The swamp is on fire. Flames are spreading throughout the executive and legislative branches of government. There’s not enough water in the Potomac River to put out all the fires engulfing Washington, D.C. ignited by the mainstream media which is fanning the flames.

The weeks are filled with heated arguments between Democrats and Republicans last week over President Donald Trump firing FBI Director James Comey, the congressional investigations into Trump’s campaign officials and Russians, and the Michael Flynn mess, the stalled healthcare fight in the U.S. Senate, the sanctuary city controversy clogging up the courts, and on and on. and don’t forget the impending Senate confirmation fight over Comey’s replacement.

It sure is easy to see that not much is being done for hundreds of millions of everyday Americans, who risk losing their healthcare coverage with each passing day. This issue affects every American citizen – young and old alike. No other issue right now – except for national security — is more important or more contentious than healthcare.

We all have a pre-existing condition at birth — it’s called death.

Large healthcare insurance provider Aetna announced last week that by the end of 2017 they will no longer participate in former President Obama’s Affordable Healthcare Act of 2010 — better known as ObamaCare — due to multi-million-dollar losses, according to news reports. The heat is on for the U.S. Senate to continue the work passed on to them by the U.S. House of Representatives, but the Senate is embroiled in everything but working on healthcare. So let’s make it easy on the U.S. Senate and do their homework for them.

Here’s an easy to understand 12-point Universal Healthcare Plan that’s been floating around Facebook. This plan should be made available to all American citizens through a single-payer source – the United States Federal Government.

Probably more sooner than later American voters will demand something like this plan from the U.S. government, as many other governments throughout the world already provide for their citizens. This plan would not prohibit the purchase of private health care insurance nor would it deny the possible need for small monthly payroll deductions from individual wage earners or those needing family coverage, or small monthly payments from non-working citizens to off-set government costs.

1) No applicable pre-existing conditions.
2) No life-time pay caps.
3) All health conditions would be covered from birth to death including surgical care.
4) Comprehensive family care for obstetrics, prenatal care and newborn infant care.
5) Include all normal requirements for preventive care including vaccinations and routine health-checkups for all citizens regardless of age.
6) Maximum payment cap of $10 on any required prescription medication including treatment of catastrophic illness.
7) Comprehensive eye and dental care.
8) No-cap limit on hospitalization or limited hospital service based on diagnosis or reason for hospitalization.
9) Liberal long-term home health care and services for treatment of people best maintained at home.
10) No limits on residential treatment in a skilled nursing facility.
11) Durable medical equipment to be offered at a fixed-rate, one time use i.e. wheelchair purchase for $20, ongoing health supplies i.e. respiratory care, diabetic care, etc., with supplies offered at a fixed-rate in keeping with $10 prescription medication costs.
12) Mental health care, psychiatric care, drug and alcohol treatment regimens including residential housing to be determined on a case-by-case basis of need.

This 12-point plan needs to be cost estimated to produce an accurate annual figure based upon reality, not past fantasies like ObamaCare. Using this figure, the United States budget can be cut accordingly, reducing the profitability of healthcare across the board, in every nook and corner of medical care, and pay for Universal Healthcare for all.

The money now made in healthcare — over and above actual costs — is obscene. Case in point, look at the compensation packages for CEOs of hospital chains and big pharma – the top-20 CEOs made between $14 to $47 million dollars each in 2015, according to Beckers Hospital Review — money better spent directly on real healthcare for real people – not lavish lifestyles. Even 2010 figures for non-profit hospital CEOs show an average compensation package exceeded $2.3 million – that was seven years ago!

Washington had better get moving because in just under 18 months are the 2018 mid-term elections in which all 435 members of the U.S. House are up for re-election as are 34 U.S. Senate seats — as well as 36 state governors. In six months those running for re-election won’t have time to get anything done while they are busy campaigning and begging for donations.

The American public will see delay after delay played out every day on TV news and social media. It’s time for the real movers and shakers in Washington to stand up and be counted. Where is the congressional leadership?

President Trump needs to light a fire under the U.S. Senate to get back to work on healthcare and quit chasin’ the shadows. Voters can and will further ‘drain the swamp’ on Nov. 6, 2018. Every day this clock is ticking away.

About the Author

Britt Nelson relocated to Costa Rica in 2011 from Florida, where he served as news editor for the Palatka Daily News, a newspaper owned by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group (NYT-RNG) for 20 years.

Nelson served the NYT-RNG for 18 years in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida as a correspondent, reporter, staff writer, senior staff writer training new reporters, copy editor, page designer, editorial writer, editorial page editor and editorial board member