Common Sense Plans for Health Care Reform Exist

During the health care debate, prior to Obamacare becoming law, anyone listening to Democrats and most of the mainstream media would think that conservatives were failing to provide solutions to health care. That couldn’t have been further from the truth.

A number of my colleagues presented ideas. And I presented legislation myself. For example, I introduced the Health Care Freedom of Choice Act, a bill that would improve America’s flawed health care model by increasing patient choice, lowering costs and breaking down barriers that restrict access to care.

There are few choices people make that are more important than securing health care coverage. The Health Care Freedom of Choice Act would restore balance to America’s health care market by giving individuals and businesses alike the same tax deductions for health care expenses. This would encourage more competition and innovation in the health care industry and lower costs across the board.

Under current law, businesses are allowed to deduct the cost of employee health care from their taxes, while individuals and families who purchase health care cannot make the same deductions. This bias against individual choice leads to higher health care costs and reduces accessibility to care.

This legislation would erase this bias and extend the same tax incentives to businesses and individuals alike. This would not only make health care more affordable for those who purchase it themselves, but by injecting choice and competition into the health care market it would lower prices for all Americans.

And a number of my colleagues are presenting ideas today. But we need to make sure Obamacare is repealed and then replaced with common sense reforms to improve the lives of all Americans.