Pelosi: "there certainly is a great deal of appeal about putting people 55 and older on Medicare"

[Clio the Leo]

Pelosi: Let's Wait And See What Public Option Compromise Comes Out Of The Senate

At her weekly press conference this morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested today that the House could embrace a compromise emerging among Senate health care negotiators that would replace the public option with regulated national non-profit insurance companies and an opportunity for people aged 55-64 to buy into Medicare.

In the past, Pelosi has described the public option as a must-have provision, but today she said the House included the public option in its health care legislation because members believed it's "the best way to keep insurance companies honest...and also to increase competition."

Now, it's wait and see. "As soon as we see something in writing from the Senate, we'll be able to make a judgment about that," she said.

After the conference, Pelosi told reporters "there certainly is a great deal of appeal about putting people 55 and older on Medicare. That's something that people in the House have advocated for for years."

Pelosi said there's "not much" chance the House will simply take up the Senate bill (a process known informally as "ping ponging") but that differences between the two packages will be resolved in a conference between the two chambers.

"We haven't seen their bill," she said. "We don't know what their amendment process will be. But we would like to see a full conference."


http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/pelosi-lets-wait-and-see-what-public-option-compromise-comes-out-of-the-senate.php

[KrR]

1. Dean was just on MSNBC

He is sounding even more positive today.

[Pushed To The Left]

17. Definitely a good sign! n/t

[Unvanguard]

2. BIRTH and older. n/t

[Q3JR4]

3. YEP... n/t.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. YEP n/t.

[Q3JR4]

18. Great minds think alike.

:)

Q3JR4

[DrToast]

4. Yeah, there is. Too bad it will never happen. (nt)

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

6. There would be appeal IF:

*It was affordable. I still haven't heard anyone in authority or supporting this saying EXACTLY what the "full, unsubsidized" cost of coverage would be. How can anyone make a judgment as to whether it's "affordable" when we don't know the cost?

*It happened before 2011.Until then, what fills the gap? Do we just stay untreated and die?

*It covered more than a small slice of the population. The slice that it does cover happens to be a slice where prior and chronic conditions manifest themselves and is also a slice where a large portion of the population will most likely not be able to afford the "full, unsubsidized" costs mentioned before.

It SOUNDED fantastic initially as a way of opening Medicare up to be the new public option of choice, even if it was limited. The devil of course is in the details and they sound like they will be pretty devilish.

[quiller4]

10. For 2010 people over 65 who don't get premium free Part A

what they pay is based upon their credits. Those with less than 30 credits will pay a premium of $461. Those with 30-39 credits pay $255. This is what applies to people over 65 who have not worked in Medicare-covered employment a sufficient number of quarters to be eligible for premium-free Part A. Those who were covered by Medicare in 2009 will pay an additional $96.40 Part B premium. Those who enter the Medicare system during 2010 will pay a $110.50 Part B premium if their income is below $85,000.

Most individuals over 55 have earned the 40 credits required (or their spouses have) to be eligible for Medicare. It is quite likely that Congress will devise a formula for Medicare buy in that charges a variable premium based upon work credit much like the current schedule for those over 65 who lack sufficient credits. One of my state senators is working on this compromise and she suggested that is the most likely approach. She said premium ranges currently under discussion were $200-$300/mo for Part A and $110.50 for Part B with state subsidy available for those with lower income (most likely 150% of poverty level).

This is all estimate because negotiations are ongoing. I hope it gives you a bit better idea of what is being discussed.

[DJ13]

7. It doesnt matter Nancy

Dont forget the Senate has that "after we negotiated away all the useless stuff that helps the average person and we have now suddenly discovered we dont need to let the House ruin our corporate welfare" 'ping pong' plan.

You'll never get the chance to do anything about the Senate's plan Nancy.

[SpartanDem]

8. I'd like to see Pelosi and the House get more involved now

in order to save time they should have House and Senate members haggling out details now. So the Senate just pass it along to House for final passage.

[freddie mertz]

9. So is this the final nail in the public option?

Seems so.

Great leadership on this one from the White House, eh?

I'm so inspired.

Not.

[quiller4]

11. I am inspired. It gets us a step closer to Medicare-for-all which I think

is far better than any public option.

[freddie mertz]

22. They will surely disappoint on on this too, my friend.

This is a shell game, and we are the suckers.

[Better Believe It]

12. What Medicare buy-in? The devil is in the details. Let's see them!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x46292

[IndianaGreen]

13. How about Single Payer, HR676, the Medicare for all bill?

Nancy's hypocrisy takes the cake!

[dflprincess]

19. +1

[Eric Condon]

14. Translation: Older people vote, so we'll throw them a bone.

Meanwhile, if you're 24 like me and will already be saddled with this nation's debt for the rest of your life, well, go fuck yourself for not being a boomer.

[Odin2005]

15. this 23yo agrees.

The Boomers get healthcare, we get fucked! :grr:

[dflprincess]

21. The Boomers may be getting scammed on this as well

we haven't heard what they'll charge for "buying in" to it before we hit 65 or who will be eligible to buy in and what it will cover.

It's just more smoke and mirrors and the real goal remains protection of the insurance companies while they lead us to believe a "first step" has been taken toward single payer.

[CrispyQ]

16. The dems will lose an entire generation or two with this bill.

I'm one of those older folks - not quite eligible for this plan, but soon enough. It's totally disgusting. I'm a liberal & my vote can't be bought with a plan that covers only a segment of the population, even if I'm in it.

:grr:

[freddie mertz]

23. And deservedly so. This whole process has been a disgrace.

[vaberella]

20. You know how much I adore NP!!! She's so cool. n/t