A breakthrough on universal healthcare?
By Steve Benen Monday Oct 15, 2007 1:01pm
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(Nicole: thanks to Heather for grabbing this video of Boehner discussing SCHIP on FOX News Sunday)
With the party taking a bit of a beating over its resistance to expanding access to healthcare for low-income children, Republicans on Capitol Hill apparently have a new idea: they’ll introduce a universal healthcare plan of their own.
Under fierce attack by Democrats over the children’s health insurance plan, House Minority Leader John A. Boehner said Sunday Republicans will unveil their own health care plan over the next few months.
“Republicans are working on a plan that will provide access to all Americans to high quality health insurance, make sure that we increase the quality of insurance that we have in American, and we want to foster a sprit of innovation,” said Boehner on “Fox News Sunday.” “This is a plan we’ll see over the next coming months where we put the patients in charge of their health care.”
It’s obviously too soon to say what features might be included in such a plan, though it’s safe to assume the policy won’t amount to much.
But frankly, that's not the point. The leading Republican in the House is prepared to unveil a plan that will offer universal access to “high-quality health insurance.” Whether the plan stinks is irrelevant — a proposal like this would be a major breakthrough.
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wonder if it will be like Hillary's?
another mandated handout to the insurance companies
If "insurance " is included in their plan then it'll be nothing more than rewording of the status qou.
If they want to propose real healthcare reform they've got to take insurance companies out of the picture.
crumbs to the poor on christmas day. god bless us all, everyone.
We don't want to pass SCHIP because we'll have a plan in a few months...we don't want to pass SCHIP because we'll have a plan in a few more months...we don't want to pass SCHIP because we'll have a plan in a few months after that...
Why don't we address the absurdity of "The Working Poor" while we're at it, instead of trying to provide services to this group. If somebody works in the country, they're doing their part. They shouldn't be poor.
They'll break out their plan in a Friedman unit or two.
So long as the word insurance is included in the title and body of any universal plan, the poor will not be able to afford it. Dem's don't allow this stall tactic to succeed, truly overhaul the healthcare system. SCHIP is a good start.
Will executing the poor be part of the plan?
so republicans DO have a sense of shame?
a proposal like this would be a major breakthrough.
No, I think a major breakthrough would be that the Republicans are competent enough to actually do ANYTHING that doesn't create more problems than they solve. Though I'm not holding my breath on that.
I'm already in charge of my own healthcare.
When my index finger got whacked by a sledgehammer in a fun neighborly accident, I treated the blood gushing wound myself.
Well, gee, if it's anything like their prescription Medicare plan it ought to be swell!
$10 bucks says it involves a tax cut, and gobs of cash funneled into the financial services sector.
Americans don't need "high quality health insurance." We need universal health coverage that's not subject to the whims or profit motives of insurance companies. Just like the rest of the civilized world has. That such a plan would be objectionable to Smokey Boner and the rest of the deposed Bush marionettes is icing on the cake.
i don't mean to be a naysayer, but the thought the GOP's plan will be a good plan is friggin' crazy.
it will be based on private insurance companies and their further enrichment. the GOP/new dems/ron paul will embrace any plan that relies on the mythological "free" market. as if there was such a beast.
i predict, taking the polar opposite view of steve, that this will only make matters worse. i don't think it has any potential of being a 'major breakthrough'. instead the GOP will attempt to placate the masses with a slightly better--but still abysmal--plan that will be a give away to private insurance and it will not fix the systemic failures with our healthcare system. but, in proposing a plan, it will get the issue off the political table and allow the GOP to claim "victory"
yes, i hope i am wrong. and i will openly admit it if i am. i'm pretty sure i'm not going to be wrong though....
How about this: The republicans know that the majority of Americans are demanding better healthcare, so they vote against SCHIP to make the dems seem incompetent and then put out their own plan to try to look like the harbingers of change. I wouldn't put it past them because they are disgusting. However, they might well shoot themselves in the foot if their plan is just a handout to the insurance companies and does nothing to really help the health care problem.
I knew when GM and other companies started to complain about the cost of providing insurance to their employees that things were going to change. The auto companies may not have the clout they once did, but they are still huge. I only hope we can outlast Jar-Jar and the Emperor.
NO NO NO NO NO.
It IS relevant whether the plan stinks. It should be looked at carefully and the stink highlighted. That way, when the Dems fight it because it DOES stink, they can't be accused of something like "not really being interested in universal health care".
This is a Republican plan. Of course it's going to stink.
How is this a breakthrough if it's all just talk and they don't really mean it?
Anyone want to bet it will involve tax breaks for buying insurance plus more tax breaks for insurance companies that provide a minimum of insurance? I suppose it will also contain more and more tax breaks for the top %10 and a huge tax give away to big pharma.
They want the American people to think they care...until after the 2008 election that is...
He lying. You can tell because his lips are moving. And you have to undersatn neo-con-speak. They only consider themselves "Americans". So when he says they 'are working on a plan that will provide access to all Americans to high quality health insurance...' he's talking about them, not you and me. It'll be nothing more than giving more money to the doctors, lawyers, and medical corporations.
Knowing how the Republicans operate, Boehner and the rest will prescribe lots of spiritual prayer and a box of band aids. If any further evaluations are needed, the Children's health care plan will call for further spiritual guidance and personal care provided by none other than Ted Haggerd and Mark Foley.
How many FUs until this new plan is unveiled again?
OMG, how many Republics do you reckon got struck by lightning, all at the same time??????
Here's The Plan:
You pay $2,500/person/month (voluntary) into The Plan during times of good health, and if you get sick, a hospital will take care of you. This Plan does not include drug coverage. The $2,500 is post-taxation. The $2,500 is a base rate, and may slide up or down, depending on the value of the euro. Everyone is eligible. Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
That was easy.
What's the deal with all the recent posts having links to the Politico?
navyswan @ 16:
This was basically the same thought I had when I read the repugs wanted to put out their own health insurance plan. They want to make sure they get the credit when the elections come around next year. Otherwise they really don't care-after all this bunch gets their own health insurance free for the rest of their ignoramous lives.
deezus @ 9:
No. They have a sense of self-preservation.
Is Halliburton starting an insurance company?
The GOP plan will contain some sort of poison pill. But Republicans on the campaign trail will get to say they proposed universal health care but those awful Democrats blocked it.
Maybe Boehner's plan is going to include coverage for all that eyeliner he wears and the permanent tan he sports.
Cary Grant got away with the tan, but he would never think about wearing eyeliner like Boehner does...
He just looks creepy every time I see him on TV spouting ReThug talking points and I can never look for more than 30 seconds, anyway.
HDon @ 22:
the part about the corporate giveaway is patently obvious, just like the medicare/medicaid part b. I hope the Dems don't give in to this schitt. I think even more strongly that this is an attempt to excuse any repug who upholds the veto and an attempt to buy time while the current bill expires, leaving the program in Limbo.
spinn @ 4:
Spinn has it right.
It's a distraction aimed at distracting the sheeple from the fact that the GOP has been sitting on their hands for 6 years (and more) and has the insurance and pharma industries hands in their pockets depositing huge amounts of cash...
And I'm an optimist...
Damn Socialist Commie Pinkos!!!!! Don't they know Soicalized Medicine is a gateway policy that can lead to an iron curtian crashing down on the United States? The end is near!!!
Repubs: We have a plan (it's a POS), but it's a plan. Now you Dems can't say we're not pro-healthcare. We are.
God, it takes real nerves to pull this off. It's not a breakthrough its the typical Republican end-around. A DISTRACTION!!!. Why can't Dems do this with say Bush's Iraq war funding??
Marcus Aurelius @ 29:
Exactly. They are doing it because it is politically popular not because it is the right thing to do. If it were politically popular to have 50 million people roaming the streets homeless and starving, they would do that.
Of course, this is just foot-dragging. The Repubs are just giving themselves another excuse not to support an extension of S-CHIP. And tens of millions of US citizens will have to have to carry on without a lifeline for at least another couple of Friedman Units.
The plan will include Dr. Frist diagnosing your illness from a video...start submitting those videos folks!
What we do know for sure is that it will be a dead fish wrapped in beautiful paper and a ribbon for the stupid A
Tax Breaks for people to buy private health insurance!!!! (policy paid for by the private health insurance lobby)
That will really help the 50 million uninsured Americans who most don't earn enough money to qualify to pay income taxes.
Any plan that doesn't cut out the private insurance companies and their penchant for competing by denying claims and denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions will be a faliure. The only way to get affordable universal insurance is to go with single-payer that spreads the risk around to everybody.
I had cancer 30 years ago. I am cancer free now, but no insurance company will even talk to me. My only means of remaining in the system is to get insurance through my job. Which, of course, I'm stuck in, despite the fact that I could make much better money freelancing
Hey kids, watch out for the donut hole!
Oh, and further to comment 39:
And who-knows-how-many gormless US voters will be fooled into thinking the Repubs are actually doing something useful.
Trittydi @ 41:
It stole my comment!
It will be another dead fish wrapped up like a beautiful gift for the stupid Americans - who will buy it.
*
HDon @ 22:
If you think that Doctors and Lawyers are the big beneficiaries of the current for profit health-care in the US, you have different information that I have.
Max Power @ 45:
Umm, 28%???
You have to love the politicians on this issue. Every time the discussion comes up it's couched in terms of providing "health care INSURANCE" for people, not HEALTH CARE! It's as though they can't get it through their heads that health care is about medicine, not friggin' business!
Program: We take all your money and you can 1) caddy for us. 2) mow my lawn. 3) go f&*k yourself.
And yes Max Power@39 you are right. This will be the talking point until the heat dies down, then back to the business of class warfare.
Marcus Aurelius @ 26:
No pre-existing conditions? That really doesn't make sense, you know. There are plenty of chronic conditions (diabetes, heart failure) that with proper management can be controlled quite well. Meaning fewer hospital stays and lower cost. Plus, what will you consider pre-existing? Pregnancy (so no pre-natal or birth care), allergies, asthma, etc. etc.
Pre-exisiting conditions is a slippery slope that is used all of the time to deprive people of appropriate and affordable management for chronic diseases and it's BS!
pissed off patricia @ 30:
Maybe Don Rumsfeld's old company Gilead Sciences Inc. will get a bit of the action as well from this health care plan. I mean, Gilead Sciences was all in the news when the bird flu was being shown left and right on all the major news channels. Funny thing though, when Don Rumsfeld left, the bird flu cases dropped dramatically and almost seem non-existant today.
Boehner's always got a Lucy moving the football from Charlie Brown plan up his sleeve
pissed off patricia @ 30:
Blackwater. It'll be one stop shopping.
Get injured and treated in convenient locations found throughout your city.
Boner boy is in hot water and he knows it. The party of Christian Family Values is gone and seen for who they really are. As the paid Journalist makes statements like these kids should never have been born it time to kick in the spin and lies. Boner will give a lip service report to calm the base and then let the Liar-in-Chief veto that bill too. It's time to stall and lie to get pass this. What does Boner look like without the tan? Does he want to be Black? Anyway the other World Leaders have moved on with business and deals while the lam duck President waits for the end. Cheney is busy as we have noticed he got his shares of the Hunt oil contact made with the Kurds while the Media reported the White House told all the Iraq leaders not to make any deals about oil until they had a strong Government. No health care worries for Dubai citizens as the US Treasury gave them the money they need to take care of all. Yes the National Debt of America is 9 Trillion dollars but we can't give health care to children but no problem building a bridge to nowhere.
Weaseldog @ 54:
HA! I can see it now..
Today's Special: Broken Ulnas!
Arianna has posted an interview she had with Nancy Pelosi
If the plan does not include a clause stating explicitly that everyone must be covered, regardless of current or past medical condition, then it will be flawed from the get-go. If there is a loophole anywhere, it will be exploited.
I am not optimistic...
IgnoranceIsNotBliss @ 57:
oops.... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/are-you-too-wellbehaved...
It's a good idea as long as smokers are saddled with the full cost of it. It would be a shame if there was any other demographic offered competition to overtake smokers as the most taxed Americans.
What possesses a person to become a politician and play schoolyard games for the rest of their lives? No real leaders anymore.
What have the Republicans planned that didn't up being a complete clusterfuck or to the sole benefit of their lobbyists or themselves?
Don't trust them.
Stick to getting sCHIP thru first.
What's truly mind-blowing, from the perspective of The Great White North (Canuckistan) is that a country as rich as the U.S. does not provide healthcare to it's citizens as a given.
Good luck!
Pardon me for being doubtful but, if it doesn't cost the average American a crapload of money that goes directly into the pockets of people invested heavily in insurance companies and heathcare companies while providing little or no service to working class people I'll kiss my own *ss. I'm sure it will be as good as the prescription drug "benefit" that only benefits drug makers.
Jim @ 8:
Probably- and harvesting their organs and processing the remains into food...
My guess is, the Children's health care plan also will involve an automatic military enlistment clause/commitment once the child is signed up for the plan.
I just re-read Jonathan Swifts "A Modest Proposal" () Somehow I imagine that the Republican "plan" will be eerily similar. Even though Swift's proposal was satirical, Republicans (who are "irony challenged") will figure out some way to make it seem not only "plausible," but "desirable!"
This kind of a plan is known as a poison pill, folks. It will impede any real progress on the plan while distorting the political discussion around our healthcare crisis. Any Democrat or Liberal who takes any move from this has-been hacktastic bunch of corrupt cronies without a massive, glittering grain of salt is a fucking idiot.
The cake is a lie.
The Republican tactic when cries for change become too loud to ignore is to say that policy change is underway, and that a new plan will be "unveiled" in a few months. This is the tactic applied to Iraq, Katrina, and now S-CHIP.
Sometimes, as in Katrina, the public moves on to other things in the meantime, and no proposal is ever unveiled. Other times, as in Iraq, the public doesn't forget, but the administration works on moving the goalposts in the meantime.
There will be no Republican health care proposal of relevance. The party is simply buying time in the hope that the current flap will gradually die down. Appearing not to hear the current loud cries for change is not an option. So they pretend to care by saying they will do something in several months, by which time the public will have hopefully moved on or else the goalposts will have simply been deftly moved.
The appropriate, non-partisan response to this tactic is to say that health care proposals are difficult to pass at the best of times, and that the time to table a proposal is not when one has been tabled and already been passed by Congress. One in the hand is better than two in the bush, and as a result we need to take the S-CHIP expansion we have in hand (currently vetoed by Bush), ensure the veto is overturned by Congress. At that point, and at that point only, will it be appropriate to begin turning our attention to expanded or universal health care proposals (at which point Republican input is welcome).
Thoughts? How would others improve the suggested response?
“Republicans are working on a plan that will provide access to all Americans to high quality health insurance, make sure that we increase the quality of insurance that we have in American, and we want to foster a sprit of innovation,” said Boehner on “Fox News Sunday.” “This is a plan we’ll see over the next coming months where we put the patients in charge of their health care.”
This is what drives me nuts about these asshats....Now answer the question Boner...if we are in charge of our health care and the insurance company deems you "to great a risk to insure and denies you coverage"....WTF are you supposed to do ? That's one of the reasons why there are 47 million uninsured people in the US...the other is "affordability".....
"Innovation" ? .....idiot.
Coded Republican message to America's poor and working class:
"Why don't you just eat each other?"
Quick quiz, what popular phrase came out of that statement that has absolutely nothing to do with what it was being associated with?
This is bullshit!
The 'tell' is the phrase patients taking charge of their health care. This will wind up being some version of tax breaks for 'personal health care accounts' that will in the end simply be a massive transfer of public tax money into private business; a welfare scheme for insurance companies. We already have this sort of thing in programs like SCHIP and the medicare drug program. We're the only country in the world willing to use tax money to pay private business to fuck up our health care system. It's nutz.
This is just 'privatize social security' redux. You watch. They'll bust out this brain-dead, corporate-welfare-scheme 'plan,' the democrats will quite rightly oppose it, then the republicans will accuse them of being 'obstructionist.'
And nothing will change.
Don't Tell Me, Let Me Guess:
"universal access" = "taxpayer funded health insurance vouchers that can only be redeemed at faith-based hospitals"
And Don't Tell Me, Let Me Guess II:
The new program will take about six months to put together. We have top men working on it right now. Top. Men.
And, of course, Don't Tell Me, Let Me Guess III:
It would be irresponsible to pass SCHIP until we get the report from our..Top Men(tm).
And stay tuned for Don't Tell Me, Let Me Guess IV. Here's a little preview:
By rejecting the Top Men's plan, the Democrat Party has demonstrated that they're more interested in scoring political points than in really helping sick kids, and that's a shame.
And the Democrats will end up voting for whatever kleptocratic scam the Rethugs come up with.
High quality health insurance? Is he freaking kidding? What about high quality HEALTH CARE? Let's get people access to that rather than stuffing more money to those health insurance company sharks.
Republicans are working on a plan that will provide access to all Americans to high quality health insurance..
Will it involve the sacrificial killing the firstborn of every household making under $55K ? dammit, i gotta check my COBRA options , quick.
the republicans have never!never done anything worthwhile for the working class!never done anything in thier entire exsistence! never ,never, god damit never , and they never will, ans bastard that believes they will do anything for anyone who isnt rich atr the biggest fucking morons the world ever produced!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we were against socialized medicine until we were for it... right?
I dunno, seemed appropos at the moment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H3dFh6GA-A
"A breakthrough on universal healthcare?"
heh. Yeah. Sure. Right. Mmm-hmmm. Are you going to try to sell me a bridge in Brooklyn next?
:lol:
tyree @ 75:
They've killed off the excess competition for jobs.
joe cantwell @ 76:
wrong!
Unsocialized medicine,
Service with a snarl.
“Republicans are working on a plan that will provide access to all Americans to high quality health insurance, make sure that we increase the quality of insurance that we have in American, and we want to foster a sprit of innovation,” said Boehner on “Fox News Sunday.” “This is a plan we’ll see over the next coming months where we put the patients in charge of their health care.”
Yeah... my ass you will!
The republican$ don't have a plan... now in in a Friedman Unit... which is a FU!
i can see it now: REPUBLICAN UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PLAN:
1.) EVERY FAMILY OF FOUR MAKING MORE THAN $15,000.00 ANUALLY MUST PAY $1,500.00 (OR 10% OF THEIR ANNUAL INCOME) PER MONTH
2.) ALL CONDITIONS WHETHER PREEXISTING, ACCIDENTAL OR BIOLOGICAL MUST BE REVEIWED BY A BOARD OF INSUREGENTS COMPRISED OF CEO'S FROM PHIZER, PROCTOR & GAMBLE AND HALLIBURTON.
3.) ANY CONDITIONS THAT COULD BE RELATED TO ANYTHING IN ANOTHER OR THIS UNIVERSE WHICH COULD HAVE INDEMNIFIED THE PATIENT FROM CONTRIBUTING TO THE RNC, GOP OR CORPORATE HOG'S FOUNDATION UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD BE A LIABILITY TO ANY SHAREHOLDERS OF ANY MAJOR CORPORATIONS FOR ANY REASON EVER (OR) ANY CONDITION THAT WILL HAVE ANY COST FOR ANYONE BESIDES THE PATIENT SHALL NOT BE COVERED AND THOSE FUNDS SHALL BE DONATED FOR DEPOSIT TO A GROUP OF PHARMA LOBYISTS WITHOUT CAUSE.
4.) THIS PLAN CAN NOT BE IMPLIMENTED WITHOUT THE ELECTION OF A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT AND/OR MEMBER OF THE US CONGRESS AT ANY TIME OR FOR ANY REASON.
another secret plan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bQjedJAP0I
Dear esteemed GOP colleague,
Regarding your recent healthcare proposal:
Ha-Ha-Ha.
Go f*ck yourself.
Sincerely,
Your friends in the Democrat [sic] party.
Just more lies and pandering from a party of self serving liars... in an effort to stop mass party defections... brought about by being on the totally wrong side of every issue important to a majority of the American people.
DIVERSION...smoke and mirrors.....don't look now, wait. same old stroy same old song and dance. this is simply a ploy to allow repubes to take about something that will never get here at some future date. more of the same "All the sizzle without the steak" approach to media news cycle control.
JasonS @ 72:
providing that corporations are the primary beneficiaries and write portions of the bill.
special thanks to DCCC Rahm Emanuel and DSCC Chuckie Schumer and DLC joe LIEberman.
honorable mention to Nambypamby pushover Pelosi and Harry 'harshlanguage' Reid.
Drunk on a Sunday morning?
Man, Boner's a douche-bag and a half.
I'm for universal health care but not universal insurance - which is just going to end up being a massive corporate welfare program. The insurance companies wil still be telling us to go fuck ourselves, "that's not covered". Or, they'll still be making medical decisions in order to maximize their profits. The insurance companies have amply demonstrated that even though they love accepting premium payments, they hate living up to their obligations. Fine. Take them completely out of the picture.
you know that any Republican or corporatist "Democrat" plan is going to be a massive plunderinging of tax money into corporate pockets. What the hell, if they can't "privatize" social security, this would be a pretty good substitute scam.
Max Power @ 39:
Interesting how usage of the FU has now expanded into areas not directly concerned with The MeatGrinder. This is very good as it shows our narrative of the FU is going viral and replacing the now bankrupt ReThug story of 'just around the corner...' and other such stupidities.
As for a big breakthrough. No. Fukin'. Way.
I am tired of hearing about how healthcare is gonna get fixed and guess what?
I am not alone.
Chip @ 85:
yeah! if we take care of the children, the terrrrrrissssts will win!
Will Rep. Boner and the republicans in congress be implementing this new "plan" with the stipulation that THEY are included in "every American" being able to be a part of??? Whatever "plan" they trot out is total bullshit if congressmen are not going to give up thier own current goverment run health insurance plan!!!
It won't be a major breakthrough, it will be a sop to the insurance industry, count on it.
BaScOmBe @ 89:
I love it! vouchers for faith-based hospitals. That's no doubt the plan.
kaT @ 96:
Better yet, just send folks to the nearest Big Box Church and the 'minister' pray them back to health....and pocket the fees for....
THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD!
Lord, what fools these mortals be.....
Right there is the give away. It's not going to be comprehensive universal healthcare.
"putting the patient in charge of their healthcare" or "letting people decide which policy is right for them". is spin for they can only have as much as they can afford.
Under this plan I can predict the status quo will remain.
We need total coverage that we can all afford, not coverage limited to what we can afford. I'm not just talking about the premium but also the deductibles and co pays should we need to use it.
AND All members of congress should lose their tax payer funded healthcare and enter the market like the rest of us........so they can "decide which policy is right for them"
Let me guess: Republicans will offer all Americans the universal opportunity...to purchase private health insurance!
nigel @ 98:
Indeed. We have too many people in charge of their own healthcare now. That is, if they get sick or injured, they're left to treat themselves.
"Let me guess: Republicans will offer all Americans the universal opportunity…to purchase private health insurance!"
You forgot this part: That they can't afford!
The idea that the Gang Who Couldn't Think Straight could come up with a palatable form of "universal health coverage" is a laugh. These selfish, macho bastards can't do war right, never heard of diplomacy or peace, and social programs are for sissies and weaklings. Why break their perfect record of 100% incompetency? Bohner-head should wise up.
More corporate greed to screw the people plan.
Stay the course plan.
More corporate welfare plan.
Count on it.
This isn't any breakthrough.
This is just more FUD for them to use as cover. This way they can say they DO support healthcare for everyone, while really not supporting it at all.
i call this what it is! BULLSHIT! BUMMERS A PRICK! all republicans are pricks, thier morons with no sence of history , they think people can change, well they cant once your a repig allways a repig, some where below the surface of any asshole thats ever voted for a republicans a brain thats turned to pure shit! and youll get no heath care from these rats!
Republicans are working on a plan that will provide access to all Americans to high quality health insurance, make sure that we increase the quality of insurance that we have in American, and we want to foster a sprit of innovation,
Replace the word insurance with care and you might have something innovative. Insurance is not the answer.
GOP Plan...free market! It'll reduce cost! Raise all the boats! Tax deductions for healthcare!! (Listen RICH PEOPLE CHEEEERING)!!
The author of the post gives the Republicans too much credit.
This is no breakthrough.
It is an opportunity for more spin.
Indeed, Boehner is already spinning when he uses the weasel-phrase "access to all Americans to high quality health insurance."
Every American already has access to high quality health insurance. However, it is priced such that it is unaffordable to the people it intends to serve.
I work in the health insurance business, and I have come to believe there is no such thing as an uninsurable person. First of all, the really poor have Medicaid. If you are over 65 or disabled, you have Medicare.
For the working poor, if you don't work for an employer who supplies coverage (with cost-sharing measures like copays, deductibles and copremiums that cause many to decline the coverage because they can't afford it), you can try to get an individual policy.
If pre-existing conditions have you denied or priced out of individual policies, most states have a high-risk pool or a guaranteed-issue or an open-enrollment program at prices that are astronomical.
There are dirt-cheap mini-medical plans that have stingy coverage limits that leave you on the financial hook for expenses beyond the caps.
There are association health plans. There are state-based Medicaid wraparound/waiver programs.
If none of those things work, you can self-insure and pay full-price -- not the discounted rate that insured folk get -- for every episode of care that you need.
What I'm saying here is that there is something for everyone.
It's just that the vast majority of the 47 million people cannot afford any of these options.
The Republicans know this, and are counting on the fact that you don't.
I'm paying $1,000.00...that's MORE than a minimum wage job! For "health care" that then fights with me to pay anything!
Two band-aids and an aspirin in every medicine cabinet. Whoopie!
Supplied by BUSH family's ELI-LILY CORP. of course!
...not to mention $1,500 family deductible, co-pays, and they only cover everything 70%! What do you call THAT?
I have been home for two weeks, my back is out bigtime, It is a possibility that I need another back surgery, but you know what, I have medical bills in collection so I don't go to the doctor or the hospital and borrow painkillers from my friends..what the fuck, I am like thousands here in America who are without medical help that would enable them to go on living and not be devastated by costs that could so easily be paid by universal health, care getting people out from under the thumb of a staggering debt load.
I'd like to get some form of insurance for my wife. But it is cheaper to just pay the doctor and the pharmacy out of pocket.
Money is really tight until we get her $20,000 medical bill paid off.
The nerve of her to suffer heart failure when we didn't have insurance!
Of course, before she went into the hospital, we knew something was wrong, but we couldn't afford a doctor, as I was between jobs. We hoped she was suffering from the flu.
My previous job went to India, where I understand they have higher quality medical care at lower prices.
Thank you George Bush and Dick Armey for destroying my career and working to make it harder for my family to get medical care!
I can't waste 5:28 watching a pile of crap. ;). They have to back-burner this-- pronto!! It's make the GOP look like baby killers. I'm sure they hope, in six months, Britney Spears will have a meltdown, or Anna Nicole will be resurrected, and everyone will forget; collective American-style amnesia.
Maddy @ 112:
I'm sorry to hear your story. It's exactly the kind of story you should be sending to very Congressman. Use the link in the right-hand column and do it.
Whatever lies they tell you about Canada, you'd be in the hospital right now, receiving proper medical attention and medication, and being prepped for surgery. No worries, no bill.
Wow, that is one contrived interview. Like they are reading off of cue cards.
Here's the plan:
Borrow $100B from republican friendly banks
Route $100B to republican friendly insurance companies
Appoint party hack to "oversee" the program allowing insurance companies to deny coverage/claims
When the $100B runs out - proclaim "See government run health care is a disaster".
Ask for budget supplemental for another $100B
Repeat
Let's see - what might the Republicans propose for health care? Based on what has been mooted before for Social Security and the Drug Plan, it will be something along these lines:
- no new taxes or regulatory changes for the insurance industry, and no requirement to insure those who are now excluded due to "pre-existing conditions".
- no incentive to reduce administrative overhead and bureaucracy - "Let the market rule" will prevail, never mind that free-market medical insurance is a glaring example of market failure, as every industrial country but the US has acknowledged.
- health accounts and health vouchers for individuals and families, funded by tax deductions - and if you don't make enough to be in a tax bracket that might generate a meaningful deduction, tough luck.
Um well I guess we should wait then....
And once they present it, they wouldn't THINK of doing to it what they did to NCLB.... would they?
It is kinda like a form of filibuster - introduce your own bill to try and steal the thinder and protest over SCHIPS. It's a old game for these guys.
Edwin @ 115:
Thanks for that, I will be okay, I think that I will be able to avoid the knife. I wasn't trying to toot my own horn as give an example of the bullshit that passes as dialog on Healthcare, and how it would relieve the stress of illness when someone has to lose their house or worse because they have bills for medical treatment so far beyond their means of paying that they are left in ruin. And by the way there is no reason at all why socialized medicine cannot coexist with capitalism, the arguments against point to the true aspirations of the republican party, which as always serve to benefit no one but those that already have.
Hey Boner! That's Democratic leadership, ass-wipe!
As a Canadian, I object to the USA stealing one of our 50 year old ideas and pretending it is something new!
;)
Ooooops ... actually, it has been in effect in Canada for over 55 years.
:)
this is all to obvious, these bastards are losing on all fronts and don't want to get royally flushed in the next election of 2008. but as usual we know that this is only a feigned attempt to fool the general public, though the 29%ers will get fooled on anything repug gop.
apropos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVasewV7OpA
This is pure SNL! Boner is a mannequin with a Chatty Cathy String up his ass. Blah Blah Blah.
For once, I give ol' WHATZHISNAME on Fox .000001 for trying to asking valid questions, while albeit, pretending he's not. Emmy anyone?
These people are so jealous of Gore, or anyone with a brain, or anyone with a plan.
Yes, let's start with the poor kids - finally, they have a use for the poor kids. Trouble is, Hillary (or any other Dem's) plan already includes them. They're an afterthought to you.
Your lame-ness is only exceeded by your mannequin-ess.
Bonehead,
What is a "pretiption" drug program? Is it anything like the prescription drug program?
I want you to write 100 times that you are a semi-literate moron.
Lets not be so cynical. I hear it will provide universal coverage for people between 21-24 years of age who have no dependents, no prexisting conditions, and who have never been seriously ill. Oh, and they are going to announce it with their latest proposal to save social security; by raising the retirement age to 85.
God bless em', they really do care.
Liberal AND Proud @ 107:
Trickle down health care! You'll be dead before you qualify! Now there's a cost effective healthcare program for the stockholders that will really raise that EPS!
Two Republics Bullshitting each other!
They really want to form this program
as another handout to the insurance companies!
Just watch:
The brilliant plan will be to tax the middle class by treating their health insurance benefits as "income" under the tax code. See Bush State of the Union Address. Then they will take the money obtained and spend it on Iraq and say they are addressing the health care problem. Just watch.
They have a universal health care plan.
If you make over $1,000,000 you get a full refund on all your insurance premiums because you are already doing your part to take care of the un-insured problem.
If you make between 1000,000 and 1,000,000 and you already have insurance then you get 80% of your premiums refunded. You are doing a heck-ov-a-job for the country and need to be encouraged to continue.
"People" making less than 100,000 a year (can they really be called people?) who already have their own insurance will continue to be allowed to pay for it. But instead of paying the insurance companies, they have to pay the government who will then pay the insurance companies for them. Can't trust these shiftless poor not to use their paycheck for drugs or booze like GW used to.
Those who don't have health insurance or can't afford it (cough, loosers) will be fully provided for with a new program called CANADA. It's just like SCHIP but it's further north.
To make sure this plan works properly, everyone in the US will be required to carry a universal health care card. It will have all your health care history, voting records and salary history stored on a chip that has an RFID. Those on the CANADA plan need special assistance so they will have the chips inserted into their neck and a special camera/microphone unit embedded in their foreheads.
The entire program will be paid for by dismantling the existing Medicare/Medicaid/SCHIP programs and a tax cut to those making over 1,000,000.
Now that's real compassion.
I totally enjoy when boozy bassett hound eyes steps up with something to say. It's like visiting that planet zsa zsa gabor ruled ... do his lips match up with what he's saying? ewww.
Scott @ 101:
That's the part that C&L readers get without me mentioning it...
Universal access to "High Quality Health Care INSURANCE". Not health care, access to INSURANCE. We already have universal insurance, from our cars to our mortgage to our homes and belongings, life, you name it. More insurance we don't need. Universal health Care, that's the goal. Whether single payer or means-based, CARE, not INSURANCE!
Universal healthcare is a back door way to getting you to accept a National ID card. Reject this government. They haven't done a single frickin thing in your best interest and now you trust them to provide you quality healthcare??
Are you people mad? Don't you read?
I have some advice for people above: I've never had anything happen to me for not paying a medical bill, all that happens is they put it on my credit rating, and call me a bunch of times and write a bunch of threatening letters. Is there some law I don't know about, that they can't come after you for medical bills? Anyone know? Post it if you know. Nothing has ever happened to me, and I won't pay medical bills.
Excuse ME....but we already have universal ACCESS to health care in the United States. We also have universal ACCESS to a brand new Cadillac every year. What we do not have is universal access to AFFORDABLE health care for all. I'm surprised that people keep falling for this tired old Republican word trick !!!
A universal health care plan.... From a republican... riiighhtt...sure... I think Ms. Kitty at 78 pretty much nails my reaction to it... But in case anyone doesn't want to scroll up....
Sounds like bullshit to me from the get go....... And yes, as others have indicated, probably some poison pill dreck as much to distract from what the focus should be as its intended for anything else. Whatever shred of credibility republicans may have snowed everyone with over the course of the 20th century has been totally squandered in service of this sick neocon ideology and their slavish myopic adherence to Bush himself just because he has an r beside his name on a ballot. Fucking idiots one and all as far as I'm concerned. Take your loser phony universal health plan and go to hell with it Bonehead!.......JD
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