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My Health Care Freedom Plan
Posted July 19, 2010 in Health Care
In many ways, our health care system is broken. Even people satisfied with their own care are nervous about losing it, concerned about rising costs, and frustrated by the failure of government to bring about genuine reform. But the reason Congress has so far been unable to fix our health care problems is that Congress is too busy creating the problems in the first place. That’s why the current proposals emanating from the White House and congressional Democrats won’t work either. Those proposals would hand over the most personal, private undertaking of our lives — health care — to the most impersonal, inefficient, and broken system in our society — the federal bureaucracy.
These programs will only grow government, limit options, encourage waste and abuse, and ultimately lead to rationing of health care by bureaucrats and politicians in Washington. If you’ve ever wondered if there might be a better way, then my new Health Care Freedom Plan might be for you.
The plan, which I introduced last month in the Senate, is the opposite of a government takeover like HillaryCare in 1994 or ObamaCare this year. It does not force any American off of their current plan, but provides them with the ability to access and own a health plan that best meets his or her needs. Compared to the Democrats’ plan, my bill will cover more uninsured Americans, in half the time, at no cost because it will be paid for entirely by terminating the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and reclaiming the Wall Street bailout funds over the next five years.
Here’s how it works:
My plan puts individuals back in control of their health care decisions by offering every American a health care voucher — worth $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for families — to purchase a plan that best works for them. It doesn’t force anyone who likes their employer-sponsored health care to leave it. If you like your current plan, you can keep it. If you don’t have insurance, or if you do have insurance but might want to shop around, you can claim the voucher. My plan finally allows comparable tax benefits for those without employer-sponsored care, like small business workers and the self-employed.
The plan also breaks down barriers and creates a nationwide insurance market that doesn’t restrict individuals from purchasing insurance plans in other states. It also allows greater flexibility to use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to pay for insurance premiums.
To bring down overall health care costs, my bill reduces predatory malpractice lawsuits against physicians and hospitals and brings more transparency to the industry by requiring that true costs of health care are disclosed before patients receive treatment. My plan also ensures that Americans with pre-existing health conditions would be provided access to affordable coverage through federal block grant funding of state high-risk projects.
Americans should have access to health insurance that they can afford, own, and keep — and that the government can never take over or take away. The Health Care Freedom Plan guarantees every American’s freedom to choose and own a plan that is best for them. You can rest assured that I will continue to fight for real reforms that allow Americans to regain control of their health care choices.
83 Comments to “My Health Care Freedom Plan”
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Senator DeMint:
I agree with your plan, but offer suggestions for additional provisions:
1. Require insurance companies allow policies to be transferred to any state where they already have a presence and do business. When I moved to SC, I could not transfer my policy with United Health, even thought they do business in SC.
2. Provide incentives to physicians to educate their patients with the benefits and risks of various treatment options. This may help reduce the medical cost if patients understand there may be less expensive treament options, but leaving the decision being made to the doctor and patient.
3. Require all physicians to have an electronic record keeping process that can be shared with the patients’ other physicians (e.g. specialists). This will help reduce medical errors in prescribing drugs, share laboratory test results resulting in fewer tests, etc.
Please do all you can from giving government the power to make my healthcare decisions or choose my insurer or doctor,
This whole healthcare argument is a New Deal mentality. The federal government was never intended to provide healthcare insurance to people, nor homes, nor bank loans, nor smart grids, etc. We don’t want the federal gov’t taking over and killing capitalism. We also want to keep our sovereignty as a nation, we want to keep our firearms and our free speech. You ask, what the number one problem with the government run healthplan is? The answer is that the fed’l government is in it. Also, every politician is negotiating this as though the problem, as outlined by progressives and supported by mainstream media, is the true picture. I suspect it is overblown to crises proportion in order to provide a vehicle for ‘Change.’
Dear Senator DeMint:
Thank you so much for your excellent work in the area of Health Care Reform. We are a doctor household and are truly frightened by the HR 3200 being proposed and voted on. We prefer to see common-sense reforms rather that a government plan. Please let me know what I can do to help. Keep us in the loop on who we can call/write.
Yours Truly,
Kim Comisar
Agreed!
I prefer your alternative. Thank you Senator DeMint!
This will maintain our liberties while filling a gap in health insurance for many.
Less government, more freedom of choice, and yes, empower those in economic need to be more in control of their own destiny. Good plan!
I just emailed a friend, and he thinks your plan will require a family to plop down $5000 for your plan. I told him that the government will provide the $5000 for the family, paid for by the TARP funds.
Who is correct?
Thanks.
Please include TORT REFORM in your plan. Without it significant cost savings will not accrue. Thanks
How about a tax credit to those who do ‘preventive maintenance’ — in other words: exercise and healthy eating, or simply not overeating.
It seems that you are receiving comments with many valid points, so it is difficult to find just one reason the O’Plan is out of the question. There are many areas of waste in our current system and, of course, the fraud is also costly.
As a taxpayer, I deeply resent picking up the tab for those who did not enter this country legally. As a daughter, I see firsthand how the elderly are at risk when it comes to healthcare. As a mother, I worry about the impact of rising healthcare for the next generation. As a grandmother, I wonder if these small children will ever know the country we all have enjoyed. And, finally, as a life-long worker and responsible consumer, I am offended to think that when I am no longer deemed ‘useful’ to society that I will be left to fend for myself. When a citizen has a lifetime of responsible behavior, has supported those in need along the way, and has willingly paid into the government coffers rather than search for loopholes, it comes as a slap in the face to know that it meant nothing to those who came along next.
Just this week, I sent my son a copy of your book. Keep up the good fight! You have many who are supporting you! Please keep us informed on ways in which we may help!
Senator DeMint,
You remind me of Ronald Reagan! Keep getting your face in front of the cameras. Keep talking about a better way to reform health care so that everyone can seek medical services when needed regardless of age, disability , pre-existing conditions, wealth or lack of. We are proud of you! Keep up the fight..Obamacare MUST NOT become LAW. It will DENY health care to millions more than those who don’t have it now.
Obamacare is Socialism. Please continue to stand strong against Obama’s attacks.
Senator DeMint,
Bless you for all you are doing. As a retired registered nurse, I can tell you there are many things wrong with the current health system. However, the Obama plan and that of most other Democrats is not the way to fix it. Please consider tort reform to stop the frivolous malpractice law suits. Please also consider the HUGE amount of money being spent to provide medical care to illegal immigrants. This has actually caused entire hospitals to close, and that lost income is passed on in inflated cost to the citizens of this country who are paying for their own health care either out of pocket or with health care insurance. When I was still on the job, I took care of several patients who had come to the U.S. from other countries for care. NONE of them liked the government controlled care. I heard horror stories such as: “People 50 and older are not allowed care in an Intensive Care Unit as the govt. says they are a waste of money. People with disabilities and premature infants are not given the care they would get in the U.S. People with chronic disorders cannot get the care they can get in the U.S.” These patients came to the U.S. and paid out of pocket for a level of care that helped them but that they were denied in their countries. My husband ended up in an emergency room in Canada a few years ago. It was a nightmare! We have Canadian friends one of whom has a teenaged son with a torn ligament in his knee. That happened last November, He is still waiting for the surgery and by now his knee will be much more difficult to repair. I resent having to pay for people who do not wish to do any amount of work even though they are able. We have created a society filled with people who have little to no work ethic and the rest of the hard working people are paying their way. I respect very much immigrants who are here legally. They are hard workers and do pay their own way. I do not mind helping them. People who break our border laws and are here illegally should not be qualifying for any sevices or benefits as that takes money away from U.S. citizens who need our help. I do not want my care rationed just because I am older. My health care decisions should be between me and my doctor. Let me have my own money and a competitive market and I will purchase the care I need for a female of my age. Any government involvement frightens me to death. Again, thanks for be willing to help us. Not many in government are doing that these days. They just want to control all aspects of our lives and go against the Constitution.
Senator,
I applaud your efforts. You seem to one of the lone voices of reason in a sea of insanity. I’ve been a registered democrat my entire life, in the past 18-24 months I have come to realize that is wrong, I am a conservative. I live in a Republican county in a heavily Democrat state (NJ). I work in state government doing what I love to do, but have become increasingly frustrated with the liberal agenda and have to say you give me hope.(kinda funny after the last November election isn’t it?)
We have the best healthcare system in the world, can it be made better, by increasing access and controlling prices? of course it can. Should the government take it over? NO WAY!
As I said I work in government and if there is one thing government cannot do is control prices. I have experienced first had the system that leads to $700 hammers. the federal government was set up by the states to handle certain things in a centralized manner, like national defense. It works for the states, not the other way around, and until those inside the beltway remember that, by those outside constantly reminding them, we are in trouble. We have to keep pounding away with the message that this is the Land of the Free, until they come to their senses, and if they don’t we have to vote them out.
We are to believe that the same government that has bankrupted Medicare, Medicaid, & Social Security, and caused a near meltdown of our economy, are somehow capable of providing 300 million people with great healthcare after only a few weeks of partisan debate. Yea, let’s turn our healthcare over to Peloski, Franks, Wrangle, & Reid. This will put in great shape, & caring hands.
Dear Mr. DeMint,
Thank you for taking a stand and showing the opposition that we are not going to sit back and let it all roll by! We appreciate your trips to Charleston for the Tea Parties and will continue to stand behind the American principles and the foundations of this country.
Obama is running scared and you have him and his administration on the ropes. The more people listen, really listen to what is coming with these ridiculous proposals the more common sense will prevail. Please stay out there and fight! It is beyond me how he can stand in front of the Country on national TV and admit that he hasn’t read the bills!!!!!
And just to know that he would not take the new plan for his own family is enough for me to know that is is not good enough for mine!
Please keep us informed as to what we as citizens can do to help you!
Keep up the good fight!
Cathy Griffith
Charleston, SC
Jim, I object to Obama Care for the same reasons that you do. However what ever plan gets passed I think that if it is good enough for the rest of the legal citizens, then congress should have to use it, no Exceptions!!! All the best, Bob Williams 864-246-0318
Senator,
While I can appreciate you and the rest of the GOPs seemingly positive experiment in ‘reaching out to the people’, I see that this is simply another way of spreading your propaganda which has continuously confused and poisoned the minds of good American people. It saddens me, honestly, that you misconstrue the truth, while espousing that you don’t want to play politics, when in fact, that is what you are doing. Blaming the current administration for our current economic misfortunes?? Come on. The debt was created by a republican administration, a ‘conservative administration’, who choose not even to deal with healthcare, while millions of American people lost theirs. Furthermore, the very idea that anyone can agree with this current system simply is not paying attention. And please people, PLEASE stop continuously misusing the term socialism. Obama simply wants to give you another option, not taking what you have away. If you want to continue to pay for overpriced healthcare, hey, this is America. You can waste money however you choose. If this were true socialism there would be NO private health care option. Got it?
Ok, that’s it. Please feel free to respond. I’ll let you back to your Klan… uhm… political… uhm… whatever rally… sorry… discussion.
Sincerely,
Ro
Senator DeMint,
Whoa!! I just read the comment before mine. We’ve got to get the truth out to naive and misinformed people like Ro who really believe what the president says – that people who want to will be able to keep their healthcare plans if this bill passes. The govenment’s plan will drive out the competition and then tell us and our doctors what treatment we are allowed to have! There are big incentives to employers to drop their health plans and penalties for people who don’t. Read the bill, Ro.
I’m also pretty sick and tired of hearing the excuse, “I inherited this deficit.” We are WAY past that amount now, and anyway, Congressional Dems helped us get that way in the last part of Bush’s admin.
I was amazed to hear about the TV ad – a total lie – that said you were for no healthcare plan at all. I am aware of the many times you have introduced healthcare reform, and I thank you for it. I really feel that if Republicans had addressed this issue and passed true reform when they had the chance, being in the majority, we would not be where we are now with people so fed up that they would vote any Dem. into office, no matter what he stood for or believed in.
Everyone I come in contact with is furious about Congressional leadership trying to rush this bill through. We were outraged when we heard that the “spending spree stimulus bill” was passed without having been read by many, that amendments were added in the middle of the night before they could be read. That sounds unconstitutional to me.
Ok…ideas on healthcare.
I really like your plan. One of my favorite parts is the idea that people with pre-existing conditions will be able to afford coverage. If my husband had not served in the military for 20 years, I would not have health coverage today, because I have a pre-existing condition.
I hope your plan will offer a solution to this kind of situation: My father had a number of health insurance plans which he paid into for many years, while he was a healthy guy. Yet, when he had heart surgery and needed them, all but one company dropped him, and his remaining plan through the ADA was only good as long as he kept his dental practice going. They all took his money and ran.
Yes, I do feel that we need a plan for those who truly cannot afford healthcare. I like your ideas on how to fund it. This does not mean that I support nationalized healthcare for all of us. I do not want a government plan forced down my throat. I happen to cherish my freedom of choice.
One thing we have got to do to bring down healthcare costs is to reduce the amount of ridiculous malpractice awards. Our litigation system is broken by greed, as evidenced by the constant parade of lawyer ads across our TV screens, encouraging us to sue people, especially our doctors, drug companies (they MADE us take that pill) and tobacco companies (they MADE us smoke).
We need a plan that helps seniors (who have worked all their lives and paid their taxes) to afford their medications. I want an incentive, a reward for people who work hard and pay taxes.
I want a plan that provides the best possible care for our veterans, especially those who have been wounded physically and mentally by war. We can do more for them, and we should honor them in the way we care for them when they come home.
Another thing that might help is to do away with our current income tax system and go to a fair tax system, based on a national sales tax approach. Those who buy more will pay more in taxes. That will also cause more people to pay taxes who don’t usually – such as drug lords, gangs, illegal immigrants, Willie Nelson type tax evaders, and even appointed government officials. It would be much more simple and effective than what we have now. We might need some type of tax reduction on certain “food staples”, so that the very poor are not burdened.
My husband and I enjoyed meeting you at your book signing in Charleston on July 4. Good book! Thank you for serving us in Washington. We will continue to pray for your moral courage in standing up for what you believe in.
Sincerely,
Beth Calhoun Alford
Thanks for all the great work. Thanks for being a voice of reason and making constructive suggestions such as your health care plan. I like the basics of the plan, though I’d like more details.
However I don’t like the means of funding it. The tarp money is money our country could not afford to spend in the first place. How about finding funding by cutting other expenses. There is too much duplication of powers by the federal and state governments. The federal government could stand a serious downsizing. Then it could have a chance of focusing on the limited role it should have and doing it well.
I also agree we need to find a way to reduce health care fraud.. Surely somewhere among the people working in the medicare/medicaid system are some bright people with some ideas on how to do this.
Keep up the good work. If we can help, let us know how.
James Krog
AMERICA is a beacon of hope for every other country in the world that has government run
healthcare. Kings and noble man from all over the globe come to AMERICA for medical care
because we have the BEST healthcare in the world. That said, we need to get to the heart of the matter. Our healthcare system is strained by the millions of illegal aliens who come here,
have babies every 9 months that we not only foot the bill for but continue to pay for entitlements they should not be entitled to. These are Mexican citizens. Why should the American taxpayers be burdened? Send their medical bills to the Mexican government for
reimburstment. STOP taken advantage of the hard working AMERICAN people. Stop the abuses by the American government. STOP BLEEDING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Jo Mauro, SC
Beth,
Ha, you silly minx, you slay me. I did read the bill, which is why I know you don’t know what you’re talking about, much like most of the people here. Firstly, there are going to be incentives and penalties for businesses who do not choose the public option. However, all people in America do not get their insurance through their jobs, instead choosing, say it with me, their own private insurance plan… which is not going away. Did you get that? The ability to overspend on your own insurance plan is not going away. And quite frankly, I find your argument conflicted, because you complain about healthcare costs on one hand, but so willingly absorb the inaccuracies your party is feeding you about a cheaper, and potentially better quality option. Is the bill perfect. No, of course not. I have several problems with the bill myself. However, healthcare costs are OUTRAGEOUS, which is something we can both agree on. Obama is presenting an idea. And instead of falling in rank in file, I would suggest you actually read it for yourself instead of listening the rambling of conservative senators, whose campaigns are funded by the very same people who are responsible for driving cost up. Do your research. The very same conservatives who are trying to shoot this proposal down are on the payroll of the big pharma companies who do not want to see this happen. Yes, including your boy Jim DeMint, who has received handsome contributions from Henry McKinnel who is the chairman of Pfizer. I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials.
Contrary to popular conservative belief, Mexicans, gang lords(haha!), illegal immigrants, other people of color stereotypes you mention are not the problem. As an American, tax paying citizen, it appalls and somewhat disgusts me that people are so willing to believe what ever they are told, and blame the issues on the victims. Immigrants do not make policy. Gang lords do not drive up drug costs. The ones that are bleeding the American people are the very same ones you have put into office. If you believe in your freedom of choice, exercise that right and make up your OWN MIND, instead of believing the drivel put forth by politicians whose goal is to keep you in the same state your are in now while they and the corporate interests the are in bed with, lick the bowl dry, leaving you with nothing. I would invite you all to do the research and make up your own mind. If you would like some guidance, please, feel free to ask and I will more than gladly be willing to share.
p.s. to Jo Mauro
What is your beef with Mexicans really? They do not strain our healthcare system anymore than say white people who embezzle millions from our nations financial institutions. And if they are illegal citizens, that means they do not have a social security number, which means they CANNOT receive healthcare benefits, which means, yes, they too are paying ridiculous fees for healthcare. So, you’re premise that they are the problem is ill advised at best, boarding on bigotry at worse. If you are going to complain about bleeding the American people, I would advise that you get your facts in order before presenting ideas that simply make you look uninformed and quite uneducated. Have a nice day!
Senator DeMint,
Thanks so much for all your work and support to us during these trying times. You are a great servant. I would also like to say Thank You for voting nay on the hate-crimes bill. Keep on fighting for us and may God Bless You and your family.
Jane Ferguson
Senator Demint,
This plan of yours does nothing whatsoever to address the costs of healthcare and also to take money and simply give it to the insurance companies that are gouging us in the first place is an act of insanity. You said what you honestly wanted to happen to healthcare reform when you made the political statement about President Obama that this will”break him and will be his”waterloo”. Political motivations that I find abhorrent and am incensed by. My insurance premiums have gone up and my coverage has gone down. There is something wrong with that dynamic and President Obama has committed to addressing this from the time he was campaigning and even now. You ,on the other hand, are committed to regaining power in 2010 and possibly running for President in 2012. I will continue to write and call your office to voice my opinion and my strong objections. I will write my hometown newspaper and put the truth about you and your motivations on its pages. I will not be silent about what it is you are truly trying to achieve here. The destruction of President Obama over the good and welfare of the people of the USA and SC. You have some of the poorest constituents in the USA and you continually put your own political future over the needs of the people of South Carolina just as Governor Sanford did with his rejection of the stimulus money and you did with your vote against it. I demand that though you are a senator in the Republican party that you represent all of the people of SC.
Gail Leach
Rock Hill, SC
I know we can easily trump the Obama plan. I did not have insurance for a long time. I got my children on through school and I saved for emergencies (true emergency). I have it now. I like the idea’s of tax refunds/discounts, pools of insurance companies, people that don’t want insurance that’s what they choose ok, straighten up medicare/medicaid, being able to buy wherever you wish, having the insurance companies want customers and advertise to get them (I’ve seen a lot of commercials on the TV lately), and your ideas to. Sorry, I’m not articulate or with it. I’m in pain but because I have insurance plus medicare (which we had to take), I’ll go to the doctor. Keep us informed. Like seeing you on Fox News. I realize your preaching to the choir there but, we need to know to pass it on. This internet is great. Going to another Tea Party in Aug.
note to ps to joe mauro Many immigrants use 000 00 0000. That should be easy to check right? It’s just not done.
I am not convinced about either plan. I agree with the president that there is a need for change, yet Congress is trying to rush a very complex plan thru, and I fear it may work as well(?) as the Economic Stimulus Porkage. Lately I heard predictions Pres. Obama’s plan could cost a trillion dollars. We can’t afford that. There was a suggestion, put a tax on plastic surgery to help with the cost. Some plastic surgery is needed. Why not a tax on abortions instead? Yet on the other hand, I have misgivings about the $5000 a family subsidy. I get insurance thru my wife’s employer, the State of Arizona. Before I knew we could, I looked on the open market, and the best I could find was well over $1000 a month for essentially no coverage. $5000 a year would not help. There needs to be a way real people can get covered for a reasonable amount of money. There also needs to be a way to prevent insurance companies from continuing to dump individuals and companies with group plans in order to be able to drive their profits and executives’ salaries up.
Senator DeMint,
Much like Barry Goldwater (before he went moderate near the end), Ronald Reagan and Jesse Helms during his time as Senator, you’re giving voice and leadership to a great pro-American conservative vision that has much support among the citizens of this country. Few others, certainly none among those who think the GOP needs to be an echo and not a choice, have given such clear and principled opposition to Obamacare, cash for clunker, cap and tax, and the whole fraudulent leftist “green” agenda. Myself and I know many others stand strongly in support of your leadership and look forward to the rise of a new class of principled, conservative pro-Freedom leadership.
Dean Chambers
Cape Cod, Mass.
Senator DeMint,
Can you provide information regarding the amount of money the Democrats and Republicans are being paid by the insurance companies? The mortgage industry paid the Washington politicians an enormous amount of money to hurt the country. It would be nice to know how much money the insurance industry is paying the politicians to harm the citizens of this country.
http://www.shocker23456.webs.com
Keep up the fine work you are doing Senator, you sir are one of the only true Patriots there are in Washington and we other Patriots from around the country are grateful to God for all you are doing.
God bless you sir,
A fellow Patriot
Senator DeMint,
I am pleased to see your outline of real health care reform as a response to the Democratic proposals. I am glad that the Democrats have provoked real movement toward Health Care reform. Frankly, I believe that in eight years of Republican dominance, the hard working middle class was poorly served, with shrinking real incomes, even when the economy was strong, and a health care system that costs more than any in the world and gives mediocre results. As a U.S. Senator, you enjoy the best health care system in the world, but scores of millions of Americans do not. Some years ago, in a Post and Courier poll, half of the doctors questioned said that they do not bring up treatments that they know insurance will not pay for. So we already have rationing in this country. It just masquerades as “market outcomes”. We rank 30th in the world in infant mortality rates (CIA World Factbook). We don’t do much better than Cuba at keeping babies alive. The horrific Canadian system ranks number 10. For the years 2000-2005, infant mortality rates did not improve at all (Centers for Disease Control), but we needed Democrats to take power to get health care reform moving.
I am sincerely happy to see that you do not rely on the usual hyperbolic distortions and anecdotal horror stories from other countries that are the mainstay of many Republicans. I have horror stories of health care in America within my own family.
I would urge you to look up the New Yorker (June 1st, 2009) article by Atul Gawande that compares practices in McAllen, Texas, having near the highest cost health care in the country, with, among other areas, Rochester, Minnesota near the Mayo Clinic. Medicare pays out more than twice as much per enrollee in McAllen than it does in Rochester but you can guess where patient outcomes are better. It is instructive to see what practices make health care not only better, but more cost effective.
Thank you for your principled and substantive additions to this debate. But do keep an open mind to all aspects of this debate. I myself am tickled to see insurance companies scambling to tell us they want reform, they care about their customers. As an employee of a very small business, I’ve seen my costs increase each year and more and more, my coverage reduced or denied. I’m tired of being just another profit center for an insurance company. I would welcome a public option. I agree with you that health care is our most important private undertaking. It may be too important to be just another market commodity. I would welcome political leaders that see health care as a social good, like our justice system, that creates the framework for a vibrant economy and our pursuit of happiness.
Respectfully,
David Bedard
JIM, as I sit here reading this, I had previously decided to send a campaign contrib, your proposal makes sense & is not pollitacally movtivated. I know how sick & power driven obama & his sic companions are, but I wonder why they don’t know the HELL THEY ARE CREATING FOR THEMSELFS IN THE AFTERLIFE, I FEEL SORRY FOR THEM. WE WILL WIN WITH SENATORS LIKE YOU – TK-U. Ron R.
I am very proud of you, Jim Demint, for being in Washington with the people who love and want this country to go in the right direction. We are very proud that you are our Senator. Keep up the good work! This country needs more men like you and Joe Wilson to stand up for our rights. Thank you again.
Mr. Demint, please make sure there are NO loopholes that will allow for any abortions. Not only on the federal level, but also on the state and local levels too. Everyone knows how pro-death this administration and Democrat party has become. We want it in writing that not one dime at any levels will go to kill babies. Thank you for the great work you do for America and God Bless!!!