Myths and Facts About Clinton's Health Care Reform Plan

[OzarkDem]

Its nearly the same plan that John Edwards offered, the one everyone liked so much.

1. If you're low income, you will get Medicaid; Clinton's plan expands Medicaid eligibility to cover more adults and children.

2. Government plans and Private plans - Everyone, employers included, will have a choice between government insurance (like Medicare) and private plans. Private insurance companies cannot be eligible for you or your employer to purchase from unless they provide you with full, comprehensive affordable coverage - no cancellation for preexisting conditions, no higher rates for same.

3. If you can't afford the cost of government or private insurance, you will get a tax credit to help pay for it. Here's the kicker - to qualify, govt or private insurance premiums cannot exceed a percentage of your income - premiums are capped.

4. If you don't qualify for Medicaid, your employer will be more likely to provide you with insurance, he'll get a break for doing so. He can also choose from a government or private plan for his employees. Same kind of plan as above.

5. If your employer doesn't provide insurance, you will be able to buy insurance w/ same providions as above in #3 - tax credits and premium caps. If you refuse and it is mandated, you will be given a choice between a government insurance program (like Medicare) or private insurance.

There's a reason why Clinton's plan costs the government more than Obama's. That's because it covers everyone and picks up a lot of the cost.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/healthcareplan/

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Thanks for a post with the facts in it

Since my boss is a total jerk, I guarantee he'll NEVER give us health insurance (hasn't given us a raise in three years, either). The only thing that worries me is the tax credit thing--how will that help me pay for my health insurance now? Poor folk usually have a cash flow problem, and knowing you'll get a break several months down the road doesn't help when you don't have the money to pay for health insurance, rent, and groceries now.

How does this plan address this very real concern?

[MethuenProgressive]

2. Thanks more having facts in your post!

Love to see that happen on DU!
(check your DUmail!)

[zabet]

3. Clinton's covers more people and

is the closest to Edwards' plan.
Also noted that there is a 'Rural
America' plan on her website..
sound familiar? ;)

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/rural/

[OzarkDem]

5. Amazing how much thought and work has gone into her policies

She has a good grasp on where the problems are in the US and how to fix them. She's done her homework.

[mkultra]

4. what about others

What about those who dont pay for healthcare and get it free from indian tribes. Will i be forced to pay for healthcare?

[OzarkDem]

6. Like low income people who get it free from Medicaid?

Anyone who is low income will get free health care.

[mkultra]

8. im anything but low income

That doesnt change the fact that i get free care from my indian tribe.

[OzarkDem]

10. That would stay the same

Your health care coverage is under a separate part of the government.

[Cleita]

12. Regardless of what plan is implemented in the end, I doubt

if they will take your coverage from you, but fold it into the main plan. You should pay attention though to make sure Congress doesn't eliminate your coverage for less coverage. It does have to go through Congress first. The President only has the power to push his plan through and either sign it or veto it when it finally reaches his desk after Congress has agreed on a plan. This is where lobbying your Congressman and Senators is a must.

[TheDeathadder]

17. no

you're covered you're good

[Cleita]

7. And here are the two problems with Clinton's plan

3. If you can't afford the cost of government or private insurance, you will get a tax credit to help pay for it. Here's the kicker - to qualify, govt or private insurance premiums cannot exceed a percentage of your income - premiums are capped.

This is simply means testing and means testing separates people into two classes, the haves and have nots. It creates a lot of problems the enable the RW to attack and defund the programs down the line by raising the image of welfare recipients taking money from hard working citizens. In Medicare there is no means testing, only eligibility which is to be above the age of 65 and other exceptions that private insurance doesn't cover. We need the same in any health insurance plan put forth for all the public.

The second reason is that private insurers should not be included in the plan except for providing coverage that is beyond what the government covers. These are the two major flaws. Congressman John Conyers has introduced a plan H. R. 676 which is about improved Medicare for all. This is the plan the candidates should be on board with.

[OzarkDem]

9. The flaws in your argument

Under Clinton's plan everyone gets quality affordable health care, period. There are no haves and have nots. Just people with quality, affordable health insurance whether you're on Medicaid, Medicare, SCHIPs or covered under the new govt health insurance plan. Everyone's contribution towards that system is according to how much they can pay.

As for quality, Clinton's plan guarantees everyone who participates will have as good quality of care as Congress receives in their health plan.

Everyone has a choice. From Clinton's web site:

"If you have a plan you like, you keep it. If you want to change plans or aren't currently covered, you can choose from dozens of the same plans available to members of Congress, or you can opt into a public plan option like Medicare. And working families will get tax credits to help pay their premiums. "



Private insurance is going to have a difficult time competing with a govt. funded health insurance plan. If they don't offer quality coverage at a competitive price, they'll have to find business elsewhere.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/healthcareplan/americanhealthchoicesplan.pdf

[Cleita]

11. So you are just going to walk in and say "cover me, but I

can't afford to pay". You don't think that they will take your word for it and hand it to you without means testing? No you will be required to fill out numerous forms with detailed information of your personal finances. This is means testing and it immediately separates the haves from the have nots.

In traditional Medicare, you sign up for it when you are sixty-five. The only proof they want of your age is your SS number. Then you are issued a card. No one asks you what you own or what you are worth. In return you pay a premium that is deducted from your SS, not to mention the payroll tax you might have paid if working during your lifetime. That's all.

Many people may not have paid into the system over their lifetime because they were stay-at-home housewives and mothers but they are still eligible. Many may have paid more than they would use as a percentage of their wages taken out in FICA taxes, but no one is asked about this. Everyone gets the same coverage without jumping through hoops to qualify.

[OzarkDem]

19. Means testing pertains to how you pay

not to the level of care you receive.

Yes, you'll have to provide some proof of income, etc. Then you'll get signed up for Medicaid if your income makes you eligible. Its just proving your income to recieve the benefit, it has nothing to do with haves and have nots, you'll get the same level of care in the health care system.

If you have a decent income, you'll buy insurance through one of the federal insurance pools with a choice between public or private insurance. Filling out a few forms isn't much of a price to pay. You have to do that anyway with private insurance or even through your employer.

Some day it may end up being like Medicare, but we won't get from here to there without taking these steps in the process.

[Little Star]

13. Thank you for the facts. Now lets see some Obama supporters

show how Obama's is superior to Hillary/JRE's plans, that are virtually the same.

This is a dare to the O people.

No knocking Hillary's plan, just show where his is better than hers. If you can resist the knocking. This OP did resist.

[BlackVelvet04]

14. And it allows anyone who wants to

to buy into the FEHBP....the same insurance offered to all federal employees including congress.

[OzarkDem]

16. Yes it does n/t

[jsamuel]

15. Yep, it is a good plan. I thought so when Edwards first showed it. ;)

[TheDeathadder]

18. come on

I love Edwards, but Edwards didn't come up with this out of thin air, this is been something kicked around for sometime and Clinton was one of the first kicks. This is more of a true dem health care plan that's finally being allowed to see the light of day without the powers that be stomping on it.