Evening star., 1948-01-15
Criticizes Taft Health Plan

10 tne Eoltot OF Inc otal.
self-appointed consumer counsel for tax
paying patients, this writer would like to
comment upon Senator Robert A. Taft's ma
tional health insurance program The Senator
summarizes his program thusy: ut attempts to
provide only for those who are unable to pay
for essential medical services, leaving those
who are able to pay free to do as they choose
with reference to obtaining medical service"
In this bitter theological debate over national
health insurance Senator Tafts veto power
can dictate to taxpayers. 1t is his program
or none. He afirms that only the INDECENT and
underprivileged shall be the benefciaries of
Federal aid in meeting the bankrupting burd-
ems of health hazards. This imposes w. P. A.
national health insurance program upon tax
paying doctors and patients. Nothing could
be more New Dealish than bluntly to dictate
that only the INDECENT shall benefit by Federal
planning Definitely, Mr.. Roosevelt was more
subtle in his Santa Claus role and bid for the
political support of those who cannot pay their
way. -r..
Senator Taft opposes "federalizng the whole
undertaking and turning over this tremendous
field to bureaucrats in Washington" But it
will take bureaucrats or their equivalent to
determine who is INDECENT and how long they
will remain INDECENT. There will be many
juicy political plum in appointing those who
have the power to spend this taxpayers dole.
In debating this w. P. A. health plan, Senator
Taft forgets that most of us were not born
with silver spoons in our mouths. Unkind fate
may make those now solvent the exploited
victims of this class conscious health insur-
ance program.
Senator Taft insists his program would
encourage the development of health insur-
ance funds for persons who may wish to take
advantage of such insurance and protect them
selves against future occurrence of some form
of catastrophe illnesses" This postulates the
social sufficiency of voluntary and CONNER
cial health insurance programs. Apparently.
Senator Taft believes voluntary programs meet
the reasonable expectations of intelligent tax
payers for prepayable low cost, noncancellable
cost-spreading self-help in meeting the rapidly
rising costs of health hazards. If Senator
Taft so believes, he becomes apologist for the
admitted weaknesses of all voluntary health
insurance. These weaknesses are lack OF
remedy for protection lag and protection
lapse"
Protection lag pertains to mandatory
waiting period which must elapse before the
insured Is eligible for promised benefits. Health
insurance covering childbearing is the classi-
cal example. To prove the hazard did not
exist at the time the policy was issued no in
surance protection is afforded pregnancy or
any of its complications during qualifying 10
month period. But the stork often ignores
this cautious penny wise bankers decree. Many
a new taxpayer is born during the regimented
protection lag
Protection lapse" is total forfeiture Of all
insurance benefits for failure to pay insurance
premiums on schedule. AS champion of the
profit system, Senator Taft convincingly may
argue that such stupidity, improvidence or
negligence deserves this heartbreaking penalty.
Yet, unless the social conscience Of the in
telligent electorate demands solvent remedy.
the innocent and helpless will continue to
suffer. Unlike voluntary health insurance.
national health insurance dare not piously
wash it's hands by cynically declaring that the
victims deserve their misfortune. The intefi-
gent voter and weary taxpayer will challenge
Candidate Taft with this reasonable query:
How does your national health insurance pro-
gram propose to remedy the protection lag
and protection lapse of voluntary insurance?
But maybe Candidate Taft expects to win
the presidency by playing Doctor Santa Claus
to the INDECENT -
THOMAS MATT1NGLY, M. D.