Skin in the Game: Members of Congress Will Be Covered By "Obamacare"

[babylonsister]

I had read that the President would be covered, but didn't know everyone would.

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/03/26/skin-in-the-game-members-of-congress-will-be-covered-by-obamacare/


Skin in the Game: Members of Congress Will Be Covered By "Obamacare"
Posted by Karen Tumulty Friday, March 26, 2010 at 11:33 am


You're hearing it over and over again: If this new health insurance system is so great, why aren't members of Congress enrolling themselves, their staffs and their families in it? Jonathan Cohn points to the legislative language that shows they are :

(D) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN THE EXCHANGE

(i) REQUIREMENT- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, after the effective date of this subtitle, the only health plans that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or congressional staff shall be health plans that are--

(I) created under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act); or

(II) offered through an Exchange established under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act)

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. That smells like

Democracy and equality

[Oregone]

6. Equality?

You do realize that the bill legislates multi-tiers in the exchange, with the bottom tier plan having an actuarial value of 60%? Thats what most of the poor will have. Rest assured, these Congressmen will not have "bronze" plans (although their amassed wealth would make such out-of-pocket expenses negligable).

The "bronze" tier plans will not expand actual access to care for many at all, and could actually encourage an overall downgrade of the national average actuarial value when employers start opting into the exchange.

Equality would be a single tier, and one that promotes access equaly despite the wealth of the policy holders

(d) Levels of Coverage-

(1) LEVELS OF COVERAGE DEFINED- The levels of coverage described in this subsection are as follows:

(A) BRONZE LEVEL- A plan in the bronze level shall provide a level of coverage that is designed to provide benefits that are actuarially equivalent to 60 percent of the full actuarial value of the benefits provided under the plan.

(B) SILVER LEVEL- A plan in the silver level shall provide a level of coverage that is designed to provide benefits that are actuarially equivalent to 70 percent of the full actuarial value of the benefits provided under the plan.

(C) GOLD LEVEL- A plan in the gold level shall provide a level of coverage that is designed to provide benefits that are actuarially equivalent to 80 percent of the full actuarial value of the benefits provided under the plan.

(D) PLATINUM LEVEL- A plan in the platinum level shall provide a level of coverage that is designed to provide benefits that are actuarially equivalent to 90 percent of the full actuarial value of the benefits provided under the plan.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Sorry

My ignorance was showing. Still, at least they will still be participating in the same overall HC system instead of a separately run specially reserved system. That's more what I was getting at.

[Oregone]

9. I understand where you are coming from

I just am not pleased with multiple actuarial values, which legislates a direct contradiction to the notion of equality. Most people want to ignore this. Honestly, having a 60% actuarial valued plan is as good as not having insurance at all. :(

[xultar]

2. There you go. That is why the thugs hate the bill so much. ROFL.

[FLyellowdog]

3. Is that only if they choose to change from what they already have?nt

[vaberella]

5. Well they're already in the exchange--now with a wider pool cheaper prices.

The Dems will take advantage of it and Obama said he would.

[Hekate]

4. Yesssss.

:fistbump:

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. excellent find