Posted on 11/13/2008 4:03:56 AM PST by tobyhill
The Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee unveiled a health-care reform plan Wednesday that incorporates many of the provisions of President-elect Barack Obama’s plan, but goes one step further -- it would require everyone to eventually buy insurance coverage.
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) proposes that medical insurance cover pre-existing conditions, as Obama’s plan does, and would set up an insurance exchange to help people and businesses find insurance if they need -- but don’t have -- coverage.
“Americans are acutely aware of problems in the country’s health care system and they are ready for change,” Baucus said at a Capitol Hill news conference announcing his “Call to Action: Health Care Reform 2009” proposal.
But the Baucus plan would require that everyone purchase health insurance, once “affordable options” are available.
“Our health-care system is broken” he said. “46 million are uninsured and 25 million are underinsured.” In addition, insurance premiums are "out of control.”
Baucus is asking Americans to “suspend their judgment” and examine the provisions of his “white paper” on comprehensive health-care reform -- which details specific policy options to be considered by the 111th Congress -- before reaching conclusions.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
Translation ... rates are going up, quality is going down.
OK, Max. How are gonna get the crack and meth addicts to pony up? What about the homeless, and the newly unemployed, and the poor, and the minimum wage earner and... and...and...There ain’t enough rich people to pay for this!
That should help businesses. Sure
****If consumers are happy with their existing coverage, they can keep it, Baucus said, but he added: “The system can work better and cost less for everyone, if leaders are willing to work together for sound policy solutions.” ****
Translation: Members of Congress get FREE health care for themselves and families for life. So what do they care if the rest of us wait months for an emergency operation? As it is right now, this country has the BEST health care in the world. If anyone doesn’t have insurance, all they have to do is walk into an emergency room and get taken care of, thanks to the taxpayers.
IMHO, the high cost of health care is due to lawyers (think Breck boy) and more layers "administration" between the provider and user. Now the demonrats want to add another layer or six.
(S) They need to do something. I'm tired of stepping over all those dead bodies on the way Walmart.(/s)
What a stupid thing to say.
You said — “If anyone doesn’t have insurance, all they have to do is walk into an emergency room and get taken care of, thanks to the taxpayers.”
That’s not a very good health maintenance option. You don’t get good care, because they are set up for emergencies. If you don’t have an emergency, but simply a “health care issue” (like soeone would go to the doctor), then you’ll wait for about 4 hours and then hardly get any attention, be told to leave and go see a doctor (we’re talking about “not” life-or-death” issues here, which they will take care of quickly in the emergency rooms).
I took someone to an emergency room (they didn’t have insurance and needed a ride). So, we waited for about three hours and it was going to be another hour before being seen. It was a relatively minor item, but did require medical attention as the doctor said, after seeing it.
Afterwards, there came the bill, although, the person didn’t have the money. However, the bill goes on the record, it stays there (for years on end), it goes into collections and it gets bigger — so that once the person gets a job and starts taking care of these kinds of bills, they find themselves saddled with costs that are about — 5 to 10 times — more costly than merely going to their own doctor, if they had health insurance. So, they are *further behind* than they were in the first place, and it *carries into the future* with big bills being put on the person.
So, going to the emergency room is *not encouraged* for medical care. It’s a very stupid option for anyone to suggest.
What it means is that government will take more out of your paycheck to pay for another socialist program that panders to the poor and strips hard wroking americans of any assets.
I agree. Sadly the 40 million with no insurance do have expanded cable TV, cell phones and more ‘toys’ than those of us with a sense of personal responsibility.
I like this. Mandatory universal health insurance. Manditory universal volunteerism. There have been quite a few other mandatory programs floated from Obamaland, government services that are so good for us that we have to be forced to participate for our own benefit. War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Obama is good.
ditto. My husband and I are retired military, so we have to pay for our primary care if we enroll at the closest military treatment facility, so we chose to go TRICARE standard and pay for a percentage of our treatment, just like old CHAMPUS. My senior age parents are part of the TRICARE For LIFE medical program: my dad and other vets like him were “promised free health care for life” when he enlisted, so I totally support the care he and others get at military and VA treatment centers. It aggravates me to no end that he, my husband and I and others who have worn the uniform and put lives on the line have to pay for treatment when those congressional thieves get a truly rich benefit for dubious service. Yes, our nation’s healthcare system does need overhauling, but you are right: it’s the best in the world and works in spite of some big problems. Let’s not become Canada or England, for God’s sake!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
“We’ve fixed Wall Street, we’ve fixed the housing market, fixed taxes — everything else but health care — and if we don’t fix that, we will have more economic troubles,” Baucus said.”
WTF?
This is unreal.
Those 46 million people without health insurance are ripping off those of us who do have insurance. That needs fixing.
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