The official White House Blog has established a new "snitch" line for people to rat on those scoundrels who are daring to try to thwart the effort by the President and Congressional Democrats to implement health care "reform":

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care.  These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation.  Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.

Well, I happen to have found some disinformation circulating around concerning the proposed healthcare "reform" plan, so I decided to take advantage of the "snitch line".  I'm guessing that my letter isn't what they had in mind, however:

re:  Misinformation About Proposed Healthcare Reform

Dear White House Rumormongering And Truth Telling (RATT) Service:

Thank you for the opportunity to report misinformation and rumormongering that has been circulating regarding the proposals by the President and Congressional Democrats to reform our healthcare system.  It is important that we ensure an intellectually-honest debate about how best to reform such a vital aspect of our economy.

Unfortunately, I am having to report President Barack Obama as a provider of misinformation.  As posted on the official White House Blog, "the President has consistently said that if you like your insurance plan, your doctor, or both, you will be able to keep them."   However, reading Section 102 of the current bill under consideration in the House of Representatives (HR3200, "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009"), there is a limitation on new enrollment in health insurance offered by private companies, and limitations on any changes in "terms or conditions, including benefits and cost sharing" after the first day of "Y1" — the calendar year in which this act becomes law.  Section 102 contradicts President Obama's promise of being able to keep one's current plan if the plan was started or changed any time in this year.

I also need to report your website, healthreform.gov .  This website promises health care reform that, among other things, would "Guarantee choice of doctors and health plans".  However, Section 122 defines the minimum requirements for any health care plan — the "essential benefits package" — that every plan would have to meet.  That's hardly "guarantee[d] choice".  This effectively means per Section 122(b)(9) that I would be forced to purchase a plan that includes "Maternity care", in spite of the physical impossibility of my ever becoming pregnant (I'm a man).  And by mandating other "essential" coverages, such as prescription drugs and substance abuse, for example, that precludes my own personal choice of, say, getting a high-deductible policy that doesn't cover day-to-day expenses but rather only protects against a "catastrophic" expense.

I recognize that the President's speeches and websites aren't really "below the surface", but thanks for the opportunity to turn in these obvious cases of rumormongering and misinformation.  I hope whoever is in charge of this service will properly chastise the President and correct the record accordingly.

Sincerely,
Dave Smith
Houston, TX