The recently released critique of the Senate Healthcare Proposal commissioned by the insurance industry entitled "Potential Impact of Health Reform on the Cost of Private Health Insurance coverage" lays out the worst case scenario for healthcare reform. According to the document, there are four provisions included in the Senate Finance Committee proposal that could increase premiums by 111% over the next ten years.

1) Insurance market reforms coupled with a weak coverage requirement,

2) A new tax on high-cost health care plans,

3) Cost-shifting as a result of cuts to Medicare, and

4) New taxes on several health care sectors.

According to the report, if we do nothing, healthcare premiums will increase by 79% over the same time period.

A spokesperson for the Senate Finance Committee disputed the findings of the report, referring to it as a "hatchet job."

Regardless of the outcome of tomorrows vote, it seems clear that the American people are still going to be paying more for their healthcare then anyone else on the planet.

Has anyone considered healthcare vouchers? With every one of the developed countries paying less than half what we do in the US for healthcare, it seems clear that vouchers would allow us to have cost effective universal coverage in a free market environment even with the added expense of airfare.

I hear Cuba's even cheaper.

Just sayin'.