Impeding changes to our Health Care system

Originally Posted by classicman

But the original promise was that we were going to SAVE money. How are we going to insure so many more while spending less. I already knew the answer, we weren't...

We will insure millions more hard working Americans by making health insurance MORE affordable (not free or government-paid) by encouraging greater competition, promoting preventive care and ending insurance company discriminatory practices. Currently, it cost you and me $billions every year when those w/o insurance go to the emergency room for basic care.

We will also invest in productivity improvements, and save in the longer term, by making the health care system and infrastructure more efficient.

[Shawnee123]

That point has been made, Redux, the difference between affordable primary care and going to the emergency room because they "have" to treat you.

This point has fallen upon deaf ears. You have to repeat it a few more times before that point could be conceded and the argument could go on to other issues which aren't so clearly resolved.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Don't forget affordable/available preventive care, so that neither of those options are necessary.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Redux

We will insure millions more hard working Americans by making health insurance MORE affordable (not free or government-paid) by encouraging greater competition, promoting preventive care and ending insurance company discriminatory practices. Currently, it cost you and me $billions every year when those w/o insurance go to the emergency room for basic care.

We will also invest in productivity improvements, and save in the longer term, by making the health care system and infrastructure more efficient.

And the insurance industry is going to push down all those cost through much higher premiums and the Dems are going to tax the hell out of everyone with jobs to pay it. So in the end it will cost us the $billions every year in paying for insurance for everyone else.

Oh and don't forget none of this really starts for a few more years and in the end the lie of giving everyone insurance will come to fruition as all estimates say there will still be some 12million people without insurance.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Not covering illegals will make it way more than 12 million, but I'm ok with that.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Not covering illegals will make it way more than 12 million, but I'm ok with that.

You know the bleeding hearts would never stand for that. I still say we come up with a way to charge their country of origin for their care. Maybe we could dock their monetary support from the federal government.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Too complicated, just throw the fuckers out.

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

That point has been made, Redux, the difference between affordable primary care and going to the emergency room because they "have" to treat you.

This point has fallen upon deaf ears. You have to repeat it a few more times before that point could be conceded and the argument could go on to other issues which aren't so clearly resolved.

The House bill has provisions encouraging preventive care and wellness programs including the elimination of co-pays for annual hearing and vision exams.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Redux

The ARRA (stimulus bill) included about $120 billion for COBRA and Medicaid, as well as ~snip~

OBRA not COBRA. There hasn't been any money in there for a long time.

What has been allocated to COBRA has been great, I have not said one bad thing about it.

[classicman]

Interesting

[classicman]

After all the noise over Democrats' push for a government insurance plan to compete with private carriers, coverage numbers are finally in: Two percent.

That's the estimated share of Americans younger than 65 who'd sign up for the public option plan under the health care bill that Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is steering toward House approval.

The underwhelming statistic is raising questions about whether the government plan will be the iron-fisted competitor that private insurers warn will shut them down or a niche operator that becomes a haven for patients with health insurance horror stories.

Some experts are wondering if lawmakers have wasted too much time arguing about the public plan, giving short shrift to basics such as ensuring that new coverage will be affordable.

"The public option is a significant issue, but its place in the debate is completely out of proportion to its actual importance to consumers," said Drew Altman, president of the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. "It has sucked all the oxygen out of the room and diverted attention from bread-and-butter consumer issues, such as affordable coverage and comprehensive benefits."

The Democratic health care bills would extend coverage to the uninsured by providing government help with premiums and prohibiting insurers from excluding people in poor health or charging them more. But to keep from piling more on the federal deficit, most of the uninsured will have to wait until 2013 for help. Even then, many will have to pay a significant share of their own health care costs.

The latest look at the public option comes from the Congressional Budget Office, the nonpartisan economic analysts for lawmakers.

It found that the scaled back government plan in the House bill wouldn't overtake private health insurance. To the contrary, it might help the insurers a little.

Link

Hmm I wonder if those secret meetings with the Healthcare industry leaders & the White House discussed this.

Originally Posted by classicman

Link

Hmm I wonder if those secret meetings with the Healthcare industry leaders & the White House discussed this.

I agree that all the fear-mongering about the public option (and govt take over) crowding out private insurers was just that....baseless rhetoric. Or, on the other side that it would be a cure all for the system.

I am still of the opinion that the public option is critical to stimulate competition and keep the private insurers honest (or more honest) as well as fill a niche to prevent more people falling through the cracks.

But it is far from a European socialist model or the first step in a secret plan to move the country to a single payer system.

[classicman]

Two percent?! What the ???????

Originally Posted by classicman

Two percent?! What the ???????

Two percent of the population younger than 65 = 5+ million people either unemployed or currently uninsured and above the poverty level.

But because they represent a higher risk -- generally unable or unlikely to have had regular check-ups or practice preventive care and many of whom might have chronic health issues -- they are the least insurable.

Should they be ignored?

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Redux

Should they be ignored?

Perhaps, perhaps not - depends upon the cost.
Why is this "Public Option" now renamed the "Consumer Option" (lol) such a big deal if it only covers 2% of the people?