I GOT MINE..."Obamacare" Basher Sharron Angle And Her Husband Are On Government Health Care Plans

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Sharron Angle And Her Husband Are On Government Health Care Plans

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/sharron-angle-health-care_n_742234.html

The Huffington Post | Nick Wing Posted: 09-28-10 04:01 PM



Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sharron Angle's staunch opposition to federal involvement in health care -- or pretty much everything, for that matter -- was contorted Tuesday with recent news that she and her husband receive government provided health care.

From Tuesday's Politico Morning Score:

Angle's campaign acknowledged to Nevada journalist Jon Ralston Monday that both the candidate and her husband receive health care from the federal government. Spokeswoman Ciara Matthews said in a statement: "Mr. Ted Angle receives his pension through the (federal) Civil Service Retirement System. While it is not supplemented by the federal government, current civil servants pay into the program to pay the schedule of those already retired - much like how the Social Security Program works today. Mr. Angle does not qualify - nor does he receive Social Security benefits. His health insurance plan (the Federal Employee Health Program), which also covers Sharron, is a continuation of what he was receiving while he worked for the federal government."

Angle's prior aversion to government-run health care -- at least for others -- has been no secret. She openly touts her intent to "Repeal and replace Obamacare" on her website, and even claimed recently that such broad legislation was actually unnecessary because there was "nothing wrong with our health care system."

"Our healthcare system is the best in the world," said Angle of the American system, once rated 37th-best in the world, in August. "Our doctors are the best...The access is not what is being denied."

Despite Angle's contention that access to health care is not an issue, more than 18 percent of Nevada's population is currently uninsured, nearly 3 percent higher than the national rate.

And in 2009, Angle railed against mandated health care coverage even for autism treatment and maternity leave.

"You know what I'm talking about. You're paying for things that you don't even need. They just passed the latest one, is everything that they want to throw at us now is covered under 'autism,'" Angle said, using air quotes for the neurological disorder. "So, that's a mandate that you have to pay for. How about maternity leave? I'm not going to have anymore babies, but I sure get to pay for it on my insurance. Those are the kinds of things that we want to get rid of."

[chelsea0011]

1. They are all frauds! All the SS and Medicare crowd that show up for rallies?

Frauds! Every last one of them.

[indepat]

2. Duplicitous hypocritical oxymoronic dichotomy is what the Sharron Angles of the RW world to bestest

with a bit of mendacity, sanctimony, and reichousness thrown in for lagniappe. ;)

[dgibby]

3. Please tell me that Harry Reid is using this to his advantage. n/t

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. No evidence of it yet

And if he were, I'd have expected to see it mentioned in the article. We shall see.

[littlewolf]

5. Here is fact-check take ... on gov insurance for members of congress

Health Care for Members of Congress?
August 25, 2009

Q: What type of health insurance do members of Congress receive? Is it a single-payer, government-run system?
A: Members of Congress are covered by private insurance under the same system that covers all federal workers.
FULL ANSWER
Members of Congress have good health insurance by any standard, but it’s not free and not reserved only for them – and it’s not government insurance. House and Senate members are allowed to purchase private health insurance offered through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, which covers more than 8 million other federal employees, retirees and their families.
It’s not a "single-payer" system where the government acts as the one and only health insurance company. As President Bush’s chief of personnel Kay Coles James said in 2003, while lecturing at the conservative Heritage Foundation, "the FEHB program is not centralized, government-run health care." It has drawn praise both from conservatives and liberals, including President Obama, who held it up as a model for his own health care proposals.
According to the Congressional Research Service, the FEHBP offers about 300 different private health care plans, including five government-wide, fee-for-service plans and many regional health maintenance organization (HMO) plans, plus high-deductible, tax-advantaged plans. All plans cover hospital, surgical and physician services, and mental health services, prescription drugs and "catastrophic" coverage against very large medical expenses. There are no waiting periods for coverage when new employees are hired, and there are no exclusions for preexisting conditions. The FEHBP negotiates contracts annually with all insurance companies who wish to participate. There is plenty of competition for the business; FEHBP is the largest employer-sponsored health plan in the U.S.
Those who don’t like their coverage may switch to another plan during a yearly "open season" period. To help with the choices, FEHBP conducts an annual "satisfaction survey" of each plan with more than 500 members and publishes the results.
Like other large employers, the government pays a large share of the cost of coverage. On average, the government pays 72 percent of the premiums for its workers, up to a maximum of 75 percent depending on the policy chosen. For example, the popular Blue Cross and Blue Shield standard fee-for-service family plan carries a total premium of $1,120.47 per month, of which the beneficiary pays $356.59. Washington, D.C.-based employees who prefer an HMO option might choose the Kaiser standard family plan. It carries a total premium of $629.46 per month, of which the employee pays only $157.36.
In addition, members of Congress also qualify for some medical benefits that ordinary federal workers do not. They (but not their families) are eligible to receive limited medical services from the Office of the Attending Physician of the U.S. Capitol, after payment of an annual fee ($491in 2007). But services don’t include surgery, dental care or eyeglasses, and any prescriptions must be filled at the member’s expense.
House and Senate members (but not their families) also are eligible to receive care at military hospitals. For outpatient care, there is no charge at the Washington, D.C., area hospitals (Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center). Inpatient care is billed at rates set by the Department of Defense.
-Brooks Jackson
Sources:
English, Barbara. "Health Benefits for Members of Congress." Congressional Research Service. 25 Sep 2007.
"Non-Postal Premium Rates for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program; Fee-for-Service Plans (FFS)." Office of Personnel Management. rates for 2009. undated, accessed 24 Aug 2009.
"Non-Postal Premium Rates for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program; Health Management Organizations (HMO)." Office of Personnel Management. rates for 2009. undated, accessed 24 Aug 2009.
POSTED BY BROOKS JACKSON ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2009 AT 11:11 AM
FILED UNDER ASK FACTCHECK · TAGGED WITH CONGRESS, HEALTH INSURANCE


now I remember a couple of people introduced bills that would force lawmakers on the same health care that we all are on now ...
but it was voted down ....