Rather than focusing on managed care, today's comprehensive health care proposals work with the existing range of private and government insurance programs......
Right out of the local newspaper from February 8, 2007. Makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up and take notice!!!!! See what you think about it.
Plan A: The Massachusetts Plan
"Massachusetts program was crafted by Democratic lawmakers and then Gov. Mitt Romney, the Republican who plans to formally announce his presidential candidacy next week. The plan, which is being implemented, combines personal responsibility, favored by conservatives, with government help, favored by liberals."
Individual Mandate
"Adults are required to buy health insurance by July 1.(Of course there is no indication of in what year, but heh!) Those who do not will lose their state personal income tax exemption.
Employer Mandate
"Employers with more than ten workers who do not contribute to employees insurance will be assessed up to two hundred ninety five dollar per worker." First, I take offense to the term worker because that is a communist term. Every time I hear it being used it makes my blood boil. Second, where are we suppose to get this extra money from? I can only speak for myself, my husband and most of our closest friends, but our salaries have been slashed big time.
Medicaid Expansion
"The state's MassHealth progran will expand to include children in families with incomes up to three hundred percent of the federal poverty level, $61,950.00 for a family of four." Again I say we can skip the socialism because we are diving head first into communism and I am not going to be a happy camper.
Adult Subsidy
"The state's Commonwealth Care program will help cover uninsured adults with incomes less than three hundred percent of the poverty level, $30,630.00 for an individual. Those below the poverty level will pay no premiums, while those with larger incomes will pay only part of their premiums." Is the government also going to mandate which insurance policies we are all to have? So which insurance companies are in their back pocket or more to the point which insurance companies are not?
Insurance "Connector"
"The independent state authority will serve as a marketplace for insurance. Indivudials without employer coverage, as well as companies with fifty or fewer workers, will be able to buy coverage through it."
Does that mean all insurance companies will be put out of business? Is each state entity going to establish its own version of "insurance". This is really getting out of hand.
Plan B: The California Plan
"Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's twelve billion proposal builds on many of the elements in the Massachusetts plan."
Individual Mandate
"All individuals would have to carry a minimum level of coverage, a five thousand dollar deductible plan with a maximum out of pocket limit of seven thousand five hundred dollars per person." We are suppose to cough up the money from where?????
Children's Coverage
"Children would be eligible for some help with insurance costs if they are in families with incomes below three hundred percent of the federal poverty level, or $61,950.00 for a family of four."
Adult Subsidy
"Uninsured legal-resident adults with incomes below the poverty level, or $20, 650.00 for a family of four, would get coverage at no cost through the state's Medi'Cal program." I hate to say it but most doctors and hospitals in California will not even accept MediCal insurance. They will and do turn you away if you tell them you are covered by it.
Insurance Pool
"The state would create an insurance pool, with subsidies available for adults between one hundred percent and two hundred fifty percent of the poverty level - or between $20, 650.00 and $51, 625.00 for a family of four." Are you still with me on this? Have you become confused by all the retoric yet?
Employer Assessment
"Employers with ten or more workers who do not offer health benefits would be assessed four percent of their payroll." The money goes where? Does it go to fill government coufers?
Plan A C: The John Edwards Plan
"Former Sen. John Edwards, a Democrat, is the first major presidential candidate to propose a detailed national plan for universal health care." So tell me please, if it is called universal health care does that mean we are going to be providing insurance to everyone in the world? Isn't that what universal implies by definition?
Employer Mandate
"Companies would be required to provide health insurance to workers or pay six percent of their payroll into a government fund." Isn't the government going to start running out of pockets to fill or is this just forever endless?
Tax Credits
"Federal tax credits would be available to lower-income and middle-class families who can't afford insurance." Now isn't he being a little disingenuous by not giving detailed facts? Define low income families and then define middle class families. This would be interesting because each one has their own definition.
Medicaid
"Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program would be expanded to cover all adults under the poverty level, or $20,650.00 for a family of four and all children and parents under two hundred fifty percent of the poverty level, or %51, 625.000 for a family of four." What is he babbling about? What if you have a family of two, six, ten, twelve, are you disqualified before you even begin? Why is it based on a family of.........? Family of...implies mother, father, two children. By today's standards a family can mean just about anything imaginable!!!!!!!
Purchasing Pools
"The federal government would help states create regional "Health Markets" or nonprofit purchasing pools that offer a choice of private and public insurance plans."
Insurance Reform
"Insurers would be required to sell to everyone and charge fair premiums, regardless of someone's medical history."
**Well, my head is really spinning now! I hope non of this comes to pass because it will be nothing short of a nightmare. Me, I will just take my chances. I do not want any part of this.
(K)
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