New Senate plan: States can opt out of receiving HC, but not out of paying for it????

[Little-Acorn]

Saw a number of commentators on TV last night, some of whom were Senators and Representatives. They were talking about the new "Opt-out" provision Harry Reid has announced, that comes with the Government Option he has put back into the Senate's plan.

They said it was hard to get details on exactly how it worked, and they expressed frustration over that. They also said that from what they were told, states could "opt out" of receiving this new Government health care option... but not opt out of paying for it, even if they didn't receive it!

This is bizarre, to put it mildly. Frankly, I'm not sure I believe it. Who on earth would put something like that out as a viable plan? Expecially for the ENTIRE COUNTRY?

Has anyone heard any more details?

Is this new Senate plan really as whacky as that?

Inquiring minds want to know!

[sgtdmski]

It all started with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid who is slumping in the polls back home. With the loss of Senator Olympia Snowe with his idea of including the public option, or if you listen to Nancy Pelosi, the consumer option in the plan, Senator Snowe said she would no longer support the plan, bringing the Republican totals to 40 in the senate. With several Democratic Senators including Senator Landrieu, Senator Nelson, and Senator Bayh, Senate Majority Leader Reid saw his ability to pass for cloture on the bill including the public option sliding away. So he had this idea that he could include the public option in the bill, and at first he wanted only to give that option to Nevada, then Senator Landrieu got wind of this and wanted.

Senator Snowe, had an idea to include the option but with triggers. Meaning that if certain events did not occur by certain times, the public option would begin, however that has been ridiculed by Senator Reid.

So now there is this idea of including the public option but allowing states to opt out. However, the people of the states would still have to pay with taxes for the program even though their states may not offer the program.

Once again proving that the public option has nothing to do with providing competition for private companies but rather existing to force them out of business.

dmk

[Kathianne]

Can't pay, apply for 'option.'

Can pay, get ready to pay for those that can't via taxes on top of more expensive insurance 'premiums.' You pay for those that choose not to.

[Monkeybone]

well that is just stupid....but also brilliant. nice little slip of a line in there.

shouldn't it come down and be person to person to decide for themselves if they wanna opt out? hell, you could do it yearly.


I have said before and i will now state it on here, I have no problem with a public option. Help those that can't get insurance, more power to them. But i shouldn't have to pay for it. that is just ridiculous. yet....ridiculous seems par the course for government since i was about 18...

[Kathianne]

well that is just stupid....but also brilliant. nice little slip of a line in there.

shouldn't it come down and be person to person to decide for themselves if they wanna opt out? hell, you could do it yearly.


I have said before and i will now state it on here, I have no problem with a public option. Help those that can't get insurance, more power to them. But i shouldn't have to pay for it. that is just ridiculous. yet....ridiculous seems par the course for government since i was about 18...

I've a problem paying for those that can. Seems the bar should be set quite high, not low as it's being. Indeed I've a problem with any increase, as I cannot go to doc without a severe reason because of the deductibles. I'm not complaining, for the most part seems to serve it's purpose.

[Monkeybone]

they almost need to make it like car insurance. Don't pay for every little doctor visit and such.... only major things. catastrophic insurance like. I am a big believer in Consumer Driven Healthcare. if the service is needed it will survive, if not, it won't. Get rid of the insurance companies and let us deal directly with the health providers. that would clear up a lot of the 'wasted' money. but i really don't wanna get into all that in this thread.

also to say, the government will do what they wanna do. some have sensed and believed in the changing tide of feelings and what Americans are saying and they are trying to keep their jobs... but at the same time they don't wanna lose that power and money. good ol' corruption in the Government. I think that we have one of the more corrupt ones, they just have a nice mask of 'Freedom' on.

[Kathianne]

they almost need to make it like car insurance. Don't pay for every little doctor visit and such.... only major things. catastrophic insurance like. I am a big believer in Consumer Driven Healthcare. if the service is needed it will survive, if not, it won't. Get rid of the insurance companies and let us deal directly with the health providers. that would clear up a lot of the 'wasted' money. but i really don't wanna get into all that in this thread.

also to say, the government will do what they wanna do. some have sensed and believed in the changing tide of feelings and what Americans are saying and they are trying to keep their jobs... but at the same time they don't wanna lose that power and money. good ol' corruption in the Government. I think that we have one of the more corrupt ones, they just have a nice mask of 'Freedom' on.
Yep, that is my take. If the employer or individual cannot afford the big plate, limit it to the essentials, hospitalization. Let the employee pay their dental, mental health, optometrist, and physical for viagra. If a pacemaker or an emergency pops up, cover it.

[Little-Acorn]

Yep, that is my take. If the employer or individual cannot afford the big plate, limit it to the essentials, hospitalization. Let the employee pay their dental, mental health, optometrist, and physical for viagra. If a pacemaker or an emergency pops up, cover it.

That very plan was available in the free market, long before government started intruding into health insurance. It was called "Major Medical Insurance". Also known as high-deductible insurance. And the large majority of people with insurance, had it.

But government "fixed" that. And you see the result today.

But how about this "new" Senate plan, that lets you "opt out" of receiving benefits, but not "opt out" of paying for them?

C'mon. They aren't really proposing that, are they? That would be just TOO whacky, even for Democrat fanatics. Say it ain't so!!!