Whoa! Hillary's HC Plan has a lot of problems

[OzarkDem]

“I learned that people who are satisfied with their current coverage want assurances that they can keep it,” Mrs. Clinton said. “Part of our health care system is the best in the world, and we should build on it; part of the system is broken, and we should fix it.”

Really? Nearly everyone I know thinks their health insurance premiums are too high with cost rising too quickly. Where's the assurance premiums won't continue to skyrocket?


“You’ll never again have to worry about finding affordable coverage,” she said. “Your coverage will be guaranteed — if you pay your premiums and follow the rules, your insurance company will be required to renew at a price you can afford.”

What happens if you get sick, can't work and can't afford your premiums? That's the big problem with cancer care - if you're off work for six months or so because of treatment, you either accumulate tens of thousands in medical bills or sell off your house, car and everything else to qualify for Medicaid. Fuck that.


When are any of these candidates going to begin treating voters with respect and really address health care reform. What's been offered so far is an insult to Americans. We expect better of Dems.

[Mojorabbit]

1. I can find

a lot wrong with it too but a lot of people here seem to think it is grand.

[papau]

13. "Grand" is single payer pushed by DK - this individual mandate is Obama/Edwards/Clinton/etc.

offer - therefore it is the only offer on the table.

health insurance premiums that are too high with cost rising too quickly are dealt with via forced modernization of ins and health system.

"What happens if you get sick, can't work and can't afford your premiums?" is dealt with via tax credits and subsidies.

Granted it only gets us to Germany's quality (they have same system) - not France - but that is a hell of a lot better than where we are.

[high density]

2. Yeah I love paying for health insurance so much

I hope my heirs continue paying the premiums when I die.

[leftchick]

3. she was refering to her corporate cronies

she does not know anyone like you or I.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

4. My problem with health care, presently, is,...I get none. I expect better of compassionate republic

I expect better of those compassionate republicans.

I won't allow anyone to suppress ANY possibility of me and mine and my community and nation ACTUALLY RECEIVING HEALTH CARE,...compared with the abandonment policy in place.

I get the impression,...this is merely a HATE HILLARY post.

I could be wrong.

I doubt it.

[RaleighNCDUer]

10. Look at her 'plan'.

She doesn't intend to give everyone healthcare. She wants everyone to have health insurance. Not the same thing. The people responsible for disallowing claims today will still be in charge of doling out benefits under her system.

The foxes running the henhouse.

[Whoa_Nelly]

5. She only talked with rich folk

Personally, I need assurances that I can get health care period since I can't afford it right now.
As is the same with many people, am one accident or major illness away from being completely without funds.

[King Coal]

6. Health care needs to be socialized, Hill.

That is the only reasonable solution.

[KoKo]

7. Okay Hillary...tell me what you'll do about our $22,000 a year bill

for health insurance just because my hubby had to have bypass surgery and his cholesterol wasn't high and no family history...and he caught it before he had a heart attack by getting checked out for chest pain. We got slammed because we don't work for a company that gives health insurance and we have to pay for private. Hubby has followed diet and all the rest...all check ups are good and he's not a risk...yet we are penalized because for him following up and because we don't have any corporate access to diffuse the costs.

[xchrom]

8. americans are consumers!!! n/t

[Skidmore]

9. Hillary needs to define "affordable" and address what you do

if you are unemployed. I was just laid off today. I haven't had steady employment since I lost my job and had cancer about 2 years ago. Even if the job I had this past summer were permanent, it paid less than a fourth of what I used to make, and I would have had to lose my home if we didn't have my husband's income to rely on. Also, no amount of "mandatory" can make people have money when they don't.

Something as fundamental as health care be a main topic in congress now, not a campaign issue. Congress isn't talking about it very much.

[donkeyotay]

11. How many of the candidates have seen Sicko? nt

[DaveJ]

12. My personal thoughts on this...

I think people are freaking out a little too much about the idea they might actually need to pay for insurance.

This is making me begin to think that maybe it's a good idea. It's a cost that people really need to make their first priority. Anyone who has cable TV, a cell phone, goes to movies, goes on plane trips, etc., has little excuse no to contribute to health insurance.

OzarkDem: "Where's the assurance premiums won't continue to skyrocket?"

I'm not sure if this is 'assurance' but your question is addressed in the very next sentence after the one you quoted:

Hillary: "lower costs and higher quality health care as the modernization initiatives to improve value in our health care system take effect and as the achievement of seamless coverage reduces the hidden tax on premiums that comes from current cost-shifting."

OzarkDem: "What happens if you get sick, can't work and can't afford your premiums?"

There are supplemental insurance providers like Aflak that can cover costs that basic insurance don't.

I know this system is not perfect, but it's doable. I'd rather see a doable plan than an idealistic one that will never get passed. And I hope that some significant improvements are made. But, with all the people who currently do not pay into the system, I think her plan would have a dramatically positive impact. We simply cannot instantly convert to a socialized system like in other countries without putting thousands of companies out of business -- I don't see that happening.

[jgraz]

15. It has nothing to do with paying for health insurance

It has to do with paying THIS GUY for health insurance:


http://healthcare-economist.com/2006/02/14/united-health-ceo-earned-1248-million-in-2005/

United Health CEO earned $124.8 million in 2005

Forbes magazine reports that William W. McGuire, CEO of UnitedHealth Group) received compensation of $124.8 million in 2005. Managed Care Magazine also says that the average executive compensation (excluding unexercised stock options) for an executive of a ‘top 10 for profit health plan’ was $11.7 million and that was back in 2000.


(BTW, last year he made 1.7 billion, including 1.1 billion payed as he left his job. From our health insurance premiums.)

[jtrockville]

14. Health insurance is a R-I-P-O-F-F. We want health CARE! nt

[superkia]

16. Where are the proud Clinton supporters? I want to hear from them.

It would be nice to hear a two sided discussion, unless they agree with everyone so far?