Reply #12: Of course, the plan is more than a so-called givaway to insurance corps. More details -- [View All]

[jefferson_dem]

From politico.com -

According to fact sheets from the campaign, the Obama plan is built on: investing in health information technology to reduce errors; improving prevention and management of chronic conditions; increasing insurance industry competition and reducing underwriting costs and profits; providing reinsurance for catastrophic coverage that will reduce insurance premiums; and making health insurance universal.

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The Obama plan will create a National Health Insurance Exchange to help individuals who wish to purchase a private insurance plan. The Exchange will act as a watchdog group and help reform the private insurance market by creating rules and standards for participating insurance plans to ensure fairness and to make individual coverage more affordable and accessible. Through the Exchange, any American will be able to enroll in the new public plan or purchase an approved private plan, and income-based subsidies will be provided for people and families who need it. Insurers would have to issue every applicant a policy, and charge fair and stable premiums that will not depend upon health status. The Exchange will require that all the plans offered are at least as generous as the new public plan and the same standards for quality and efficiency. Insurers would be required to justify an above-average premium increase to the Exchange. The Exchange would evaluate plans and make the differences among the plans, including cost of services, transparent.”

THE RUB: “Employers that do not offer or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees will be required to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of the national plan. Small employers that meet certain revenue thresholds will be exempt.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0507/4229.html

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EDIT TO ADD:

Also, recall that earlier this month, Obama proposed cutting subsidies to insurance companies under the Medicare program. To say that he is simply a corporate shill and so on is either ignorant or disengenuous...

Obama: Cut insurance subsidies
From Times Wire Reports
May 12, 2007

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois proposed cutting government subsidies to private insurance companies under Medicare by $150 billion over the next decade.

Campaigning in Des Moines, Obama said the money could be used to strengthen the Medicare program overall, including a reduction in the prices seniors pay for prescription drug prices.

"We don't do that because we are not setting the agenda in Washington — insurance companies and drug companies are. That's what people want to turn the page on," he said to loud applause. "We want a system that's fair and sensible to everyone."

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-na-briefs12.1may12,1,2565301.story?coll=la-health-medicine