Medicare for all- Simple Public Option Bill - 4 pages

[James48]

Alan Grayson
Contact: Todd Jurkowski, Press Secretary 202.503.5964 (cell)


GRAYSON INTRODUCES PUBLIC OPTION ACT
Bill Opens Up Medicare To Anyone Who Can Pay For It


Washington, Mar 9 -

Congressman Alan Grayson, D-Fla., today introduced a bill (H.R. 4789) which would give the option to buy into Medicare to every citizen of the United States. The “Public Option Act,” also known as the “Medicare You Can Buy Into Act,” would open up the Medicare network to anyone who can pay for it.

Congressman Grayson said, “Obviously, America wants and needs more competition in health coverage, and a public option offers that. But it’s just as important that we offer people not just another choice, but another kind of choice. A lot of people don’t want to be at the mercy of greedy insurance companies that will make money by denying them the care that they need to stay healthy, or to stay alive. We deserve to have a real alternative.”

The bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish enrollment periods, coverage guidelines, and premiums for the program. Because premiums would be equal to cost, the program would pay for itself.

“The government spent billions of dollars creating a Medicare network of providers that is only open to one-eighth of the population. That’s like saying, ‘Only people 65 and over can use federal highways.’ It is a waste of a very valuable resource and it is not fair. This idea is simple, it makes sense, and it deserves an up-or-down vote,” Congressman Grayson said.

The bill is clear and concise. It is only four pages. You can read the bill here

http://grayson.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Public_Option_Act.pdf


(note- this is a simple, stand-alone, 4 page bill. Anyone could buy into Medicare, if they paid full price for it. Period. )

[begin_within]

1. This is what they need to do.

Thank you.

[brooklynite]

2. We don't have the votes in the Senate for a Public Option...

Please explain where Grayson will get them for Single Payer.

[2Design]

6. up down vote - lets see if we have the votes NOW - those who vote

against are voting for killing people - those who vote for - will live to see another day in congress

[The Magistrate]

20. Part Of The Art, Sir, Is Making People Vote Against Things, Out In The Open

"Battle creates clarity."

[NYC_SKP]

3. K & R! nt

[WillyT]

4. K & R !!!

:kick:

[Edweird]

5. Go Grayson. Another 'keeper'.

[Cronus Protagonist]

7. k&r

:kick:

[bluethruandthru]

8. Hopefully, even freepers will understand this.

It's simple and it works!

[2Design]

9. Grayson continues to surpise

[andym]

10. Great idea, because even though it is expensive--

for many $500-600/month is a lot, but it is still cheaper than many private plans. It will help solve the health insurance cost problem since it will force health care providers to keep costs down-- since Medicare pays them as little as 1/2 the costs of private insurance. The current mainstream legislation does not do much to address this problem.

Refs
Health provider inflation has been shown to be a critical factor driving price increases (at least in CA).
ttp://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-25/hospital-clout-spurs-higher-california-health-costs-correct-.html

The other problem is Medical technology inflation which will have to be dealt with differently.
http://www.thelundreport.org/resource/new_technology_is_driving_up_healthcare_costs

[mmonk]

24. The top five insurers in the US had 56 percent profit gains in 2009.

[cliffordu]

11. Grayson in '16!!!!!!!

[slipslidingaway]

12. It is not Medicare for All, if prices are reasonable then everyone with pre-existing

conditions can buy into Medicare leaving the healthiest patients to the private insurance companies.

:shrug:

[andym]

13. If they use Medicare rates to pay providers

it will likely be cheaper than many private plans, so adverse selection won't happen.

Medicare provider payment rates can be almost 2x less than private insurers according to new studies.

However, there is a possibility that some doctors will decline Medicare to keep their profits high.

[slipslidingaway]

17. We have to be careful about having any negative effects on Medicare...

private insurance companies will always look for ways to make more profit, the unintended consequences.

[kristopher]

18. Not likely in the long run.

That's why it works to control prices. It will attract most of the customers (self insured through corporations might be the exception) and a doctor simply will not be able to survive if they don't accept it.

[Better Believe It]

21. Most employers would gladly pay the Medicare premiums for all employees who enroll.

My spouses employer and many more would dump private insurance and happily pay most or even all of the Medicare premium charges of all employees who enroll in the program. And very few workers would decline to enroll.

What employer would rather pay higher premiums to private health insurance companies?

This biill would destroy the private for-profit health insurance industry.

And that's exactly what needs to happen.

If the Health Insurance Industry and Big Pharma Protection Act become law we shall not win high quality universal health care for at least a generation.

Many will die and not get proper medical treatment if the Senate bill is approved by the House and the Democrats will lose control of Congress and the White House in 2012.

[ibegurpard]

25. Fuck, I'D pay it

companies could pay higher salaries without the insurance premiums they currently have to pony up.
For-profit insurance is part of the problem and institutionalizing it as part of the solution is just corrupt...there's no other explanation.

[SnoopDog]

14. Shouldn't Greyson be 'hated' for wanting progress like Kucinich?

Just asking...

[flamingdem]

15. Grayson is da man, I am so there nt

[DeSwiss]

16. K&R

This is all we need. Which is why Congress will never do it.

- And which is also why most of these incumbent whores need to go.....

[Trillo]

19. Variants keep popping up, don't they?

Maybe some other congress folks will decide it's popular. :kick:

[t0dd]

22. K&R.

[BrklynLiberal]

23. but...but...but..HOW WILL ANYONE MAKE LOTS OF MONEY FROM THIS????

So easy..so simple...everyone would benefit except those who currently make a profit from other people's sickness.

Sounds perfect.

[Echo In Light]

27. Exactly! Ya mean, there's NO profit over people involved? How un-American!

[freddie mertz]

26. This is truly great stuff.

Hopefully Grayson and the rest of his SANE colleagues (Weiner, Kucinich, Sherrod Brown, et al) will come to represent the FUTURE of the Dem party.

If they don't, the party will have no future.

[Better Believe It]

28. K & R