As a health insurance broker specializing in small businesses I vividly witness the need for health care reform on a daily basis and I fully support addressing that need, even at the risk to my own livelihood.  There is much anticipation for reform in the marketplace I serve, especially the sole proprietors and husband/wife businesses, but much of that anticipation is based on an unsound premise that needs to be rapidly defused.  Before announcing the specifics of a health care reform plan, whatever it might be, the American people at large sorely need to be educated about health care and responsibility.  There are many Americans under age 65 who, probably due to rich employer provided benefits in the past, seriously believe that health insurance is an entitlement.  Compounding that with the fact that the Democratic Party is now at the helm of government and billions of dollars have been spent on other programs, I hear on a daily basis the growing expectation of free health insurance in the near future.  I’ve listened carefully to President Obama and, while I’m quite confident this is not going to be the case, I believe it is incumbent upon the President to lay some precise groundwork for the upcoming reform before the American people right away.  The message should be, in a nutshell: 

(1) Health care for those under 65 has never been an entitlement in America and it is not going to be so in the foreseeable future. 

(2)  It is the responsibility of government to ensure that the health insurance industry treats everyone fairly and without discrimination due to health conditions. 

(3)  It is the responsibility of every American to purchase health insurance for himself and his family. 

(4)  For those who might suffer economic hardship from purchasing a policy, the government will provide subsidy. 

This message had better be sent now, before the growing expectation I mentioned above becomes so commonplace that even the best reform bill will be regarded negatively by the American public.