, negotiate and administer multi-billion dollar contracts for major space system vehicles and systems for 25 years.   I can read, write and interpret government doublespeak with the best of them.

You have been warned!