H.R. 3200: For millions of the middle class: Mandatory Insurance & NO PUBLIC OPTION:

[Faryn Balyncd]

The public option was said to be a plan that would allow all Americans to buy in to the plans available to Congress, or perhaps "Medicare-for-All".

In any event, it was promoted (& I promoted it as such), as a route to eventual Single Payer, a plan that would allow all Americans to purchase a fair-priced public policy.

The "public option" was DEFINITELY NOT to be a low-income-only charity plan with limited, and likely inferior, provider participation.



But the "public option" of H. R. 3200 is NOT what we were promised. (Here's the glowing, sparse on details, P.R. piece that the house sponsors prefer you read.)

The bottom line: H. R. 3200 is NOT a plan that makes available a dignified public plan to all Americans. It will NOT provide a public option to millions of struggling middle class Americans who do not have the "affordability credits" (said to require an income less than 4x FPL ($44K for individual, $58K for family of 2, $88K for family of 4).

What these families get instead is a MANDATE to purchase private insurance, but NO PUBLIC OPTION.

And what exactly will Americans who DO qualify with "affordability credits" get when they spend their hard-earned thousands to buy in to the public plan? Will they be in a plan that includes Americans of all income levels, and which has wide physician/provider participation (as does Medicare)? Or will they end up in a program which, EVEN THOUGH IT IS ECONOMICALLY SELF-SUSTAINING, has limited, perhaps inferior, physician/provider participation (because the AMA has successfully lobbied to make physician acceptance voluntary), and which is perceived to be a low-income, second-tier plan?

Do not Americans of all income levels deserve better?





H. R. 3200 puts us in the position of officially sanctioning a two-tiered system: a "public option" for indigent, lower-income, and some moderate income families, and a mandate to purchase private insurance for everyone else, including many millions of struggling middle class families.

And the lobbyists who created this sham don't want to stop there. They want to PRIVATIZE MEDICARE itself.







:kick:

[Oregone]

1. You need to believe and hope in this change

Naysayers abound

[Faryn Balyncd]

2. Thanks for the encouragement...but don't you think we need to influence those writing the bill?

....and not leave the details to the special interests?


As a physician, I received an email today from my state medical society, commenting on this bill. Even though the AMA has endorsed HR 3200, the email made positive comments on the fact that the bill does not require physician acceptance of payments by the public plan, and ignores the fact that many physicians support a public plan such as that by Physicians for a National Health Plan.

The email went on to describe medical association efforts to allow "private contracting" by physicians with Medicare beneficiaries outside of the Medicare system. Such a change would dramatically decrease participation in Medicare by physicians, and dramatically increase costs to the elderly. While it might be financially beneficial to health care providers, it would be catastrophic for our society.

Such special interests are the primary influences on those writing this bill.

Should not our elected leaders hear more from our society at large?

[Oregone]

3. No. Just hope.

It sort of works like Confuscionism. When everyone is fulfilling their role of hoping in unisom, some magical force will impart goodness upon the nation in the form of health care.

[PretzelWarrior]

5. I don't think I've ever seen anything positive come from your keyboard

so why are you even here? masochism? sadism? or just looking for the golden opportunities to deliver the pithy and oh so cynical insult?

[Oregone]

6. Are you e-Stalking me? Examining each keyboard stroke

Im so honored. My first e-Stalker. If I had a webcam, Id let you watch me undress behind a screen. Wow. Moving up each day, I am.

[Sebastian Doyle]

7. Oh now this is just too much

"I don't think I've ever seen anything positive come from your keyboard"

Now I'm usually the last person to quote Michael Jackson, but I think somebody should be "starting with the Man in the Mirror" when it comes to accusing others of negativity and insults.

[xchrom]

4. the notion that insurance companies WOULDN'T get the upper hand in a short period

and continue their sherman's march to the sea where the health of americans are concerned is beyond naive.

[MichiganVote]

8. Yup. More bullshit.

[global1]

9. I'm Paying $12,000 Per Year For Blue Cross/Blue Shield $3000 Deductible Plan.......

I want a government based "public option" with no pre-existing condition clause that will provide competition to BC/BS so that I can lower my yearly premium - either staying with BC/BS because they dropped the cost of their plan because they don't want me to switch to a public option OR switching to a public option because it is cheaper. My income is over the threshold you indicated above. So it looks like I will be faced with the continued payment of $12,000 per year given what you are saying. Is that right? If so - that sucks and it is not what I am supporting when I call my Senators and Congressman when I tell them they need to support a strong public option.

So if I'm hearing this right - the pols will be able to say they gave us health reform and a public option - but it will be nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Hmmmm......

[Faryn Balyncd]

10. IMPORTANT CORRECTION: My OP may be based on a MIS-READING of the bill.

My statement that individuals without "affordability credits" are not eligible to purchase the public option appears to be possibly incorrect.

The correct interpretation may be that such individuals may be eligible to purchase the public plan, but not eligible for financial assistance.

If such is in fact the case, he major point of my OP is based on incorrect facts.

I apologize for apparently getting this incorrect.

If, in fact, all are eligible to buy-in to this plan, and if this holds up through the House, Senate, and conference committees, it looks like a bill that I would strongly support.

I am posting this as a Reply, as it is too late to amend the OP.