Health Care
As a surgeon for over 25 years, Dr. Benishek has an acute appreciation for the delivery of health care services. By serving as a physician for a principally rural population, he further recognizes the fact that a one-size-fits-all federal solution cannot accommodate the unique and diverse health care challenges facing Northern Michigan.
Dr. Benishek is strongly opposed to “ObamaCare” in the form passed by the Democrat-controlled Congress. The American health care system, while the best in the world, merits reform — but not the types of changes enacted under this new health care law.
In Dr. Benishek’s opinion, the so-called “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" moves system in the wrong direction and that is why he favors the repeal of this act. The reason this law is so unpopular is because citizens recognize that it would assert federal control over health care benefits and financing, erect a complex one-size-fits-all health system, and centralize America's health care decisions in Washington. Dr. Benishek wants Congress to transform the health care system into one that empowers individuals and families — not Washington — to control more of their health care decisions.
Dr. Benishek believes a major reason why health insurance is so expensive is that many state legislatures require policies to provide benefits that some families do not want. These mandates increase costs for everyone. Additionally, interstate competition in the health insurance industry should be permitted and promoted. Just like competition in the auto insurance industry, this would bring costs down.
Dr. Benishek favors giving Americans access to an insurance plan similar to what Congress has, including medical savings accounts. He supports building on the strength of the free market system, offering seniors real choices, and making sure there are incentives for the private sector to develop innovative drugs. No more one-size-fits-all approaches. Dr. Benishek also believes Medicare needs new measures to ensure long-term solvency. A reformed Medicare program must provide reimbursement at levels that will permit providers to continue to care for patients.