Mass. voters have coverage; to heck with the rest of us

So let’s get this straight: Massachusetts voters like having universal health care for themselves but don’t want the rest of us – including 3.8 million uninsured in Florida – to get it?

That’s the conclusion one could draw from the weird turn of events Tuesday night, when a special election for Sen. Ted Kennedy’s seat ended in a victory for the Republican Scott Brown.

Republicans claim that Brown’s victory signals a collapse in Pres. Obama’s drive to pass a far-reaching overhaul of the health insurance system. They celebrated along with insurers, whose stocks soared on Wall Street.

But hold on: If Massachusetts voters are so unhappy with universal health care, passed in 2006, why haven’t they repealed it? It’s had some struggles, but most accounts say it’s popular. Brown himself voted for it in the State Senate. 

Experts say Americans have soured on the health overhaul because the majority have insurance through large employer groups and thus don’t see any upside for them.  They haven't imagined themselves in the shoes of one of the millions of people who's lost coverage.

As one of those who will soon lose my coverage because my COBRA is running out, I can imagine it all too well.

I agree with Brian Klepper (see his column on the Opinion page). Voters saw the deals that the President had to make with the hospitals and doctors and insurers and drug companies – and even members of Congress -- to get a plan passed. He had to give away so much that he couldn’t cut the costs to businesses and consumers, an absolute necessity.

Brian says the control of Congress by lobbyists has to be cut before costs can be. And he’s right. 

But in the meantime, what are we to do? We can’t all move to Massachusetts. Frankly, it’s just too cold. 

 --Contact Carol Gentry at 727-410-3266 or by e-mail.