Limit procedures that are covered

I would like to start a discussion concerning ACA health care about what medical procedures should be paid for and which medical procedures should not be paid for. Medical procedures not covered could always be done if paid for by the individual. Unless our legislators put easy-to-understand limits and rules in place two possibilities will happen. First, if any procedure anyone wants will be done at government expense, then the cost will make ACA too costly. Second, if there are no easy-to-understand limits then every procedure and every new procedure will go to litigation, costing the taxpayers, us, millions.

I would suggest two simple tests. First, from the medical Hippocratic oath, “Do no harm.” Second, if it is normal physiology leave it alone and don’t change it. Following these simple rules: ACA should cover all medical emergency situations, all ongoing illnesses or medical problems, preventive annual physicals, vaccines, etc. If people don’t want any of these covered procedures they could sign a waiver and opt out.

ACA should not cover circumcisions, genital mutilations or abortions. In the first two mentioned, harm is done to the infant’s body. Abortion should not be covered because normal physiology produces a baby, abortion does not. ACA should not cover facelifts, tummy tucks, nose jobs or any other procedure done only for cosmetic reasons. None of these are normal physiology, they are not needed, only wanted. ACA should not cover sex changes. Surgical sex changes are not normal physiology, they are not needed for health only wanted.

Any of the procedures listed as not covered could be done if the person who wants them pays for them. Following the rules above, all health problems are paid for and taken care of by ACA health care. All problems and procedures that are not normal physiology, or do harm can be done at the expense of the person desiring them, but are not included in government-paid-for health care. So what’s your opinion?

Pat Jack

Snohomish