Get ready: There’ll be a price for health benefits

[IndianaGreen]

Get ready: There’ll be a price for health benefits

Experts predicting ‘sticker shock’ for those buying coverage as individuals

WASHINGTON - Have your checkbooks and credit cards ready. There's a price for health care security.

President Barack Obama's overhaul — now looking like it really will happen — should give uninsured Americans options they've never had before. But it won't be a free ride.

As with the Medicare prescription drug benefit that passed when Republicans ran Washington, consumers will face a dizzying lineup of health plan choices — with different costs and benefits.

"People who need to buy coverage as individuals and small employers are going to have a lot more in the way of attractive health insurance options, and they won't have to worry about whether their medical condition precludes them from being covered," said policy expert Paul Ginsburg, who heads the nonpartisan Center for Studying Health System Change.

The downside: "Sticker shock is going to come to some."

Get ready for a whole new set of trade-offs.

For example, people in their 50s and early 60s, when health problems tend to surface, are likely to pay less than they would now. Those in their 20s and 30s, who get the best deals today, will face higher premiums, though for better coverage.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34352187/ns/health-health_care/

[DJ13]

1. This is the wrong economic environment to introduce another corporate

welfare program.

Spending is already depressed.

This will end up as a suicide pact for the party in the 2010 election.

[Mass]

2. It is called risk sharing, and some will be covered by subsidies. Hard to understand for AP, but

for you? Jeez. I thought it was obvious and true for whatever solution was adopted.

I am curious to know if you know the cost of healthcare for an individual in England or France (the complete cost, not just the copay paid at each visit). My guess is that you would be surprised. Major difference with here. It is indexed on revenue, something nobody wants to hear about in this country. (BTW, I am all for it to be done the same way than in Europe. This is the way to do it properly, but it is not going to happen anytime soon).

[ProSense]

3. This is proof that people are just simply talking shit. Which is it:

Are the Dems destined to lose in 2010 because the benefits will not kick in until 2014 or are they destined to lose because people will be shocked at the price (which would mean the plan has been implemented)?

All this scare mongering. The status quo sucks. Things are going to get better under reform.

[IndianaGreen]

4. Things won't get better for the 24 million Americans that won't get health care under this plan

That's two and a half times the population of Cuba, and they have free universal health care.

[dflprincess]

5. If we ever get reform I'm sure things will get better

but the insurance scam they're forcing on us won't do it.

I suppose by delaying this until 2014 they think they're protecting themselves and Obama in the next 2 election cycles because we're just too stupid to figure out how badly they've screwed us.