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Date Posted: 17:11:18 08/27/09 Thu
Author: niki
Subject: Re: GOP solutions for health care
In reply to: muppetmel 's message, "GOP solutions for health care" on 13:09:36 08/27/09 Thu

Most of this says what it will do, not much says HOW they are going to do it.

1. Make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of pre-existing health conditions. But HOW are they planning to make the coverage accessible and affordable?

2. Protect Americans from being forced into a new government-run health care plan that would: a) eliminate the health care coverage that more than 100 million Americans currently receive through their job; b) limit your choice of doctors and medical treatment options; and c) result in the federal government taking control of your health care.
This isn't really a health care reform at all, it is just a list of what they DON'T want.

3. Let Americans who like their health care coverage keep it, and give all Americans the freedom to choose the health plan that best meets their needs. The current proposal allows for this as well. And by the plan that best meets their needs I assume they mean the best based on what you can pay for?

4. Ensure that medical decisions are made by patients and their doctors, not government bureaucrats. Right now they are being made by insurance companies, how do they plan to change that?

5. Improve Americans’ lives through effective prevention, wellness, and disease management programs, while developing new treatments and cures for life-threatening diseases. Their plan includes cures for diseases? Wow, its kind of hard to suggest that is a bad idea, but once again how? Right now I have insurance but I still have to pay for any and all preventative care out of pocket as my deductable will only be met if I get hit by a bus and declare bankruptcy. This kind of sounds like: "plan will tell you how to eat and what to eat and will put you on programs to keep you within a certain standard so you don't cost the system for obesity-related diseases" or that they will charge you an arm and a leg if you do not meet their standard.

Brings greater fairness to the tax code by extending tax savings to those who currently do not have employer-provided insurance but purchase health insurance on their own. This provision would provide an “above the line” deduction that is equal to the cost of an individual’s or family’s insurance premiums. So I pay out of pocket now and get it back later? What if I cannot afford it now? What if I do not pay in enough taxes to cover what my insurance costs?

Creates incentives to save now for future and long-term health care needs by improving health savings accounts and flexible spending arrangements as well as creating new tax benefits to offset the cost of long-term care premiums. Once again, and if you do not have money you can set aside for this, what good does it do you?

Strengthens employer-provided health coverage by helping the 10 million uninsured Americans who are eligible, but not enrolled in, an employer-sponsored plan get health care coverage. The plan does this by encouraging employers to move to opt-out, rather than opt-in rules. So 10 million people could have insurance but just don't know how to opt-in? Seriously? I suspect they don't opt-in because they cannot afford the part of the coverage that they have to pay for.

It’s no secret that patients in other countries are often denied care or die waiting to get access to the top treatments. That happens here also. Insurance denies the treatment, by the time it is straightened out, it is no longer an option.

Rewards high-quality care, instead of encouraging health care providers to order more and unnecessary services. This sounds like rewarding doctors for guessing and saving money rather than running the tests to know what is going on. This is common in vet med- "ole' Doc always just gave 'em a shot of steriods and he'd perk right up!" Yeah, until he developed diabetes from years of steroid injections.

There are some good ideas in this proposal as well, but not enough detail as to how they plan to do any of it.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> You raise good points Niki, and ... -- muppetmel, 17:41:29 08/27/09 Thu [1]

... I think tabling the health care bill and taking their time with it is a very wise move. Likely there is something in both proposals than can be made workable. What I never understood was the rush to pass it, when most of the legislators hadn't even read it. And I think the pivotal questions that remain unanswered include will you really get to keep the plan you have if you like it, and also, how will it be paid for?


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