Recently there has been significant public discussion concerning the two main mandates included in all the major health reform bills currently under development by Congress. Both the Individual Mandate and the Employer Mandate have drawn significant criticism from each side of the political spectrum. So, why are criticisms so prevalent? In this brief post I just wanted to review the significance of the Individual Mandate.

This post represents a series I’m beginning on common myths about health care reform. There are so many highly emotional, heated interchanges about health care reform that don't seem to deal much with facts. This series of posts will attempt to bring some rationing, excuse me, I mean rational discussions to light.

Sen. Richard Shelby's (R-Ala.) made this statement earlier this year when commenting about a health care reform package, "It will be the first steps in destroying the best health care system the world has ever known." You may have heard others make similar statements recently: that the United States has the best health care in the world. It sure sounds good, but as you know, you can't believe everything you hear.

As talking heads try to convince you that a government bureaucrat is waiting to stand between you and your doctor, the truth is there's already an insidious barrier between you and your doctor: A health insurance bureaucrat who is only concerned about denying as many claims as they can.

A lesson in politics. The Kucinich Prediction: Here's what's going to happen ... The House will make a big deal about keeping/putting a public option in HR3200 because it competes with insurance companies and will keep insurance rates low. The bill will pass, not with a "public option" but with a private mandate requiring 30 million uninsured to buy private health insurance. This legislative sausage will be celebrated as a new breakthrough and will be packaged as health insurance reform. However, the bill may require a Surgeon General's warning label: Your Money or Your Life!

How can we be so concerned about our own health care while we choose to deny others of having an option? These “others” amount to nearly 46 million Americans who do not have health insurance. Of these, 45,000 die each year because of their lack of health insurance.

According to the Commonwealth Fund survey on Medicare, beneficiaries indicated they were overall more satisfied with their health coverage. They felt they had better access to care and fewer problems getting their bills paid. This was compared to findings from people in employer-sponsored plans.