There's no such thing as a free operation

My new commentary published in today's Washington Examiner:

There's no such thing as a free operation
Byron York ("The White House's phony case for its health plan," Politics column, Tuesday) challenges the cherry-picking use of positive healthcare poll responses to questions regarding requiring coverage by businesses, by all Americans and for preexisting conditions.
Besides negative public perceptions of the legislation in its entirety, even the positive poll responses are misleading, since the questions only pose a partial reality.
Mandating coverage by businesses, for example, would also force some small businesses to cut jobs or forgo new hires at a time of high unemployment.
Mandating that all Americans purchase insurance raises questions of constitutionality and forces healthy younger Americans to subsidize the health bills of older Americans.
Mandating insurance company coverage of pre-existing conditions would help many patients, but a full disclosure must acknowledge higher premiums to cover the costs.
In healthcare reality, there is no such thing as a free lunch. It's time the President acknowledge that fact and practice the transparency he preaches.
Jonathan Imbody
Vice President for Government Relations, Christian Medical Association Washington