AP: Clinton to Offer Health Care Plan

[Colobo]

With a price tag of about $110 billion per year, Clinton's "American Health Choices Plan" represents her first major effort to achieve universal health coverage since 1994, when the plan she authored during her husband's first term collapsed.

The former first lady says she has learned from that experience, which almost derailed Bill Clinton's presidency and helped put Republicans in control of Congress for years to come. Aides say she has jettisoned the complexity and uncertainty of the last effort in favor of a plan that stresses simplicity, cost control and consumer choice.

The centerpiece of Clinton's plan is the so-called "individual mandate," requiring everyone to have health insurance - just as most states require drivers to purchase auto insurance. Rival John Edwards has also offered a plan that includes an individual mandate, while the proposal outlined by Barack Obama does not.

"It puts the consumer in the driver's seat by offering more choices and lowering costs," Neera Tanden, Clinton's top policy adviser, told The Associated Press. "If you like the plan you have, you keep it. If you're one of tens of millions of Americans without coverage or don't like the coverage you have, you will have a choice of plans to pick from and you'll get tax credits to help pay for it."

More at:
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/politics/story/144207.html

[regnaD kciN]

1. Let's see, now...

Make everyone pay the insurance companies out of their own pocket...but, if that's a problem, give 'em tax credits.

And this is different from the Republican approach how? :shrug:

[Dr.Phool]

2. It's the same stupid shit Romney proposed in Massachusetts.

Eliminate the fucking insurance companies!

What happens if I can't afford health insurance in the first place?

I'm 55 years old, and there are 2 things I guarantee will never happen in my lifetime. We will never see universal, single payer healthcare, and I'll never vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton.

[Donna Zen]

5. Please please

may I say "ditto"?

Boils down to two choices: an unfunded mandate or a tax give away to the insurance companies.

At the negotiating table, I'm pushing for a three year contract 'cause this will be a nightmare for labor.

[democrat2thecore]

3. This is AWFUL

Leave the insurance companies as they are, just force everyone to have a policy and the govt. will help pick up the tab if you have trouble. The industry concession would be no more pre-existing exclusions. How's this working in Mass? Aren't people finding it difficult to fit into the box? And many people can't afford the outrageous premiums. I keep hearing, "The state's forcing me into what amounts to payments like having two mortgages." No thanks, Hillary.

Single-Payer. Simple-payer. Fair-payer. But that's asking too much since the medical-industrial complex must be pampered - at WHATEVER cost!

[sampsonblk]

4. All these plans are political documents, written by committee

First, the complaint was that she didn't have a plan. Now its going to be how awful her plan is.

Folks forget: these 'plans' are all political documents. Not a one of them has ever been enacted. Any plans made during an election season are certain to be changed once a candidate wins office. Q: I wonder how many of Bush's plans he ever actually read.

So why in the world would we waste time arguing over dueling health care plans? Or any plans for that matter?

The main issue is that all of our candidates care that the health care system needs drastic improvement. The GOP candidates do not. That's it.

Beyond that, maybe the candidates should be asked which type of system they prefer, and why. But a detailed plan is only for the news media and pundits. Let's please not lose sight of that.

[JTFrog]

6. Some candidates are bought

and paid for and therefore will end up giving you crap like this.

Others, like DK....not so much. So yeah it's very important to actually look at them ALL before we vote.

Two parties represent 4% of the people and 100% of the insurance companies. It's BS and we should not just shut up and accept it.

[sampsonblk]

7. Even bought candidates wouldn't put out a plan that gives it away!

Its a political document. Why on earth would a smart candidate give you a plan admitting that they are bought?

Hot tip: all of these 'plans' are rosy scenarios designed to improve their election chances.