bmartin
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 2,459
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Post by bmartin on Oct 25, 2013 10:01:12 GMT -5
The Republican plans for health care have been expanding Medicare Advantage - subsidize insurance companies/HMOs without much accountability and without accounting for the additional funds; Medicare Part D - subsidize drug companies and insurance companies without much accountability and without accounting for the additional funds; Health Savings Accounts - subsidize insurance companies and financial institutions without much accountability. They have consistently found the most expensive way for the federal government to provide or expand health benefits - by generously subsidizing insurance companies to do it - and have focused on smuggling insurance subsidies in as benefits or options for people who already have federal government insurance from Medicare or Tricare, or as options for people have enough income to buy insurance but don't want to (HSAs). In the meantime, they have opposed any initiatives to improve coverage in Medicaid, State Childrens' Health Insurance Program, or to make insurance available for people who work but do not get insurance from their employers.
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
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Post by Boz on Oct 25, 2013 12:04:35 GMT -5
There have been Republican plans. There is one out there right now that has the support of all Republicans in the House. The last actual comprehensive plan involving a Republican was Wyden-Bennett. Guess what happened to Bennett right after that? Steve Scalise's plan is a comprehensive plan. You may not like it or agree with it, but that does not negate its existence as an alternative.
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SSHoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."
Posts: 18,254
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Post by SSHoya on Oct 25, 2013 12:12:21 GMT -5
The last actual comprehensive plan involving a Republican was Wyden-Bennett. Guess what happened to Bennett right after that? Steve Scalise's plan is a comprehensive plan. You may not like it or agree with it, but that does not negate its existence as an alternative. rsc.scalise.house.gov/solutions/rsc-betterway.htm
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bmartin
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 2,459
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Post by bmartin on Oct 25, 2013 14:43:43 GMT -5
The Scalise plan is the same old stuff - HSAs and tax deductions - that give a little subsidy that helps the people (and their insurers) who already have or can afford insurance. There is a little bit of lip service to people who don't get employer coverage and can't afford to pay the premiums, but if you know anything at all about the issue, tax deductions and high-risk pools are the dumbest ways to try to help that population. They are not enough to help those who need it the most, so it would be another Republican proposal that would subsidize the people who can afford coverage but complain about the cost, while doing nothing for the people who really can't afford coverage. I noticed that the Scalise bill also restores the anti-trust exemption for the health insurance industry. The exemption was partially repealed by the Affordable Care Act. Malpractice reform accomplishes next to nothing except satisfy the lobbying efforts of a few deep-pocketed interest groups.
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