Rising Health Care Costs

I read and hear a lot about rising health care costs. Everyone says we have to do something to help people pay for their health care. I understand that the president covered it in his SOTU address a few days ago. He wants to come up with medical savings plans or something like that. I've got a better idea. Make all medical expenses a tax credit. Lower everyones federal and state income tax by $1 for every $1 they spend on doctors, medicine, and even health care insurance premiums. In fact, why not do the same thing for food and nutrition costs. After all, there is nothing that the federal or state government does for us that is as important to us as our own health. Better that we take the money we are paying in as income tax and pay for things that will keep us healthy or cover the cost of treatment when we get sick.

Some folks are so poor that they currently can't afford to pay for health care. They should not be paying any income tax already. If they are, give it all back to them. If that isn't enough, then they should qualify for the earned income credit.

I know that this plan would take a bite out of what the government(s), federal and state are collecting in income tax revenue, but as I said before, nothing that the government(s) do for us is as important to us as our own health.