On individual mandated health insurance "waivers or discounts would be provided for lower-income..."

[usregimechange]

For the vast majority of Americans who have health insurance, the change would mean little more than submitting a form with their tax returns proving that the plan they carry meets certain minimum standards. Many of the nation's 47 million uninsured people, however, would be required to purchase a health policy or face financial penalties, though waivers or discounts would be provided for lower-income Americans.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/21/AR2009072103410.html?hpid=topnews

It damn well better and those pushing this better get this out to the public before they start a riot.

[leftstreet]

1. Why would employers continue to offer insurance if they don't have to?

:shrug:

[Hello_Kitty]

2. How is providing "waivers" to people universal health care?

MA is waiving 20% of it's uninsured, who cannot afford the mandated insurance because it's too high a percentage of their income. Excuse me, but I thought mandates meant that everyone would be covered! :sarcasm:

[usregimechange]

4. Well if they are not doing public universal coverage they had better have hardship exemptions

[MADem]

9. They do. If you don't make enough, or are unemployed, your care is free.

And your meds are cheap.

http://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.3ef8fb03b7fa1ae4a7ca7738e6468a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=2fdfb140904d489c8781176033468a0c_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_2fdfb140904d489c8781176033468a0c_viewID=content&javax.portlet.prp_2fdfb140904d489c8781176033468a0c_docName=content&javax.portlet.prp_2fdfb140904d489c8781176033468a0c_folderPath=/About Us/Connector Programs/Eligibility/&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken

[leftstreet]

5. 'Universal' actually meant Every Last Peon in the Universe Must Pay!

Apparently.

[MADem]

11. No, that's false. if you make less than thirty two grand, you're eligible for

Commonwealth Care. A family of four can bring in sixty six grand and still be eligible for Commonwealth Care. A family of eight can pull in a hundred and eleven grand and still be eligible.

[Hello_Kitty]

13. That's much better than my state

In AZ, if I make more than $850 a month I am ineligible for state health aid. When I was unemployed for over a year my UI was about $890 a month.

[MADem]

8. Those people are eligible for Commonwealth Care, though.

They get free health care. I have a relative on it--he's unemployed, and has kept his same doctor, his meds are three or four bucks each, it's a good deal:

http://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.3ef8fb03b7fa1ae4a7ca7738e6468a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=2fdfb140904d489c8781176033468a0c_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_2fdfb140904d489c8781176033468a0c_viewID=content&javax.portlet.prp_2fdfb140904d489c8781176033468a0c_docName=CommCareOverview&javax.portlet.prp_2fdfb140904d489c8781176033468a0c_folderPath=/About%20Us/CommonwealthCare/&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken

Welcome to Commonwealth Care
Overview
The Commonwealth Care Health Insurance Program (Commonwealth Care) is run by the Health Connector. It connects eligible Massachusetts residents with approved health plans and helps them pay for them. Commonwealth Care is an insurance program for uninsured individuals with incomes that fall within certain guidelines and who meet other qualifications. Find out if you might be eligible



With Commonwealth Care, you choose a health plan and you choose your own doctor. The benefits of Commonwealth Care include regular check-ups, treatment when you are sick or injured, prescriptions at your local pharmacy, vision care, mental health or substance abuse treatment, and, for some members, dental care.



Commonwealth Care plans are offered by Boston Medical Center (BMC) HealthNet Plan, CelitCare Health Plan, Fallon Community Health Plan, Neighborhood Health Plan and Network Health.
Learn more about the Commonwealth Care benefits and health plans



To apply for Commonwealth Care, begin by filling out a Medical Benefits Request Form (MBR). Many community based organizations, hospitals, and community health centers can also help you with the MBR or help you apply by computer with assistance from staff.
Learn more about the application process

[Hello_Kitty]

15. As someone in MA, would you say it's working out well?

Elsewhere, we are hearing the "horror stories" but I suspect it's like the ones that supposedly happen in Canada.

Seriously, as a resident of MA, how would you rate the health insurance plan, overall?

[MADem]

16. I am not a consumer of the health care plan in MA. I fall under the

federal government plan for retired military personnel, TRICARE. I'm one of the "three percent" who don't fit the MA paradigm.

That said, I have relatives who fall under the plan. They like it for the most part, but they had workplace insurance anyway. The reluctant joiners are the young kids who think "Hell, I'm 22, 23, 25, whatever...and nothing's gonna happen to ME!" They're the ones who aren't terribly enthused--of course, the minute a bone gets broken or they need to see a doc for some other reason, they change their mind.

The ones who are unemployed, though, freaking LOVE it--particularly the one with medical conditions that require ongoing care.

[sandnsea]

3. Massachusetts has 97% coverage

That's pretty good.

I think this argument is hysterical and I hope we get a name to go with the remarks. "Some conservative analysts argue that such a requirement forces individuals into an overpriced, underperforming health system."

[usregimechange]

6. That is good, nothing is going to be perfect I suppose but reform is a must

[Hello_Kitty]

7. Do you have a link to the 97% figure?

Also, have you been following the reportage about how expensive their plan has turned out to be? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/health/policy/16mass.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss Having problems with cost control. With private insurance companies, imagine that. :eyes:

[sandnsea]

10. Yes it's in the OP

"The penalty for Massachusetts residents who do not carry health insurance was $220 in late 2007 and rose to about $1,020 this year. Still, relatively few residents have balked at the idea -- and an additional 432,000 people have signed up for health coverage.

Today, less than 3 percent of Bay State residents lack health insurance, compared with about 16 percent nationwide.

Out of the 3.9 million people who filed taxes in Massachusetts in 2008, 86,000 paid the penalty, and 71,000 were exempted because they did not meet the minimum income levels.

One of the great surprises is how many more people -- an additional 148,000 -- have enrolled in plans offered through the workplace, most likely nudged by the individual mandate."

[Hello_Kitty]

12. They had plans offered through their workplace?

Lucky them.

[sandnsea]

14. An unexpected development

As people began accepting the requirement to get insurance, they started bugging their employers to get a plan. That's in the article too.

[eridani]

17. And if the rest of us don't want to subsidize private insurance fuckwads?

I don't mind a mandate for single payer at all. The WA State single payer propossal can pay for medical, prescriptions, vision, dental, long term care and mental health for $75/month (scaled down to 0 for the lowest incomes) per adult and a 105 payroll tax on businesses (scaled down to 1% for small, startup or struggling businesses). The cheapest public option is $410/month, and is costs that much only because we insist on keeping private insurance parasites in the game.