Can someone tell me if there is ANY republican alternate health care plan?

[CTyankee]

I haven't seen anything that the House Republicans have gotten behind and said "Our plan is better and here's why." All I have heard is that they don't want the Democratic plan.

Has NO ONE in the media asked the republicans what THEIR plan is?

[krispos42]

1. Yup

It's a faith-based system... pray you don't get sick.

[BobRossi]

2. There sure is...

It's called the JDGS plan.

(Just Don't Get Sick)

[Joe Bacon]

3. $50 tax credit to the Preacher of your choice!

So they can eat chateaubriand while you die!

[Critters2]

29. Umm...I am clergy, and not the only one on DU.

On Saturday, I'm attending a Clergy Roundtable with my Congresswoman, Debbie Halvorson (D-IL). I will be strongly advocating a public option, but will make it clear that I would prefer Universal Single Payer Health Care.

What, exactly, have you done to bring about change beyond posting snarky shit on the internet?

Oh, and I'm vegan...so I'll pass on the chateaubriand.

[Joe Bacon]

32. This is what I have done.

Excuse me, but I phonebanked every weekend for Democrats and paid the cellphone bills out of my own pocket.

And thanks for ridiculing all the other work I did like stuffing envelopes and passing out flyers.

I've also had several close friends die over the past year from diabetes complications who may have been saved if ignorant religious fanatics hadn't blocked stem cell research. And yes, I was so snarky that I spent Christmas day with a hospitalized buddy who was on dialysis. And I spend holidays volunteering at food kitchens.

I have a major problem with religion. As a kid, I remember kids singing Jesus loves me, but with the rise of Falwell and Robertson and their ilk all I hear from preachers on TV is Jesus Hates gays, lesbians, and anyone who isn't white. All I hear is their hate. And how they promise pie in the sky when you die while millions have descended into poverty since the rise of the "religious right".

Thanks, and you have a good day!

[Critters2]

33. If that's all you hear, than you have selective hearing.

There are a lot of Christians advocating for health care reform, for the glbt community, for justice and peace. But you've made a decision not to hear our voices.

[Joe Bacon]

35. Thank you for your constructive criticism

It proves what I wrote before. And it alienates me further.

[jenmito]

Tax cuts-their answer for everything. n/t

[napi21]

4. Status quo as far as I can tell. ust dont do anything that might

reduce the profits of the insurance companies!

[high density]

5. Their plan is "OMG the Dem plan is horrible!!"

i.e. status quo

[sui generis]

6. is there ANY democratic alternate health care plan?

now THAT would be nice instead of having this looney tunes crap shoved down our throat as the ONLY option.

[Cleita]

7. Yes, some of them are pushing health savings accounts and

tax credits. Others are pushing mandated insurance for all, no doubt in the hopes that it will burden the system so much that it will collapse.

[sui generis]

12. What we need is health care cost control measures FIRST

We repeatedly hear people talk about this being the only way to deal with healthcare cost inflation. ???? Inflation is when you have more demand than supply, in grade school terms.

So there's more demand on the healthcare system than supply causing the high cost of healthcare? How is it that my standard CBC and blood workup for life insurance now includes a syphilis test??? Doctor fired.

Whaaaaaaa? Oh, yeah, doctors charge for administering and interpreting those tests - and they do cost money to run.

Also, places like Labcorp and Qwest are FOR PROFIT corporations, as are the doctors and primary healthcare insurers. I've dug through pricing optimization analyses for hospital supply and hospitals typically buy on 2 - 6% margin on the manufacturer yet charge for supply use at 500 - 1000% of cost. That rubber glove they used in the prostate exam? Five bucks. Next time, I'll bring my own.

There are rats nesting all through the healthcare system, and the profit really isn't going to nurse's salaries and retirement plans. It's going to the lab, hospital, and insurance co shareholders. Finally, subsidize more health professionals' education. If a doctor or a PA is getting out of school with a 500K student loan debt (more for specialists), then there is something wrong with the way our medical schools are funded.

Fix that, and then delivering government provided healthcare will actually work. Yes, the market will bobble, but it needs to. Right now the part of the market that is insurance and primary healthcare based profit is out of control.

[Cleita]

27. But that makes too much sense.

Your Congressperson and Senator's eyes will glaze over when presented with a rational argument.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Ummm......Emergency Rooms???

But ONLY for EMERGENCIES!!!!!

[HughBeaumont]

9. "Give the wealthy all the money. It will trickle down. Oh, and don't get sick."

"And don't demand a better wage; that hurts the rich and you should be lucky your lazy, non-competitive ass even HAS a job!"

Pretty much just like every one of their plans for everything, and if you don't follow it, it's YOUR fault if things turn out bad. The Invisible Hand and their God kind of work the same way, you know.

[quantass]

10. TAX CUTS .. TAX CUTS .. TAX CUTS .. TAX CUTS .. TAX CUTS

Yippeee!! With all their tax cuts Healthcare costs will sure to be so affordable a 1 year old can walk in with her piggybank and get the best healthcare can provide! Republicans, how do you do it! We love you!

:sarcasm:

[MarjorieG]

11. RNC Chair gave 4 things, 2 are in our bills, plus tort reform? Although says he doesn't do policy!?

[rvablue]

13. Pigboy was prattling on the other day that the GOP had a plan that wasn't getting MSM coverage.

He said it was to make health insurance costs tax-deductable.

So, basically the very wealthy, among others, would get federally subsidized health care.

Those who can't afford it already, or who are denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition? Pigboy didn't bring them up, of course.

And depsite his claims, I haven't heard a word from any of the GOP leadership about this "supposed plan" -- even though they are on my TV 24/7 moaning and whining about Obama's efforts.

Maybe it's because they know it would be an epic fail. Maybe it's because it doesn't exist.

So, no, they have offered NO ALTERNATIVE. That would mean they'd have to take responsibility and couldn't use their WHINE OFFENSIVE to try to win back Congress in 2012.

[damntexdem]

14. Sure: suffer and die. It's even less than the Catholic birth control plan:

Sulfa Denial. At least for those who don't have rhythm.

Or as we used to say, the only birth control pill the RC Church endorses is a St. Joseph's Aspirin held firmly between the knees.

The translation from that to a GOP health coverage plan should be apparent.

[Nay]

15. It's called the Be Rich/Connected or Die Plan. nt

[northernlights]

16. yup. they get all the health CARE.

we foot the bill, eat shit and die.

[Dawgs]

17. Yes. Tom Price's plan is to change the tax code. Of course, he doesn't say how he will change it.

Here's a snippet from an email I just saw.

Our Republican Alternative places an emphasis on two issues:

First -- we agree that we must make healthcare coverage affordable for all Americans. We are working hard to create a level of coverage that makes financial sense for all Americans to be insured without government intrusion or mandates. And we plan on doing this through fundamental reform of the tax code.

Second -- that coverage should be owned and controlled by those most affected by the system - patients! By placing the power in the hands of patients and their doctors, not federal bureaucrats, we will enjoy the innovation, responsiveness, accountability, and flexibility that would surely go unseen in the Democratic Plan.

Actually, it looks more like, 'NO, they don't have a plan'.

[rucky]

18. Don't get sick.

[Engineer4Obama]

19. Yep it was written by their new think tank the underpants gnomes

1. Break Obama
2. ???????
3. Profit

[stray cat]

20. Tax break to pay for insurance - thats it

[CTyankee]

21. And if you don't make enough to pay income tax ? nt

[mitchum]

22. Of course, the "Root Hog Or Die Plan"

[Autumn]

23. Yeah it's called fuck off and die n/t

[JoePhilly]

24. Yea ... it is called YOYO ... You're On Your Own.

[backscatter712]

25. It's simpler than the Democratic Party's plan.

Remember that confusing chart with all the boxes and arrows?

Well the GOP's got good news for you - their plan is far simpler...

[Raine1967]

26. They have offered a plan:

I didn't say it was a good one, but check this out:

http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/20/gop-health-plan/

Today, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) unveil the Patient Choice Act, their alternative to President Obama’s health care reform initiative. Using Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) health care plan as a foundation, the new plan proposes taxing the full value of employer health benefits, issuing (inadequate) refundable tax credits — of $2,290 per individual or $5,710 per family — and expanding the use of Health Savings Accounts. (DOWNLOAD A SUMMARY OF THE PLAN HERE AND HERE)

States are encouraged to “establish rational and reasonable consumer protections” by forming State Health Insurance Exchanges to give Americans a choice of “different” private “health insurance policies” and issue standard benefits, offering “coverage to any individual regardless of age or health.”

The plan privatizes the health care system without controlling health care spending. Employers will react to the elimination of the tax exclusion by dropping some Americans from their employer-sponsored health plans and the Republicans build an inadequate safety net to catch the newly uninsured. Americans will have the option of purchasing coverage in the new State Health Insurance Exchanges, should the state choose to establish it. But here, the same problems that plagued McCain’s health care plan are also evident in this proposal. The Republicans protect private health insurer’s monopoly over coverage, but provide no safety net or affordability measures.



(links at the link)
It is a terrible plan.

[Fozzledick]

28. Pay cash or die

[moondust]

30. "Go ahead and die so we don't have to take care of you anymore."

It's a pretty simple plan.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

31. It's a blank space

no plan only privatization

[mariawr]

34. The have NO Plan and like it that way. n/t

[Kilian73]

36. Question and possible answer.

OK, I guess this is as good of a place to ask as anywhere. I would have made a thread myself, but I am not allowed yet.

I am a fiscal and foreign policy conservative. However I am very much a libertarian on social issues. I enjoy reading websites with many different opinions to better understand not only a situation, but also to understand why people believe the way that they do. I have been visiting this site for several years. I think since 2005 or so. But it is my understanding that you do not allow non liberal posts on your forums. I understand wanting to keep the trolls away, but I would appreciate if I could comment on subjects with my opinion.

I am not what you would consider a typical conservative. I am pro choice to an extent, (I don't think it should be allowed after a certain point, I just have not decided what that point is. Certainly not partial birth though) and I support gay marriage and legalized marijuana. Amongst other views that would be considered to the left of the aisle.

The question in this thread finally got me to post. Yes conservatives do have an alternative health care plan. I can explain it, but I will only do so with permission.

[Kilian73]

38. Ok, just a quick link.

I waited a bit for a response, but have not received one yet. So I will just post a link that should give some insight into the question proposed by the original poster. I hope this is OK.

http://www.healthcarefreedomcoalition.org/agenda.asp

[old mark]

37. Be rich and healthy, or be an elected official.

Or go see a faith healer in a tent somewhere.

mark

[grantcart]

39. Let the Democrats pass a plan that will ensure that people get covered

Then spend the rest of the next 2 decades complaining that even though they have a plan that would have covered everyone it would have done it more efficiently, more cost effectively and would have made bald people have hair again.

Then after the people have bonded to the system in two decades spend the rest of the time complaining that the Democrats are ruining the plan that Ronald Reagan brought forth for the people.

[Sebastian Doyle]

40. Corporatism now, corporatism forever.

That's their plan for everything.

[karynnj]

41. So, far they put out a budget with no numbers

and a healthcare plan with no specifics.

[Arkana]

42. Sure is: "DON'T GET SICK, POOR PEOPLE!"