John Conyers:Massachusetts to Offer Universal Health Care

[cal04]

I wanted to call your attention to a development in Massachusetts that is very encouraging. The legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has approved a universal health care program to provide health care to all its citizens. I do not know the details of this legislation, but will be looking closely into it.

I have long been a proponent of universal health care and have consistently advanced legislation to ensure that all Americans have access to health care. A great society should never deprive someone of medical necessities because of their financial situation. I have introduced H.R. 676 to provide universal health insurance to all Americans and have attracted 68 cosponsors. Caring for the health and safety of our citizens is a critical role of government and I will use this space to highlight this issue and actions we can take to make a difference.

http://www.conyersblog.us/default.htm

Mass. Lawmakers OK Mandatory Health Bill
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/massachusetts_health
H.R.676
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.676:

[Greeby]

1. Only 68?

What gives? And judging by the dates, this bill has been around for awhile now

[MADem]

2. It ain't as rosey as it sounds

From the yahoo link:
The plan would use a combination of financial incentives and penalties to expand access to health care over the next three years and extend coverage to the state's estimated 500,000 uninsured.

"It's only fitting that Massachusetts would set forward and produce the most comprehensive, all-encompassing health care reform bill in the country," said House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, a Democrat.

If all goes as planned, poor people will be offered free or heavily subsidized coverage; those who can afford insurance but refuse to get it will face increasing tax penalties until they obtain coverage; and those already insured will see a modest drop in their premiums.

What does "can afford it but refuse" mean??? Sure you can afford insurance, but you and your kids will have to eat beans and live in a refrigerator box??? Sure, you can afford it, if you take a part time weekend job? Sure, you can afford it, if you move to that cheaper town with the lousy school system?? Does the state become your financial manager, deciding what you can afford based on what--your income? Ooops, stop sending that $350 a month to grandma, so she doesn't have to eat cat food and can take a cab seven miles to the grocery store, because Mitt Romney says "we can AFFORD" insurance....

There is not universal enthusiasm for this measure, mainly because younger people, who often get by going to clinics and whatnot, are not excited about it, as well as for the reasons I iterated above.

[darkmaestro019]

3. I didn't like it either.

They insist there are all kinds of ways for poorer folks to afford it, but as far as I'm concerned being FORCED to buy insurance is NOT universal health care. And I wonder about how they decide who qualifies for the assistance to get "nearly free" insurance--because my lover and I don't have kids and never will we qualify for pretty much NO aide of any kind where we live. And we made four figures last year. yes, FOUR, as in less than ten thousand dollars between us. There've been plenty of times when I could not afford even a "small copay." That "small copay" of five or ten bucks was our entire grocery or gasoline budget for the week, or until the temp agency found us another plant to slave in for a week or two before they laid everyone off again.

And then how do you afford whatever they prescribe you?

EDIT: I think it's a good thing that they're trying SOMETHING, don't get me wrong. It's a start. But I also think sneakily hidden in that is an attempt to say that what few free clinics/etc there are are being used by people who COULD afford to pay for insurance or health care but just are not. I sincerely freakin doubt that, you guys. I think it's kind of an attempt to paint those who use free clinics and don't "want" to pay for "nearly free" insurance as greedy or lazy.

[sandnsea]

5. Then you would be covered

That's the point, to cover EVERYBODY. Since you are very low-income, you would get free insurance, no co-pay, no deductibles. If you don't have a mechanism to guarantee everybody participates and everybody pays their fair share, then pretty soon you won't have insurance at all. How is this different then simply taking a chunk of taxes every payday??? There is no such thing as FREE health care in any other country, they pay for it through their taxes and/or a monthly premium.

[darkmaestro019]

9. That's a good point about the taxes.

I'm just mistrustful, due to OH...maybe it's badly explained or I'm reading it wrong, probably the latter. Social services-type stuff here is pretty much nonexistent if you don't have several kids.

[sandnsea]

4. Gads, $1,000 a year!!!

Anybody with money has insurance. Provided the subsidized premium isn't much more than the $1,000 fine, people will opt for the insurance. It's only common sense. It's an incentive to make sure people pay their share and don't use the free clinics if they don't need to, I think it makes good sense. If the calculations aren't quite right, I'm sure the people of Massachusetts will raise a stink until the calculations get right.

[merbex]

7. I am on a committee with the man quoted here in this snippet from

the Boston Globe:

''What we take confidence in is there is so much money that the leadership is committing toward healthcare reform," said Philip J. Edmundson, chairman of the Massachusetts Affordable Care Today coalition, or MassACT, which is backing a ballot question this fall that seeks to provide near-universal coverage. ''And that money will equal greater access."

The healthcare bill passed by the Legislature aims to cover 90 percent to 95 percent of the uninsured in phases over three years through the assessment on employers; the new private, no cost, or subsidized health plans; and a requirement that everyone carry a minimum level of health coverage.

This man happens to also be one of my town's Selectman and you can go to the bank on his word

[RepublicanElephant]

6. i got suspicious when i saw mitt "running for president" romney...

was behind it.

[Mend]

8. look for the doctor fee schedule....

if it is really low, the politicians can say that everyone has health insurance but in fact no doctor will see the patients for pittance reimbursement. So it ends up as a con job.