Note the obvious ...

[NanceGreggs]

... the Republicans keep talking about "access" to healthcare coverage.

Everyone has always had "access" to health insurance - in the same way everyone has always had "access" to buying a ten-million dollar house, a yacht, and a Ferrari.

"Access" doesn't equate to "affordability" - something the GOP spoke-mouths are carefully avoiding talking about.

The other talking point being thrown around is "we're not interested in" - as in "we're not interested in leaving people uninsured".

Guess what? Saying "you're not interested in" seeing people uninsured has nothing to do with actually leaving them uninsured.

Saying you're "not interested" in seeing people going hungry doesn't change the FACT that cuts to SNAP will leave people hungry. Saying you're "not interested" in seeing voters unable to cast their ballots doesn't change the fact that you're doing everything possible to ensure that they can't.

"Not interested" is yet another talking point that GOPers are trotting-out to cover their asses.

"So you lost your healthcare coverage, your Food Stamps, and your right to vote? We're off the hook, because we repeatedly said that we 'weren't interested' in seeing that happen."

And some people vote for these assholes.

[ecstatic]

1. And last night, TomPrice kept talking about how people should be able to buy the coverage they want.

He kept referring to "choices." Nevermind that most of their agenda involves taking away choice from women.

But regarding choices, it should be obvious that we all want the best plan available. The problem is the cost. Nobody truly wants to be uncovered, but they're presenting it as freedom to choose, which is really disingenuous.

[Bozvotros]

2. They keep talking about how more competition will lower insurance costs

But it has never worked that way before. What happens is that insurance companies begin to cut and paste coverage. This is going on right now. Humana Medicare is a cheap option but it is cheap because they shove people out of hospitals as fast as they can. They deny continued stays even when there are appeals. They cut off physical, occupational and speech therapy before people reach benefit. They disallow skilled care stays or cut them short. All competition in healthcare does is make insurance companies get more creative in how they can rip you off.

There was one plan called "Golden Rule" in the 90's that was particularly cut throat in their prices and their coverage. They were huge GOP contributors and bonded tightly to Gingrich. Golden Rule was an early champion for medical savings accounts and did hard sells which hid the holes in their coverage and which went undetected until people needed to use it. http://www.motherjones.com/politics/1996/01/medikill

Right before the ACA kicked in, McDonalds had cheap insurance for their workers and it was cheap because it had a 5,000 or 10,000 yearly maximum and a whole bunch of other exclusions. http://archive.fortune.com/2010/10/05/news/companies/mini_meds_insurance_mcdonalds.fortune/index.htm That is the kind of shit we will see under the AHCA.

At one time insurance companies were pushing hard to get doctors to accept capitation, where primary care doctors would get paid a certain amount for each patient they saw and that had to cover almost any health condition they had. The AMA and large practices stopped this movement but it was starting to take hold back in the 80's and 90's. As health care costs rose, physician groups found themselves struggling to provide quality care and make a profit. There is talk of bringing a gentler form of capitation back again but it will come down to the same thing. Insurance companies really like it when doctors or patients agree to form their own death panels.

[Cha]

3. They use carefully chosen language that gives people

hope who don't question trump..

They'll find out too late that it didn't mean anything.. just more Orwellian spew from the fascists.

Thank you, Nance

[Beartracks]

4. Doing something they're "not interested" in is what they call...

... "making the tough decisions!"



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