Kennedy: Health bill would fix what's broken

[DrToast]

You can get a likely preview of the coming health care plan today here: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/05/28/health_bill_would_fix_whats_broken/?page=1

I gathered:
-Public plan still involved
-Mandates to buy some health care plan
-Denying coverage for existing conditions would be illegal
-New emphasis on preventative care
-Taxes likely going up

[NYC_SKP]

1. Recommended. Love Teddy Kennedy.

And taxes, well, they can't go up much higher than the jacked up premiums I have to pay.

Hoping that raising the SS cap will cover the whole program.

I know some are "single-payer or nothing".

Don't take it up with me, take it up with Senator Edward M. Kennedy. :patriot:

:P

[debbierlus]

2. We have to have the public option or it will be no good

[DrToast]

3. Then you'll be happy about what Rangel said yesterday

“It’s my political judgment a plan without the public option would not be able to pass the House,” Rangel said after a speech at a health-care forum in Manhattan.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=az9p1TXjTW2M&refer=us

I don't know if that's true or just Rangel talking, but I think it would be sweet for the Dems to block a plan that is just window dressing rather than go along with it.

[Vinca]

4. A plan without a public option is not healthcare reform.

[SpartanDem]

5. Maybe all isn't lost yet

[SIMPLYB1980]

6. But all is lost. I know cause I read it in another thread.

:sarcasm:

[Cleita]

7. One unanswered question.

How are people who can't afford health insurance to begin with, going to pay for it if it's mandated? It's one of the flaws of the Massachusetts plan that Kennedy is trying to foist on us nationwide. Tax credits are not a help for people who earn too little to pay taxes. Also, with all the for profits feeding at the trough the plan is turning out to be very costly.

[DrToast]

8. I imagine the mandates are going to be for the employed

With subsidies for those in poverty or who are unemployed.

[OneGrassRoot]

9. That makes me very nervous. I'm self-employed.....

and don't officially "qualify" for anything, but am literally one paycheck away from disaster with no cushion.

We shall see.

[Cleita]

11. Yes, I think it's a bad idea especially for people like you who could slip

through the cracks in the system very easily. I don't like it at all.

[grillo7]

18. There needs to be a better option that credits, definitely...

There should without a doubt be a public option, and a mandate, but it should function in such a way that you basically just have to sign up and it's taken care of. Mandated insurance is fine as long as there's no money upfront required. This is a problem in many states with auto insurance, for example, where it becomes a hardship to be covered for low-income families and individuals.

[Mass]

10. Will all doctors have to work with the public plan.

In MA, it is the worse problem with the Connector Insurance. So many doctors do not work with it that it is a real mess. In some parts of the state, finding a doctor (and particularly a specialist) who works with it is nearly impossible.

[harun]

13. That is what I am wondering. Also do any employers have to offer

it as one of their plans to employees.

Would be GREAT if they made it so anyone could opt out of the coverage they have through their employer and join in the public plan. I doubt they would get that in right away though.

Many, many questions left to be answered.

[Cleita]

15. I believe no more than they have to work with Medicare if they don't want to.

Most doctors will take traditional Medicare though even when they won't take the privatized Medicare advantage plans. I think a public option would work the same.

[grillo7]

19. I do know several who won't take traditional Medicare, so that is something to consider... n/t

[HOLOS]

12. K&R

[lumberjack_jeff]

14. This would restore a tiny bit of my faith in america. n/t

[vaberella]

16. Thank you Dr. Toast. I'm grateful. I want the Kennedy Plan passed.

No Schumer or Baucus. And if the President likes it...I hope he takes it.

[bleever]

17. Very impressive!

And perhaps a tiny bit of dry wit in this part:

We're also hearing that some Americans want the choice of enrolling in a health insurance program backed by the government for the public good, not private profit - so that option will be available too.

[ima_sinnic]

20. anything "mandatory" should be refused.

it will now be against the law NOT to fork over your money to fucking insurance companies? wonderful. that's working soooo well in Massachusetts ... thanks, Ted. :sarcasm:

[bornskeptic]

24. But of course it's working great in the Netherlands,

which, unlike Massachusetts, is an actual country.

http://www.euractiv.com/en/health/dutch-healthcare-system-best-europe-2008/article-177165
http://www.minvws.nl/en/themes/health-insurance-system/the-new-health-care-system-in-the-Netherlands-video/

It seems to work pretty well in Switzerland, too.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92106731

I'm sure you're convinced that we Americans are too stupid to make it work ourselves, and that we need a simple-minded solution like single payer national insurance. Do you have any examples of where that has worked?

[subterranean]

27. The basic health care plan in those countries is not for profit.

The Swiss and Dutch insurance companies are not allowed to make a profit on the mandatory basic plan. However, they can, and do, profit by "up-selling" more comprehensive or supplemental coverage to those who can afford it.

Surprisingly, I haven't heard of this kind of system being discussed by anyone in Washington. Maybe the insurance cos. think it would restrain their profits too much.

[ClarkUSA]

21. Never doubted it for a moment.

[snowdays]

22. No, it will not, Not when Congress and the WH is caving to the insurance

industry.

[solstice]

23. ITA. Congress/Obama will cave in to the insurance companies like they did to the

credit card companies on their ability to continue gouging us with usurious interest rates.

Congress is real good at serving us a plate of steaming shit and calling it chocolate cake.

[snowdays]

26. did you notice that all of a sudden Kennedy is for the public option after

he 'listened' to the people. suck it up Ted! you are so transparent!

[harun]

25. No mandatory purchase of insurance, make it mandatory the gov't option

covers all those who aren't purchasing a plan.