Crist embraces Obama's high-risk health insurance pool

[TomCADem]

Source: The Miami Herald

Gov. Charlie Crist will leave it to the Obama administration to run the federally subsidized high-risk health insurance plan that is to cover people unable to buy such insurance in the private market due to preexisting conditions such as cancer or diabetes.

In a letter late Friday to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Crist said he agreed that states and the federal government must cooperate in expanding healthcare for Americans but said "unfortunately Florida is not in a position to authorize new financial obligations."

"We are in the process of balancing our budget on the final day of the 2010 legislative session," he wrote. "As governor of Florida, I cannot commit any state resources to participate in the federal temporary high-risk health insurance program."

"However, I understand you can . . . create a new high-risk pool at the federal level, where eligible Floridians can participate. We stand ready to assist you," he added.


Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/02/1609646/crist-embraces-obamas-high-risk.html

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Frist, Crist vetoes the anti-tenure bill to the delight of teacher's unions, but agrees to cooperate with Federal efforts to implement a high risk insurance pool for Florida residents to participate in, though Florida declines to create its own independent pool. It will be interesting to see if Crist tries to run as an old school North Eastern Republican such as Lincoln Chafee instead of the xenophobic, Glenn Beck crowd.

[high density]

1. Today on Meet the Press

Crist said he supports scrapping the health care bill and starting over:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36879498/ns/meet_the_press/page/4

MR. GREGORY: Would you support legislation that repealed the president's healthcare legislation?

GOV. CRIST: Yeah, I think we need to start over. I really do. We've got a great plan here in Florida, David. There's no government mandate, no tax increases. It offers coverage to those who can't afford it, who have lost a job. It's a compassionate way to do it, and I think that's a good model for the country.

[Mojorabbit]

4. Our pool is not taking anyone

We applied last year and are still waiting. He is full of it.

[skipos]

2. Crist would caucus with Repubs, and the GOP has been 100% effective in turning

supposed "moderates" like McCain into lockstep neocons. Crist would become another one.

[Honeycombe8]

3. I wonder if he's SUGGESTING there be a high-risk pool, since there is no fed. plan to have one.

When I listened to Obama speak about health care reform, he stated quite plainly that he was against high risk pools. For one thing, they are prohibitively expensive. Subsidizing wouldn't solve that problem, he said.

High risk people need to be kept in pools with younger, healthier people. That's what the exchanges, etc., are for.

So unless he changed his mind, what Crist is saying, slyly, is that he is suggesting that there be such a pool. That has been the Republican position on high risk people all along.

[eomer]

7. The high-risk pool is already law, passed as part of the HCR bill.

It is a temporary measure until the exchanges become effective.

[O is 44]

5. Crist is not to be trusted, I'm disappointed to see and hear

Dems say they would vote for him.

[GreenTea]

6. You're correct....and believe me I know the feeling....