Mandated Health Care? Finally getting some MSM truth about a Public Option

[maryf]

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

Like Car Insurance, Health Coverage May Be Mandated
A Proposed Requirement That All Americans Have Policies Has Broad Support Among Reformers

By Ceci Connolly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 22, 2009

President Obama's dream of dramatically remaking the nation's health-care system is still a long way from reality. But if lawmakers can reach an accord, one thing is virtually certain: For the first time ever, every American would be required to carry health insurance.

The requirement, known as an individual mandate, is among the most far-reaching changes envisioned this year by those pushing for health-care reform. And it is one of the few common threads running through all three bills being considered in Congress, greatly increasing the likelihood it will survive the legislative process. Obama continued Tuesday to push lawmakers struggling with the large costs and scope of health legislation to move forward, pronouncing reform to be "closer than ever."

Just as drivers must purchase auto insurance, the medical system of the future would put responsibility for health coverage first and foremost on every adult.

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.


<snip>

When Massachusetts approved its individual mandate, proponents of the new law braced for a modern-day Tea Party. It never materialized.

"I don't see people revolting over having to have a driver's license or insurance to drive a car," Gruber said. "And we haven't seen it with the mandate."

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

On Edit: I'll revolt, how about you?

[Warpy]

1. I would be delighted to be "forced" to purchase the public plan

because none of those self serving bastards who run for profit plans will write a policy for me.

So there.

[maryf]

3. Then you might be more delighted with HR 676!

a single payer, medicare for all plan that will cost you much, much less and has no co-pays, no limits, no deductibles, full dental and full vision!! Just a small increase in a medicare tax that you already pay! I figured out the difference for me, and my coverage is ok, and I'd save thousands and gain the visual. http://www.healthcare-now.org

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. Difference being that, no one is REQUIRED to own a car. No car, no license/insurance.

Do these morans ever listen to themselves? :dunce:

[maryf]

4. Huge Difference!!!

:applause:

[raccoon]

6. Another difference, you have a lot of control over how you drive.

Some health issues we have some control over, but a great many, we don't.

[Coyote_Bandit]

15. And depending on where one lives

not owning a car may not be the least bit practcal.

I grew up in a rural area where there was no public transportation. Still isn't. Closest grocery was about 17 miles away. Everything else was even farther away.

For a time I lived in a large metropolitan area. They had public transporation that would take you anywhere 24 hours a day 365 days a year. I loved it and made regular daily use of it. And it was cheap. An unlimited annual pass carried an average daily cost well below a dollar.

For a time I lived in a smaller metropolitan area. Public transportation ran Monday through Friday during the day and for a grad total of 4 hours on Saturday morning - beginning a couple of hours before the stores even open. For all practical purposes there is no evening or weekend service. Many areas of the city are not served. Those that are have only a few bus stops. It is not unusal to be required to walk a couple of miles to the nearest bus stop. A local news investigative report last summer showed that a 15 minute car trip might require as long a two hours on public transportaiton with two bus changes. And the average daily cost is about double that of the large metropolitan area.

Some people need cars. Some don't. Some need health care. Some do not. True, folks are not required to own cars. However, it is also true that folks can refuse health care.

No one is REQUIRED to have either health care or a car.

[maryf]

16. Yep and an option is supposed to be an option! and not a mandate! nt.

[ixion]

5. mandated insurance is not reform, it's a huge giveaway to the insurance companies

I do not support any legislation that would force me to buy more of anything.

[maryf]

9. Yep, health care should be for people, not for profit...

and not mandated!!

[blue_onyx]

27. Exactly!!!

If the mandate is included I will be quite angry. I can't believe this is being sold to us as "reform." All it's doing is making it illegal to not have insurance. We're getting this crappy version of "reform" because most Democrats are scared to push a single payer system.

[maryf]

28. "illegal to not have insurance"

so that the insurance companies have more clients! and profit of course...

[dflprincess]

29. And when he was a candidate Obama was against mandates

now he's all for them.

I didn't hear him mention that in his press conference tonight. He didn't mention a lot of stuff tonight - like what the out of pocket expenses in the public option will be and he implied that the premiums for the public option will be cheaper even the the CBO says they won't and Congressional leadership has said they will be "market driven" so that it doesn't compete unfairly with the poor, downtrodden for profits.

We're still going to be paying several times more for health insurance than people in civilized countries pay for health care access.

[maryf]

7. Info in article on Penalties, increased by 800 in two years in Mass.

From the article "The penalty for Massachusetts residents who do not carry health insurance was $220 in late 2007 and rose to about $1,020 this year."

[blindpig]

8. Well, fuck that.

I didn't quit that racket just to have it shoved back down my throat.

They'll play hell squeezing that lucre out of me. Try taking it from my federal return and I'll just increase my deductible and there won't be nothin' left at the end of the year.

Single payer is the only just, acceptable solution. And don't nobody tell me what is 'realistic', yer just shillin' for the man.

[maryf]

11. Well said...

I think a reason they are pushing this to get done quickly is so the "special interests" of the PEOPLE don't avalanche is out of the way! More and more are seeing the light about this bill and shouting for single payer!

[dysfunctional press]

10. if the democrats push a mandate through as part of the 'reform'....

we'll be back to a repug congress/senate in 2010- or 2012 at the latest.

[maryf]

12. Time to let them know we won't take it!!

and will vote them out if they don't represent our best interests!

[Bluenorthwest]

13. Car insurance? Please!

In my family 'we' have one car. Under the law, we are not even a family, so he gets none of my benefits etc. We file as single people and will be required to pay according to law that sees us as strangers. No one makes us keep two cars, and we could not afford to do so.

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. A person can choose to not drive. He cannot choose to not get sick.

There should be NO mandate to buy PRIVATE insurance. Want to cover everybody, have a PUBLIC plan paid by taxes.

[maryf]

17. Yep!! HR 676 is just that...Everybody in, Nobody out! Public Health care!

Like Public Education, Public Fire Department, Public Library...

[nightrain]

18. yes. I'd revolt. These proposals from Congress are revolting.

They are a massive transfer of wealth from us to the health insurance corporations. When I do the math of these proposals, I can't imagine paying $5000 for a policy with a $5000 deductible plus copays. That's absurd. I wouldn't do that to myself!


Provide public coverage to all, then I'm in, no problem. Willingly. It has to be affordable to all--low and middle income. The rich need to pay their share and a bit more to help the rest of us.

[mainer]

19. A mandate is necessary -- but public option must be offered.

It's like Social Security. Unless everyone is required to contribute, the system would collapse. Whether sick or healthy, young or middle-aged, you can't make it work without widespread contributions.

And no, you can't fund national healthcare just by taxing the rich to death. There aren't enough rich people to fund it. EVERYONE (with an income) has to contribute, even if it's just a little, or it isn't universal. It would be re-distribution.

[maryf]

26. HR 676

would be like Medicare for all, with a tax on workers, but not on poor people who can't afford it (they'd still be covered!)

[MarjorieG]

20. Is a mandated fee like an increased tax levied by countries like Sweden,

England or Canada, or do those countries not get taxed, or have an equivalent extra, because non-profit make up of system?

[maryf]

22. Mandated insurance is different

than health care that is funded from in that for one, with this bill, you get fined if you don't buy into it, its not an option and you don't get full coverage like you do with Medicare (or a medicare like system like HR 676)...the tax is an income tax, medicare tax for instance, so if you don't have an income from working you get it anyway. This mandate would be for anyone making over 16 thousand some a year...not a whole lot of money...

[The2ndWheel]

21. Nobody is going to revolt

It would be a mandate with the backing of the government. You're paying either way.

[maryf]

23. I will be...

and there's a big Rally next thursday, 7/30 in Washington DC asking for single payer HR676 Medicare for all on the 44th anniversary of Medicare!

[berni_mccoy]

32. Oh, she's revolting alright...

just not the way she thinks.

:rofl:

[Froward69]

24. Revolting...

I will revolt. I will march. all this would be is yet another giveaway to insurance company's. doing NOTHING not one damn thing to curb their abuses. it would only go to bolster their profits.

[maryf]

25. There's a rally in DC on July 30th...

For Medicare for all on Medicare's 44th anniversary, see http://www.healthcare-now.org Its also pretty easy to print out fliers from the sites, or make your own and go to public events. Tabling isn't too hard either, and usually cheap for not for profit stuff.

[maryf]

30. Goodnight kick, thanks for reading! nt

[maryf]

31. One more kick...

who's gonna accept this mandate?

[berni_mccoy]

33. Promoting the overthrow of the government? Sounds familiar...some other site was doing that recently

what was it... Oh Yea, FREEREPUBLIC.COM.

And the media called them on it.

You're a nutjob alright.

[maryf]

35. and that's an ad hominem attack

I said I'd revolt against a mandate and a fine...

edited for grammar

[nightrain]

37. ((maryf))

[maryf]

39. thanks!

:pals:

[nightrain]

40. you're very welcome! These personal attacks are unwarranted.

Do you know how to report them to administrators?

[maryf]

41. There is a little alert

arrow on the bottom left of each post...you'd hit that in the offensive post, if the moderator agrees then they delete the post. I don't like to use that, (I think I've used it twice??) I like the moderating to be done within the forum...but sometimes its just too egregious...or cruel..or persistent.

[Kid Dynamite]

42. FREEREPUBLIC are also good at false, malicious smears

much like yourself

[Stinky The Clown]

34. So lemme understand ....... if I have insurance, nothing will change??????

How about LOWERING THE FUCKING COST????

Where did THAT part of reform go?

[maryf]

36. Remember the Insurance Companies have a large part in advising on this

their only concern is profit...

[InvisibleTouch]

38. I very much object to a mandate.

I don't even like it for car insurance. What I choose to spend or not spend my money on (and the consequences thereof) should be my own business.