The REAL health care plan & ideas

[Winnie]

I didn't find an un-biased summary of the "America?s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009." Full text here: http://docs.house.gov/edlabor/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf​

I will admit the document is typical legal form. Everything you're interested in is defined elsewhere and the definition references another subsection of a different section, etc. Really tedious to garner information from these things.​

So, to begin conversation on the issues, I think it is easier to use the Summary provided by the House itself: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090714/hr3200_summary.pdf​

This is the overall outline:​

[FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]The bill provides quality affordable health care for all Americans and controls health care cost growth. Key provisions of the bill being released this week include: [/FONT]



[/FONT]

1. COVERAGE AND CHOICE
2. AFFORDABILITY
3. SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
4. CONTROLLING COSTS
5. PREVENTION AND WELLNESS
6. WORKFORCE INVESTMENTS

In section #1, they include the public option. I am against this because of my belief that it will be unfair competition to private insurers.​

Also included is:​

The basic package will include preventive services with no cost[FONT=Calibri,Calibri][FONT=Calibri,Calibri]‐[/FONT][/FONT]sharing, mental health services, oral health and vision for children, and caps the amount of money a person or family spends on covered services in a year. ​

I have estimated my own yearly preventive services to be about $700. So, for the plan to operate without deficits, it will cost me at least that on top of administrative costs and my share of the oral and vision costs for children, etc. I foresee this costing more than I want to pay for insurance. But, can I opt out? No, not without penalty:​

Except in cases of hardship, once market reforms and affordability credits are in effect, individuals will be responsible for obtaining and maintaining health insurance coverage. Those who choose to not obtain coverage will pay a penalty of 2.5 percent of modified adjusted gross income above a specified level ​

Okay, that's a start. Constructive input welcome!​

 

[Bob]

5 reasons behind soaring health costs - Health care- msnbc.com By Beth Howard
Women's Health logo
updated 8:31 a.m. ET, Mon., Aug 10, 2009

After years of being on her husband's health insurance policy, a divorce left Laura Scholz, a freelance public relations consultant in Atlanta, looking for her own plan. Yet even though the fit 33-year-old goes to the gym five times a week and runs marathons for charity, the policy she found cost more than $800 a month. "That's a quarter of my income," she says. "And that didn't even cover my $400-a-month asthma drugs."

Unable to handle the payments, she switched to a bare-bones plan that has a $150 monthly premium but covers only catastrophic medical crises (like a ruptured appendix or a car accident). "I can't afford to get my eyes checked, or see a dentist, and I had to pay $800 out-of-pocket when I developed a stress fracture in my foot last summer," she says. "I work hard and I take good care of myself, yet it's still next to impossible to get decent coverage."

With unemployment rising and companies cutting back on benefits, more and more Americans are experiencing the sticker shock of buying unsubsidized health insurance for the first time. "Even healthy people are facing payments they simply can't afford," says Arthur Caplan, Ph.D., director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania and an msnbc.com contributor. "And if you have a preexisting problem, forget it. Insurance rates are beyond the means of everyone but the most wealthy."

 

[Alicia Leonard]

5 reasons behind soaring health costs - Health care- msnbc.com By Beth Howard
Women's Health logo
updated 8:31 a.m. ET, Mon., Aug 10, 2009

After years of being on her husband's health insurance policy, a divorce left Laura Scholz, a freelance public relations consultant in Atlanta, looking for her own plan. Yet even though the fit 33-year-old goes to the gym five times a week and runs marathons for charity, the policy she found cost more than $800 a month. "That's a quarter of my income," she says. "And that didn't even cover my $400-a-month asthma drugs."

Unable to handle the payments, she switched to a bare-bones plan that has a $150 monthly premium but covers only catastrophic medical crises (like a ruptured appendix or a car accident). "I can't afford to get my eyes checked, or see a dentist, and I had to pay $800 out-of-pocket when I developed a stress fracture in my foot last summer," she says. "I work hard and I take good care of myself, yet it's still next to impossible to get decent coverage."

With unemployment rising and companies cutting back on benefits, more and more Americans are experiencing the sticker shock of buying unsubsidized health insurance for the first time. "Even healthy people are facing payments they simply can't afford," says Arthur Caplan, Ph.D., director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania and an msnbc.com contributor. "And if you have a preexisting problem, forget it. Insurance rates are beyond the means of everyone but the most wealthy."

Thank you, Bob. This has been my experience, no matter how I have been told that it should not be my experiece, it is what I have delt with too.

 

[Blair]

I dont think anybody is really arguing that something needs to be done....

Just not what's being proposed....

 

[Winnie]

5 reasons behind soaring health costs - Health care- msnbc.com By Beth Howard
Women's Health logo
updated 8:31 a.m. ET, Mon., Aug 10, 2009

After years of being on her husband's health insurance policy, a divorce left Laura Scholz, a freelance public relations consultant in Atlanta, looking for her own plan. Yet even though the fit 33-year-old goes to the gym five times a week and runs marathons for charity, the policy she found cost more than $800 a month. "That's a quarter of my income," she says. "And that didn't even cover my $400-a-month asthma drugs."

Unable to handle the payments, she switched to a bare-bones plan that has a $150 monthly premium but covers only catastrophic medical crises (like a ruptured appendix or a car accident). "I can't afford to get my eyes checked, or see a dentist, and I had to pay $800 out-of-pocket when I developed a stress fracture in my foot last summer," she says. "I work hard and I take good care of myself, yet it's still next to impossible to get decent coverage."

With unemployment rising and companies cutting back on benefits, more and more Americans are experiencing the sticker shock of buying unsubsidized health insurance for the first time. "Even healthy people are facing payments they simply can't afford," says Arthur Caplan, Ph.D., director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania and an msnbc.com contributor. "And if you have a preexisting problem, forget it. Insurance rates are beyond the means of everyone but the most wealthy."

Could you post how you think the proposed health plan will remedy this? She makes over $38,000 a year and can't afford an eye exam or dental cleaning. How will she make out under the proposed bill?

 

[Winnie]

5 reasons behind soaring health costs - Health care- msnbc.com By Beth Howard
Women's Health logo
updated 8:31 a.m. ET, Mon., Aug 10, 2009

After years of being on her husband's health insurance policy, a divorce left Laura Scholz, a freelance public relations consultant in Atlanta, looking for her own plan. Yet even though the fit 33-year-old goes to the gym five times a week and runs marathons for charity, the policy she found cost more than $800 a month. "That's a quarter of my income," she says. "And that didn't even cover my $400-a-month asthma drugs."

Unable to handle the payments, she switched to a bare-bones plan that has a $150 monthly premium but covers only catastrophic medical crises (like a ruptured appendix or a car accident). "I can't afford to get my eyes checked, or see a dentist, and I had to pay $800 out-of-pocket when I developed a stress fracture in my foot last summer," she says. "I work hard and I take good care of myself, yet it's still next to impossible to get decent coverage."

With unemployment rising and companies cutting back on benefits, more and more Americans are experiencing the sticker shock of buying unsubsidized health insurance for the first time. "Even healthy people are facing payments they simply can't afford," says Arthur Caplan, Ph.D., director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania and an msnbc.com contributor. "And if you have a preexisting problem, forget it. Insurance rates are beyond the means of everyone but the most wealthy."

Could you post how you think the proposed health plan will remedy this? She makes over $38,000 a year and can't afford an eye exam or dental cleaning. How will she make out under the proposed bill?

I've been trying to find some good data to answer my question above. The truth is, there isn't any way to tell.

On the good side, her preventive services will be covered with no co-pay. On the bad side, there is nothing I find that limits what she will be charged to obtain this insurance. And she will have to obtain and keep some yet to be determined minimal level of coverage. Rates may (and probably will) vary by region.

Also, the plan will not supersede state laws. That indicates that the final product will be as weak as the weakest rules in any of the 50 states. So, if she lives in a state that currently is pretty strict in what minimal coverage you can obtain, she will probably not end up with a less expensive option than she currently has. Almost assuredly it will be more expensive.

If you were able to ferret out any more clear information, please post it. This issue is important to all of us.

 

[30ashopper]

These points are on the House bill. I really wouldn't worry much about that, the most contentious parts won't end up in final legislation. I'm interested in what the Senate is working on. I agree with the broad goals obama wanted, and I think the work in Senate is the only legislation that actually has those goals, as goals.

 

[BeachSiO2]

...I think the work in Senate is the only legislation that actually has those goals, as goals.

Ah, sausage making at it's finest. I tend to agree with you that the Senate Bill is the version to watch.

 

[Winnie]

I agree with both of you. However, we don't know what they will put forward.

This thread is only to discuss the issue. Do either of you have any opinions on specifics you'd like to see or not see? Any opinion on what is right or wrong with the House plan thus far? I think there is a real need to discuss this in public instead of just taking political party sides on such an important issue.

Personally, I think it is important to let the House members know that what they are considering now is unacceptable. They need to keep debating and discussing.

 

[BeachSiO2]

I agree with both of you. However, we don't know what they will put forward.

This thread is only to discuss the issue. Do either of you have any opinions on specifics you'd like to see or not see? Any opinion on what is right or wrong with the House plan thus far? I think there is a real need to discuss this in public instead of just taking political party sides on such an important issue.

I do and I promise to come back. Right now, I have to leave for my "dog off" with DD at 7. :leaving: