Idea that members of Congress get free or low-cost, highest-quality health-care plans is a myth

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/idea_that_members_of_congress.htmlby Stephen Koff / Plain Dealer Bureau Chief
Monday July 27, 2009, 4:00 AM


WASHINGTON --

...Problem is, the belief that Congress gets cheap-but-Cadillac-quality health benefits is a myth. Some members of Congress, in fact, pay higher premiums for their health plans than they would if privately employed...


And Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, has steadfastly refused to use federal health insurance since his election to the U.S. House in 1992. His office says he pays $4,169 a year to get his own health insurance through The Plain Dealer's union plan for reporters and nonexempt editors. Brown's wife, Connie Schultz, is a Plain Dealer columnist.

Brown could save money with a federal plan. But it's a matter of principle, he says. Brown says that until all Americans have access to the choices and coverages that Congress members get, he does not want to participate in the federal plan...


Voinovich, however, said, "I don't have to make that decision" about whether to go on the public option, "because we're not going to have a public option."


COMMENTS (0)Post a comment

[hobbit709]

1. If I made $165K+ it wouldn't be problem for me either.

Between COBRA and copays for my wife, we pay about $1000/mo which is about 45% of our income.

[xchrom]

2. oy. gevault. -- a thousand a month?

wow -- really that is tough -- sorry about that.

[hobbit709]

5. Yep, those pre-existing conditions

Her COBRA is $360/mo, her insulin and other diabetes meds are about another $350/mo and then the regular copays for doctors add up quick. She lost her job of 32 years last year and her current one is only 30 hrs/wk so no benefits. At least I'm on VA so my meds are only $56/mo and no copay for doctors.

[snot]

3. Details? I'm pretty sure I'd trade what I've got for whatever they've got.

[Uben]

4. Pre-existing condition.......

....I pay $1550/mo. It's killin me!

[timeforpeace]

8. Where do you get that much money to pay that? Good job?

[old mark]

6. I had heart surgery in '03, so NO private insurer but Blue Cross would cover me...

they wanted $800/month 1 1/2 years ago, just for me.I found that PA has a state sponsored (Socialist) plan for people like myself for under $250 a month, and that's what I'm using now.
Public option is the only sensible way to go.

mark

[SheilaT]

7. Refusing to use the federal health insurance

that is available to him is a far cry from not getting low cost, high quality health care to begin with. The headline is just a little deceptive, don't you think?