New Senate health care compromise co-opts a portion of Dean's 2004 campaign idea.

[mzmolly]

I noted that the new deal reached between Nelson and Reid allows those in need of health insurance to buy into the same nonprofit that is available to Federal employees. Dean supporters may recall, that Dean made a similar suggestion when he ran for President in 2004?

The estimated 30 million Americans purchasing coverage through new insurance exchanges would have the option of signing up for national plans overseen by the same office that manages health coverage for federal employees and members of Congress. Those plans would be privately owned, but operated on a nonprofit basis, as many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans are now.

The option amounts to a consolation prize for liberals, who failed to include a government-run alternative.

Additionally, insurance companies would be barred immediately from denying coverage to children because of a Prue-existing health condition. The prohibition on denial of coverage for adults would not take effect in the Senate bill until 2014, a disappointment for consumer advocates.

On abortion, the measure would let a state disallow coverage in new insurance exchanges by passing a law to that effect. Additionally, it sets up a mechanism to segregate funds that would be used to pay for abortions from federal subsidy dollars flowing to health plans.

Federal law now prohibits public money for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. From the beginning, the issue has been how those restrictions would be applied to a new stream of federal money under the overhaul bill.

YAHOO/AP
While I've not made up my mind about the new plan, I'm hopeful that when the bill comes out of committee, Howard Dean will support it.

[dtotire]

1. This is one section I approve of

Insurers competing in the exchanges would be required to justify rate increases, and those who jacked up prices unduly could be barred from the exchange. Reid's package also would give patients the right to appeal to an independent board if an insurer denies a medical claim. And all insurance companies would be required to spend at least 80 cents of every dollar they collect in premiums on delivering care to their customers.




I would like to have had the requirement at least 90%, but it can be increased in future years. I would suggest increasing it gradually, until the insurers are non-profit, as they are in other countries that have multi-payer systems. Many would drop out of , but so what?

[mzmolly]

4. Exactly! I think it's huge, personally. I hope Dr. Dean will be onboard.

:D

[regnaD kciN]

8. 80 cents??? The House needs to change it to their standard of 85 cents...

80 is only 10 cents more than the average now.

The non-profit OPM system is great, except that, without a triggered option (which was the last thing cut by Lieberman) as "incentive," there's no reason to suspect any insurance company will submit a plan. It's quite possible that, when 2014 rolls around, there will not be a single plan offered in that system, making the whole thing a farce. Of course, it's also possible that, should that happen, it would be the incentive for Congress to pass a public option immediately...and that, unlike the mixture of spending and regulations in this bill, could easily be passed by reconciliation.

[silverweb]

2. A very good start.

All worthy projects need a foundation. We will take this and work at building on it in the future.

[mzmolly]

5. Absolutely. And I honestly think this addition is the next best thing to a

public option. It's non-profit and people will have REAL choices.

[madfloridian]

3. .

[janx]

6. Dean's contribution--that of caution--has been invaluable.

This thing has a long way to go yet. It'll be interesting to see what the House thinks of the Senate bill.

[mzmolly]

7. I agree. We NEED to fight NOW. And, Dr. Dean is fighting

for all of us. :hi:

[janx]

10. I hope he keeps it up.

When is Joe due back in D.C.? I know it's the sabbath, but I think he's hiding! ;-)

[mzmolly]

16. He SHOULD hide.

:hi:

[janx]

17. But he has to get back to D.C. sometime...

when? :rofl:

Tomorrow? Monday? When, dammit!?

[mzmolly]

18. LOL. To my understanding he walks to the capital on the Sabbath.

And, with 16 inches of snow coming to the DC area ... I'm considering the possibility of divine intervention? :P

[HuckleB]

21. Indeed.

:toast:

[madfloridian]

9. "but operated on a nonprofit basis, as many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans are now."

What BCBS plans would that be?

[jillan]

11. I'm sitting here scratching my head on that one as well.

We have FEB (Federal Employee Blue) and it definitely is for profit.

[mzmolly]

14. Do you have more info on the profits made by FEB?

:shrug: I can't find anything ala google.

[mzmolly]

12. The one the feds have access to apparently. To my understanding

BC/BS started out as a nonprofit?

[madfloridian]

13. "consolation prize for liberals"

Love the snide tone.

[mzmolly]

15. Yeah, that's a friggen ridiculous

assertion. We don't want consolation prizes, we want REAL reform. I hope that someone consulted with Dean and got his input?

[mzmolly]

19. Thanks for the recs guys. I think this is an encouraging

step?

[HuckleB]

20. K & R.

:toast:

[varelse]

22. This is good news (nt)