Posted on 09/09/2009 8:58:53 PM PDT by PhatHead
In case you did not catch it, in his speech tonight, President Obama referred to "more than thirty million American citizens who cannot get coverage." That's a pretty big difference from the "47 million uninsured" number which has been tossed about for months.
Why the change?
The White House explains tonight that they have subtracted 10 million illegal immigrants and 5 million they believe can afford insurance, but choose not to get it.
Those are interesting concessions, which I think need to be highlighted, because they are the most damaging to his overall call for radical reform. By reducing his estimate of those who "cannot get coverage," he maintains the call for universal coverage, yet concedes that the number of uninsured is not the same thing as the number who need government help to get it.
The same census report which concluded that 46 (not 47) million were uninsured also shows that 17.6 million of them make more than $50,000 a year. It is not unreasonable to conclude that all of those can get coverage if they choose. In addition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports enrollment of 18 million more people in those programs than the Census Bureau reports. Other estimates put the number of reported "uninsured" who are currently eligible for government programs conservatively at 10 million.
The number that "cannot get coverage" is now reduced to 9 million. Another 5-10 million of the uninsured are only temporarily without coverage; for example, people between jobs who opt not to pay for COBRA or temporary coverage.
Clearly, there is some overlap between these groups, but it is clear that the number of people who truly "cannot get coverage" is not only dramatically lower than the number Obama himself has now abandoned, but is likely closer to 5-8 million people.
That may be a problem the American people think the government should address, but a radical overhaul of the entire insurance industry, medical industry and tax code is not the way to do it.
A few more months of not passing the health care bill and we will reach that illusive goal of full coverage.
I’m sure that Rachel Maddow/Olbermann, et. al will have a meltdown about Congressman Wilson shouting that Obama was lying about the illegals being covered. But moving beyond whether that was rude or not, it’s true. Current federal law mandates that emergency care be given to all, regardless of who they are, whether they have insurance, or whether they are in this country illegally. Nothing that Obama or Democrats have talked about would change this fact. Thus, it’s reasonable to assume that illegals will be covered by whatever plan they adopt. The emergency care mandate will still be in the law, regardless of what happens in the Congress with Obama’s proposals.
You know, I’ve been thinking about the shouting, too. It doesn’t matter whether Olbermann, et al are outraged at the rudeness. If Wilson shouting “you lie!” is the story, we have to talk about what Obama was saying that prompted the heckling. The lies are the story. And what was Obama saying at that moment?
He was calling his critics liars!
I kind of hope that’s the story. Frankly, with a speech that mostly recycled the same old talking points, that shout-out was about the only news tonight. Well, that and Ellen Degeneres being named the new American Idol judge.
I’ll be interested to see the TV ratings. I cannot imagine the speech will move any numbers in Obama’s favor.
47 million, 30 million, 9 million, 500 thousand, 30 thousand, 800, to...”Oh wait, I know a guy who, uhh, lives under a bridge and, uhh, hasn’t been able to afford health insurance, uhh, since he had his tonsils and legs ripped off by doctors. So really, uhh, numbers-wise, I guess it’s just one guy. But we need to, uhh, get this passed for him.”
George Will said there are 12 million who cannot afford healthcare. Tort reform would buy the insurance for them.
Good point. I think Obama/Sotoro hates doctors, blaming them for his mother’s death. Of course she ran off to Indonesia away from any proper medicine until it was too late. Still, he blames the doctors.
Wouldn’t surprise me. I think he is a generally angry man, for multiple reasons - racism, class warfare, you name it. Which makes it sad for voters who hear his message about health reform and think he’s doing it for them. Beyond getting his kids an ice cream cone, Bambi does NOTHING for anybody except those connected to his radical agenda.
What I think is that if more people are covered, it would be good for doctors because it increases the odds that the doctors will be paid for their work.
I would like the states to enact some trade laws regulating the pricing of policy premiums.
Every licensed insurer should be required to offer the same rates to individuals as they provide on a per-person basis to groups of employees.
This should make the market for insurance more competitive and stem the rising prices. People should be selecting their own policies without the need to use their employers as bargaining agents.
So now about 9 % of the US population doesn’t have healthcare insurance..... so that means 91% have it. I’m confused, so why are we doing this? Hmmm, hmmm?
9% or less. And Obama has now admitted it’s less than what he’s been claiming. Not only why are we doing this, but what’s the big hurry?
His name is Teddy.
I would like to see health as a state matter. To include Abortion. Sure state legislatures are corrupt, but it is easier to leave the state than to leave the country.
Dennis Miller had it right. “There is this national emergency that is so critical that it requires the US President giving a speech on it at 6:00, and it doesn’t start until 6:15...”
Actually, people getting treated and not being able to pay the doctor is only about 3%. That means this is about a 97% non-problem.
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