As I've written before on this blog, I have opposed the health insurance mandate in the health care bill because I feel it removes our freedom of choice to spend our health care dollars on alternative medicine.

While I've had some say to me, "but you can get some health insurance plans that cover alternative health," these plans will never cover more esoteric things such as Reiki or other types of energy healing. (Never mind that I don't want the health insurance industry to start encroaching on my Reiki business.)

The health care bill as it stands will mean that in 2014, all Americans will have to buy health insurance, whether they want it or not. Tax credits aren't going to help you each month when you have a hefty bill to pay. From one analyst's calculations, the anticipated cost for an individual will be around $15,000/year, and you will not be able to get a catastrophic policy anymore:

You cannot buy a catastrophic policy any more. The "cheapest" acceptable policy will cost somewhere around $15,000 for a single person, and over $20,000 for a family. This is, for most people, more than five times the maximum possible fine - each and every year. The law makes it effectively impossible to maintain an existing catastrophic policy as they "renew" every year, and should any change be made you are then forced to buy something "acceptable" in the law (or pay the fine.)

(More here: http://market-ticker.denninger.net/archives/2109-Health-Care-Arbitrage-O...)

Whether or not you like the rest of the health care bill, the insurance mandate is a troubling encroachment on the freedom of Americans to choose how they want to maintain their health. Denver's Channel 7 has a fairly balanced article on how such a mandate interferes with individual religious and spiritual beliefs:

The reform bill will require those who can afford health insurance, like Perkins, to purchase it – or risk a fine. Fines are currently estimated to be $700 to $800 annually or two percent of a person's annual income.

Timothy McNamara practices Reiki, also known as Japanese palm healing. Reiki is a holistic health practice currently not covered by health insurance providers.

"Reiki is an excellent preventative health care practice," said McNamara. “It’s based on the concept we use our hands to heal and balance our body.”

McNamara says he has clients who don’t believe they should be punished for not purchasing health insurance. His philosophy is that Reiki compliments medicine.

(More here: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/22959188/detail.html)

Unfortunately, the health care debate has been highly politicized, with people who oppose the bill being painted with a single brush of "right wing extremist." I believe the health insurance mandate is an issue that is neither owned by the left or right. It is a basic human rights issue, one that transcends political parties. We have a right to choose how to manage our own health.

If you agree, and you'd like to help fight the mandate, I've started a group called "Americans for Alternative Health Care Freedom" on Facebook. It is free to join. All you need is a Facebook account.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=104777196223021

The group will also work on other issues such as FDA regulation of supplements and government intrusion into alternative health care practices.

Please share with your friends. Namaste.