And that’s the rub ... Obamacare replaces the current insurance system with an exchange and the like...Gingrich’s belief is basically keeping private insurance but subsidizing the poor’s portion...world of difference between the two...
One would think that after all the many years of liberals jerking Newt's chain he would learn NOT to get lost on 'details'. He could have simply said 'health care' should always remain in the private sector. The federal government has NO constitutional authority to be mandating any individual or groups to purchase 'government' controlled programs. But we are so close to single payer socialized medicine I do not see US ever going back.
Gingrich favors a health care mandate for insurance. The Ryan plan wants to retain private insurance and expand it for use by Medicare recipients (those below 55). He would use a form of means testing to determine the amount of government subsidy for Medicare recipients. The individual would select his/her own health plans in much the same way that federal employees do now. Ryan also supports giving bloc grants to the states to fund Medicaid.
Gingrich has not said how he will reform Medicare, which will go broke in 5 to 9 years. It is unsustainable as currently structured. With the number of retirees doubling in the next 20 years, i.e., by 2030 one in every five residents of this country will be 65 and older. And by 2030, there will be just 2 workers for every retiree. Our current entitlement programs represent an unfunded liabillity of $100 trillion to keep the promises made. It is impossible to sustain these programs.
Newt's slam against the "radical" Ryan plan that was approved by almost every Rep in the House was a dastardly move to make Newt more acceptable to the mushy middle. Newt is trying to create the impression that he is a centrist. I would move him more to the Left despite his pretense of being a conservative.