By Richard Walrath 

There are close to 50 million Americans with no health insurance.  I would suspect that the number who can’t afford health care might also be close to 50 million.  But Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) has a plan to change all that.  Hunter says doctors can cut their office fees to $30 — if people pay up front and don’t use their insurance if they have any.  Meanwhile, doctors get to pocket the $30 without having to declare it as income.

Why, if you had insurance, would you want to pay $30 out of your pocket so that the doctor can put it into his pocket, tax free?  Besides, as everybody except Hunter knows, the office fee is just a cover charge to get you in to see the doctor.  Drugs, lab tests, procedures, are all additional costs.

Duncan Hunter should stick to doughnuts.

Articles2007 note:  Congressman Duncan Hunter represents the 52nd congressional district in the State of California and is currently a Republican Presidential candidate for the 2008 election.  You may read more about Congressman Hunter on his website http://www.gohunter08.com/