I have received questions from many clients over the last several months asking about what health care reform means and what it will or will not do. Unfortunately, I myself have more questions than answers. Here are the questions I think we need to ask ourselves, and be able to answer, before deciding to either support, not support, or partially support “Reform”.

1. Which bill(s) are we referring to? There are over 6 bills circulating right now and the two front runners are likely to be merged soon.

2. What is the effect of the over 1,200 amendments to these bills? Will the amendments done at the request of the special interests neutralize any positive aspects intended? (Health Insurance Agents like myself just had a successful amendment added, can you guess what is was?)

3. What is the main problem we are trying to solve? Health Care spending or covering as many uninsured as possible? They are inversely related and none of the current bills adequately address both.

4. Do we want competition, regulation, de-regulation across state lines, etc.?

5. Will reform make us healthier, or just provide more customers to the health care and prescription drug industry?

6. Will the reform efforts help/make us change our lifestyles, the only way we will ever get healthier as a nation?

7. Should we bring back Richard Simmons and “Sweating to the Oldies”?

8. Would mandated insurance coverage for all be of enough benefit to outweigh the loss of personal choice?

I appreciate hearing so much feedback from all of you, so let me know what questions you think we should be asking!