Howard Dean: Senate Health Care Compromise a "Positive Step"

[kpete]

Source: CBS News

December 9, 2009 7:42 AM
Dean: Senate Health Care Compromise a "Positive Step"

Posted by Daniel Carty


The new health care compromise hammered out among Senate Democrats isn't perfect but it represents a "positive step forward," former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said on CBS' "The Early Show" Wednesday.

Liberals appear ready to drop their demands for a public option in order to assuage moderate Democrats and get the 60 votes needed to avoid a Republican filibuster. The revamped legislation would reportedly set up a private insurance plan overseen by the same government agency that controls lawmakers' insurance. It would also expand Medicare, lowering the qualifying age from 65 to 55.

Dean, who previously chaired the Democratic National Committee, said Medicare expansion "makes a lot of sense because you don't have to reinvent another bureaucracy to do it."

"This is what should have been done in the first place," he told "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez, who noted that Dean had insisted in August that reform must include a public option.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/09/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5948676.shtml

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???The MAJOR health care nugget you are missing.

"The deal reached Tuesday puts even more requirements on insurers by requiring that 90 percent of premium dollars be spent on medical benefits, as opposed to administrative costs, officials said."
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/12/9/812330/-The-MAJOR-health-care-nugget-you-are-missing.

AP Story

If you want a bit of perspective on how big that is, consider this:

"USA wastes more on health care bureaucracy than it would cost to provide health care to all of the uninsured"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091209/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

kpete, i admit major dissonance today)

[Skink]

1. adding a public option for those under 55 could be done after.

the insurance industry would be happy unloading high risk people to the government. Then a public option could be made available at lower cost.

[Kolesar]

5. That's what I am predicting

This makes me very happy to hear. There is some amount of age discrimination against older job candidates. My friends experience a lot of anxiety about not getting health care coverage if they are unemployed for a long period.

[Hekate]

2. First Rec here. When Dr. Dean talks, I listen. Thanks for the links. nt

[waterscalm]

4. His pattern is to change with the wind.

[Hekate]

6. You sure about that, newby? Explain, please. Welcome to DU, however. nt

[ShortnFiery]

10. I don't trust any ONE politician. That includes Dr. Dean.

He's hardly an average middle class voter. :eyes:

p.s. You are aware that he's a consultant for CNBC?

[FreeStateDemocrat]

3. When will this lower age for Medicare take effect soon as passed or 2013?

[dragonlady]

7. Medicare for 55 year olds is the first step on the road to a single-payer system

The right can't say too much against Medicare because so many seniors and their families are satisfied with it. (Republicans are gnashing their teeth now because their long-range goal was to weaken and eliminate Medicare). Lowering the age to 55 will change the mindset that Medicare is only for seniors. Once we wrap our heads around that concept, it will seem natural to lower the age even further. Since the public option has been pretty well gutted, this new plan may be the best tactic--to strike out in an entirely different direction and pass it quickly before the right-wingers know what hit them.

[jpak]

12. The camel's nose in under the tent - just let the GOP TRY to undo THAT

:D

[groundloop]

8. I'm not quite sure what to believe, but if Dr. Dean says this is good I'll listen

My first take on this was we're screwed, no public option in sight and single payer just a pipe dream. But if Medicare can expand to cover more and more Americans that'll be just fine by me, just not as fast as I'd like. PLUS, this is only the Senate version. Who knows what will come out of the merged bills in a little while.

Still, I'm disappointed that Harry Reid backed down from pushing something down the right wingers throats with the reconciliation process, like they did to us with the Bush giveaway to the wealthy.

One thing I'm wondering about this deal, will anyone over 55 be able to buy into Medicare, or just if they're not eligible for other insurance?

[DebbieCDC]

9. If Dr. Dean is in favor, then I'm willing to listen

I trust his judgment in this -- and in a lot of other areas actually.

[jpak]

11. Howard Dean - cheerleader for Obama's failure

not

:rofl:

[No Elephants]

13. I trust Dr. Dean on this issue more than I trust any other source.