Why can't AARP enlist the gurrilla tactics of the nra and threaten the senators with the power of their membership? Use the same point list, go after each senator who supports this plan of mean spiritedness.
13
Readers in other, more developed countries, must wonder what is wrong with the Republicans and their obsession with denying access to healthcare for millions of Americans. Isn't access to healthcare one of government's roles in protecting there wee=llbeing of it's citizens?
2
"Health Bill on Knife’s Edge as Republican Support Wavers"
Wavers as in waving? Or Waivers? The use of "wavers" is incorrect as surely someone has pointed out. Wow.
Wavers as in waving? Or Waivers? The use of "wavers" is incorrect as surely someone has pointed out. Wow.
The utter disregard of the GOP for the health and lives of tens of millions of Americans is mind-boggling. Making the rich richer seems to be the one and only thing that matters to these ghouls.
2
An article that goes hand in hand with this article See: "This dirty little secret is the real reason why repeal is so hard for Republicans" By Greg Sargent https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/07/07/this-dirty-...
One paragraph sums up the republicans and their disdain for Americans who are not among the rich in our country:
"All of this is dramatically at odds with the ludicrous spin coming from GOP leaders such as John Cornyn of Texas and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, who argue that the millions left uncovered under the GOP bill will be choosing that plight, because they will have been liberated from the hated ACA mandate. To summarize, Republicans are arguing both that (1) millions won’t actually be hurt by these Medicaid cuts, either because they aren’t really cuts, or because everyone will have “access” to health care later; and that (2) if many millions of people go without coverage who would otherwise have been covered, they did so by choice."
With republicans, Follow The Money. In this health care bill, it's the $770 Billion to the $880 Billion dollars that republicans want to give the rich and only the rich, as a tax cut. John Cornyn of Texas and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin are trying to cover their cruel desire to give to the rich with their ludicrous arguments as stated in the quote above.
One paragraph sums up the republicans and their disdain for Americans who are not among the rich in our country:
"All of this is dramatically at odds with the ludicrous spin coming from GOP leaders such as John Cornyn of Texas and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, who argue that the millions left uncovered under the GOP bill will be choosing that plight, because they will have been liberated from the hated ACA mandate. To summarize, Republicans are arguing both that (1) millions won’t actually be hurt by these Medicaid cuts, either because they aren’t really cuts, or because everyone will have “access” to health care later; and that (2) if many millions of people go without coverage who would otherwise have been covered, they did so by choice."
With republicans, Follow The Money. In this health care bill, it's the $770 Billion to the $880 Billion dollars that republicans want to give the rich and only the rich, as a tax cut. John Cornyn of Texas and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin are trying to cover their cruel desire to give to the rich with their ludicrous arguments as stated in the quote above.
9
Gilding the grotesque was always Trump's real estate development MO and now McConnell is using that strategy to try to put in place his hastily-assembled, fundamentally cruel health care law long enough for them to slap Trump's name on it. Then, of course, it will cast a deadening shadow on American health care for decades to come.
4
The Republicans talk about "saving Medicaid," but they are really trying to destroy it. If Medicaid is not fully funded how can it do its work?
4
McConnell is playing a very dirty game to get to 50 votes. Slush funds for states that need more help, for example an increase in spending for opiod addiction treatment to get Portman and Murkowaski to vote yes. I am glad Collins is going to vote no. And addding Cruz's amendment to get the right wing types like Lee on board even though it did not sway Senator Paul. It is a cynical game, not healthcare but figuring out a way to subsidize a tax cut when that legislation's time comes. The guy doesn't have a conscience.
5
any fool can see that a bill that has such little support, that is teetering on a knife-edge, with McConnell begging for votes can't be very good for the country...where is the common sense of all this?
5
More haggling. No vision.
Why aren’t we copying the proven, successful strategies of the many, many countries that outperform us (those with lower total healthcare spend, universal coverage/access, and better outcomes)?
We are treating healthcare as if it’s an individual, optional thing. It’s not. All of us will need medical care at one point or another. And when an underinsured person suffers grave injury, what then? Leave them to die in the street? Let them go bankrupt? Ask taxpayers to subsidize their costs? None of these are good options! Today, we haul them into the ER, treat them (leaving them no say in the matter), and saddle them with debt.
Let’s recognize that healthcare is a universal need and is not optional. Let’s start a bipartisan effort to transform the US from a healthcare laggard to a leader -- instead of just fiddling at the edges, with arbitrary tweaks that merely move $ from one pocket to another in an effort to cadge another vote for a sound bite.
Why aren’t we copying the proven, successful strategies of the many, many countries that outperform us (those with lower total healthcare spend, universal coverage/access, and better outcomes)?
We are treating healthcare as if it’s an individual, optional thing. It’s not. All of us will need medical care at one point or another. And when an underinsured person suffers grave injury, what then? Leave them to die in the street? Let them go bankrupt? Ask taxpayers to subsidize their costs? None of these are good options! Today, we haul them into the ER, treat them (leaving them no say in the matter), and saddle them with debt.
Let’s recognize that healthcare is a universal need and is not optional. Let’s start a bipartisan effort to transform the US from a healthcare laggard to a leader -- instead of just fiddling at the edges, with arbitrary tweaks that merely move $ from one pocket to another in an effort to cadge another vote for a sound bite.
10
This is where my understanding of the issue falters....I read a sentence like this one from the article:
"Republicans say they are trying to stabilize insurance markets and rescue consumers who face sky-high premiums and deductibles on the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges."
And I don't understand if this assertion is true. There is clearly a "republicans say" attribution but I need more clarification. I read stories from paul krugman that seem to down play such statements. How high is sky high? How many people cannot afford their insurance? I need more context with statements like these.
I also believe the wide-spread condemnation of "Obamacare" was due to a lack of context in stories that used the Republicans' narrative verbatim.
Am I wrong?
"Republicans say they are trying to stabilize insurance markets and rescue consumers who face sky-high premiums and deductibles on the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges."
And I don't understand if this assertion is true. There is clearly a "republicans say" attribution but I need more clarification. I read stories from paul krugman that seem to down play such statements. How high is sky high? How many people cannot afford their insurance? I need more context with statements like these.
I also believe the wide-spread condemnation of "Obamacare" was due to a lack of context in stories that used the Republicans' narrative verbatim.
Am I wrong?
1
Why can't we just dissolve or cancel Congress until the November 2018 elections? Every time this current group of rascals convenes a session, they begin trying to destroy things. If we survive this current attempt to repeal the ACA, what will their plans for....ahem "tax reform" look like?
2
Once the uninsured are released from the responsibility of being required to have health care or meaningful health care, no one discusses who will need to pay for these folks, when they will inevitably need care. These gamblers that bet against getting sick or injured will need to rely on everyone else to bail them out from their enormous health care bills that only the uninsured can accumulate.
Your insurance bill is about to skyrocket, and the responsible states will be left with the lion share of this ridiculous bill.
Your insurance bill is about to skyrocket, and the responsible states will be left with the lion share of this ridiculous bill.
4
There's nothing wrong with this bill that a wooden stake, a silver bullet, a bucket of holy water and a double fistful of garlic can't fix.
19
The original PPACA was even worse because the authors KNEW that it was THE best way to get America to go to inhumane single-payer, which not one state dare try.
One Democrat was quoted saying that the PPACA was THE fastest route to a British-style system.
Yet the British NHS intentionally ''executes'' over ten thousand patients a month because there aren't enough doctors and beds to care for them.
One Democrat was quoted saying that the PPACA was THE fastest route to a British-style system.
Yet the British NHS intentionally ''executes'' over ten thousand patients a month because there aren't enough doctors and beds to care for them.
Changed the headline again, same news as yesterday.
3
Huge divisions remain, except among the vast majority of Americans.
There's a big difference between insanity and humanity on Capitol Hill, and it seems the GOP leadership is in love with the former, not the latter.
There's a big difference between insanity and humanity on Capitol Hill, and it seems the GOP leadership is in love with the former, not the latter.
16
This is not a bill about the health of the people of the nation. It is a bill about the financial perception of some people.
12
I think Trump will veto anything passed. He will say it does not meet what he promised his base and they just have to do something magical.
1
Your kidding! He'll veto anything Obama did, even if it's for the good of the people
1
Why not single payer system?
WHY NOT???
That is the only way.
WHY NOT???
That is the only way.
25
Because that is a fight for another day earthwomen. The choice here and now is between preserving the ACA/Obamacare and Medicaid, or the Republican bill, which would gut both.
I understand the idea that new president equals new health care, but what I don't understand is why health care cant be equal for every party (rich, poor, etc.) Everyone deserves an equal amount of health care, no matter who they are and what they do. It doesn't matter how rich or how poor you are.. everyone gets sick. Health care causes much debate, and I truly understand why.
12
Maybe they just need another six years of complaining and voting to repeal...
20
What used to commensurate life's amenities, consisting of healthy foods, life stile, a roof over ones head, safety, good health care... is becoming more and more empty of (the) life it used to aid.
7
If Republican senators do what a clear majority of the American people wants them to do, they will kill this attack on our national health insurance law. If Republican senators go against the American people, we will respond appropriately on Election Day, November '18.
33
Not a lot of them are up for reelection. That was 2016.
1
Waivers, surely.
Though Republicans' relationship with caring for their constituents and their country is indeed just a "wave". Shameless!
Though Republicans' relationship with caring for their constituents and their country is indeed just a "wave". Shameless!
9
The first bit of republican legislation didn't move the goalposts, but wait for it. Lowered expectations get nudged lower with every sorry excuse for Health Care coverage thrown out by these schemers that won't be as kind as Obamacare was. Single payer is obviously off the table and reforming the Health Care Industrial Complex is off the table because lobbyists and profits stand in the way of a bill that the great mass of America can actually afford w/o selling the house. Listen to the Democrats because they're the only hope for average Americans. How about something like Nationalize the Insurance industry? Keep all the clerks, run things identically but eliminate profiteering at our expense and just do the work of moving paper and organizing billing. Sounds too much like a collective based model to ever get by conservative doctrine of competition instead of cooperation as how things get done in banana republics. Generalissimo McConnell demonstrates his contempt for our peasants with what he thinks is exercising Freedom to profit however.
18
So....it's really come down to this. A Republican victory for health care (that's an oxymoron if i ever heard one)..for the sake of a victory.... regardless of the quality of the legislation...or for that matter the voice of the people? Wow... are we in trouble.
We are actually on the brink of losing the integrity I want my flag to represent to the entire world to an avarice and greed, a family of incompetents and liars, and a party of enablers. We may survive...but the damage may be irreversible. I love my country and everything I don't love, that I hate, is manifested in Trump, those Republicans who enable him, and the deceit of Fox News.
We are actually on the brink of losing the integrity I want my flag to represent to the entire world to an avarice and greed, a family of incompetents and liars, and a party of enablers. We may survive...but the damage may be irreversible. I love my country and everything I don't love, that I hate, is manifested in Trump, those Republicans who enable him, and the deceit of Fox News.
34
Wait a minute. We're keeping the Obamacare tax but getting rid of some of it's most important requirements? This is clearly a poorly thought-out, last-ditch effort to meet an arbitrary deadline.
STOP. Go on the August recess, come back with clear heads, and get this right.
STOP. Go on the August recess, come back with clear heads, and get this right.
8
They aren't able to clear their heads
14
They're doing everything they can to take health care from the poor and elderly and cut taxes for the rich. And they claim to be the party of Christianity. Shameless!
27
The insurance drug and hospitals industries in the US have been given a badge and gun and are free to extort maybe 35% of our healthcare costs.
Nice racket.
Nice racket.
10
A simple way to pass any health care bill. Make it mandatory that all members of Congress and Senate can only receive coverage under whatever plan they vote for that at the same level that coverage is provided for middle class or Medicaid recipients. No problem. Get some decent plans start coming out with better coverage.
22
Why doesn't the media poll the public on this bill and single payor full coverage universal care for less money. I think they want option 2.
10
Raise the taxes on the rich to pay the insurance premiums for those who cannot afford. That would balance ACA cost and everyone will be insured. Government negotiate a group insurance by requesting bids from insurance companies to insure those for whom government pays insurance. Those people for whom government pays insurance will not have choices except accept what is offered. I don't think any insurance company would like to loose 100 Billion Dollar per year business. Instead of government setting the rates as in Medicaid, let insurance companies negotiate with health providers to come up with low bid. A competition among insurance companies is essential to bring down the cost.
3
Most people in Congress and the Senate regardless of their party affiliation must have stock in healthcare providers (not healthcare insurance companies) since they rarely address how to control the costs for medical treatments.
How much of these costs from hospitals are for administrative fees, unneeded tests or any other bugs costs they can to pad the billing?
How much of these costs from hospitals are for administrative fees, unneeded tests or any other bugs costs they can to pad the billing?
2
Would be neat if there were actually an opposition party in favor of Single Payer. But there's just the Democrats.
14
I am so tired of this health care debate, I really am. EVERY person has a body, which effectively means that everyone is going to get sick and need to go to a doctor in their lifetime. Additionally, preventative care is really important for those Americans who have the privilege to go to a doctor.
Why is health care in this country a privilege? Health care is not like buying a yacht where only some people are going to use it. Everyone uses health care, and everyone should be able to go to the doctor without being strapped with a ludicrous bill.
For those not aware, we already have universal healthcare in the United States. When a person goes to the ER because he/she doesn't have insurance and thus can't go to a doctor, and then that person can't pay his/her bill, who ends up paying?? Everyone! Health insurance companies and hospital bills increase because somebody has to cover those people who are uninsured yet, believe it or not, still need to go to the doctor. So let's not pretend we all live in our own little bubbles where we are not affected by other people's visits to the doctor.
Why don't we just make health care universal so that everyone can go to the doctor and actually receive reasonable medical bills like all the other advanced countries of the world?? No, the ACA is not perfect, but it has the right idea with requiring all people to have insurance because all people need access to doctors. This isn't rocket science.
Why is health care in this country a privilege? Health care is not like buying a yacht where only some people are going to use it. Everyone uses health care, and everyone should be able to go to the doctor without being strapped with a ludicrous bill.
For those not aware, we already have universal healthcare in the United States. When a person goes to the ER because he/she doesn't have insurance and thus can't go to a doctor, and then that person can't pay his/her bill, who ends up paying?? Everyone! Health insurance companies and hospital bills increase because somebody has to cover those people who are uninsured yet, believe it or not, still need to go to the doctor. So let's not pretend we all live in our own little bubbles where we are not affected by other people's visits to the doctor.
Why don't we just make health care universal so that everyone can go to the doctor and actually receive reasonable medical bills like all the other advanced countries of the world?? No, the ACA is not perfect, but it has the right idea with requiring all people to have insurance because all people need access to doctors. This isn't rocket science.
22
DT is urging senators for pass the bill, but he hardly knows what's in it. He just wants a "victory."
20
There is a catastrophic lack of awareness in the U.S. about how many of our beloved elders who reside in nursing homes are covered by Medicaid. Likely most of them are! This safety net is used amply by many middle class families, in addition to lower income people.
I know this issue has been raised repeatedly during the raging healthcare debate but I raise it again because it is outrageously bad to see so many Republicans lying to their constituencies about this--a terrible sin of omission. The politicians hope the voters to not actually know how much they need Medicaid. The babyboomers will be using it in record numbers. We need to stop looking at Medicaid only as for the poor or disabled--although their concerns are very important too. Medicaid is for everyone if you live to be old and vulnerable enough to need constant care but cannot begin to afford the sky-high cost of even the most mediocre nursing homes.
I am frustrated because throughout the entire Trump ascendancy I have witnessed Americans voting against their own very fundamental self-interest, mostly because of stunning ignorance. Almost everyone will need Medicaid someday!
I know this issue has been raised repeatedly during the raging healthcare debate but I raise it again because it is outrageously bad to see so many Republicans lying to their constituencies about this--a terrible sin of omission. The politicians hope the voters to not actually know how much they need Medicaid. The babyboomers will be using it in record numbers. We need to stop looking at Medicaid only as for the poor or disabled--although their concerns are very important too. Medicaid is for everyone if you live to be old and vulnerable enough to need constant care but cannot begin to afford the sky-high cost of even the most mediocre nursing homes.
I am frustrated because throughout the entire Trump ascendancy I have witnessed Americans voting against their own very fundamental self-interest, mostly because of stunning ignorance. Almost everyone will need Medicaid someday!
20
The Republican plans are not designed to take care of anyone other than insurance companies, the monies that they give the legislators that they own, and to cover for their endless ideological failure.
11
They're all being quiet in the hope that the Senate Parliamentarian will torpedo the Cruz amendment and save them all, without them having to face the gale force winds of conservative fury if they torpedo it themselves.
4
Every day, a new atrocity against this country by a mob of power & money hungry thugs dressed in suits and ties and grinning like crocodiles. Heaven help us all.
20
The Republicans are using their powers to control us. They think it's a privilege to get health care. We-nobodies should have to beg them and be their dogs to get anything at all. They don't care about the sick the elderly the less fortunate. They can't wait for us to all die off, so they can give themselves more tax breaks and spend more tax payers money to send our young men to war and while also get richer selling weapons.
Hear what they say and observe what they do. I shall never believe that they have a heart!!!
Hear what they say and observe what they do. I shall never believe that they have a heart!!!
14
At least we know now what the Republican Party can deliver after given seven years to craft a solution about an issue they are so very passionate about.
14
In the richest country in the world. That spends as much on its Military as the next seven largest military budgets in the world COMBINED, America RANKS LAST in health care system performance of advanced nations. Are you kidding???!!!! SHAME ON THE REPUBLICANS - the PARTY OF SELFISHNESS AND GREED. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/interactives-and-data/chart-cart/report/...
23
"New Health Bill on Knife’s Edge as Republican Support Wavers:" I hope the knife doesn't slip following passage of the bill. The victim will have terrible health care coverage to treat his wound.
14
They are tweaking the Affordable Care Act. They aren't repealing and replacing diddly squat.
6
Why does the NYT give column feet of ink to the horse race of Trumpcare? Your readers would be better served if you devoted column feet to the outcomes promised by the newest Trumpcare proposal. The old, the sick, the poor sure will feel its negative provisions almost as quickly as the rich deposit their benefits in the bank. Republican pain will spread upward through the middle class. Educate your readers!!!!
12
To win over skeptics you have to drink your own koolaide.
McConnell's bill exempts all members of the Senate and House plus their staffs from provisions of the bill so they can keep their comprehensive and highly subsidized health coverage.
They must think what they are selling is really bad!
McConnell's bill exempts all members of the Senate and House plus their staffs from provisions of the bill so they can keep their comprehensive and highly subsidized health coverage.
They must think what they are selling is really bad!
18
Whatever words come out of their mouths, Republicans don't believe that the government should be involved in our healthcare. Paul Ryan would like to repeal all healthcare programs including Medicare and Medicaid.
This is about ideology, not what's best for Americans. They just refuse to acknowledge that other countries have successful universal single-payer systems, public and private, that produce measurably better outcomes at lower costs. How is their obstruction to such a program for this country acceptable to any American?
This is about ideology, not what's best for Americans. They just refuse to acknowledge that other countries have successful universal single-payer systems, public and private, that produce measurably better outcomes at lower costs. How is their obstruction to such a program for this country acceptable to any American?
14
If we want a great country should we not take care of one our most valuable natural resources? I am talking about the resource of the American people. If we keep people healthy we have a healthier, workforce, that leads to a stronger economy and, if the need arises a healthier potential military force. Did you know that there was a push for prenatal care in the early part of the 20th century because when they started drafting soldiers for World War I there were so many unhealthy young men that it became a concern? Caring for our people is moral, but for those who want to disregard morality, there are also solid practical reasons for guaranteeing health care for all.
14
Why not extend the COBRA provision to at least 36 months so that those delaying retirement for health insurance can retire, and open up job opportunities for the younger generation?
1
The costs to individuals under the COBRA provisions are almost always ridiculously expensive because the individual is required to cover the contributions made prior to separation by the employer as well as his/her own personal contribution. If you are very well fixed, COBRA might be a reasonable option, otherwise not.
2
More money for opioid "treatment"?? NOPE and cuts for MEDICAID??? Don't do drugs! And don't have children if you do (many do - that's where planned parenthood and abortion rights come in handy which should be kept at any costs). Doing drugs is a DECISION, having a pre-existing condition is not. Medicaid is crucial for many seniors - who usually don't score heroin on street corners, and getting old is NOT a decision like doing drugs.
5
Leader Nancy Pelosi and former Senate Leader Harry Reid knew how to get health care passed, despite a very diverse caucus. Leader McConnell does not.
5
Perhaps the Republicans should have done the same as what Nancy Pelosi infamously said about Obamacare; " Vote to pass the bill then read it later"
The rise and fall of America. 200 plus years rise. 6 months to fall.
13
If this health care debate does not tell you how much the GOP values human beings, nothing will! The debate tells us how the majority of the GOP views the poor, the less fortunate, women, etc. For God fearing folks, there is no empathy, sympathy, or compassion! It is terribly sad and disturbing.
11
Suppose we pay our taxes in the same manner as this nonsense health care bill, picking and choosing what we want to pay for and what we don't want to pay for. Many of us don't have children in school, should we pay taxes that go to education, or how about those that live in a major city and don't have a car, should they pay taxes for roads and highways, or other taxes that we pay for services we don't use? But, we pay them because of the greater good to society, to our nation, and to the best interest of all Americans. Yet, here we are with a health care plan that is "menu" driven where you pick and choose what illness you want covered, what health benefits you want or don't want. That's not good for anybody, not good for the greater good, nor the right thing for us as a society. Only Republicans can come up with this nonsense and try calling it a health care plan. And who really wins with this? The rich who can afford all that's on the "menu", that's who wins. All others...roll the dice with what illness you're going to place your bet on. Disgraceful.
14
Beware!
US Constitution, Article 1:Section 7:
"All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills."
Translation....no tax bill can originate in the US Senate. The Supreme Court has already ruled that ObamaCare is, in fact, a "bill of revenue"....which did, in fact, originate in the US Senate.
Now, the Senate Republicans wish to demonstrate their own mastery of fooling all the people all the time....and write their own Tax Bill.
Y'alls bein' played.
Ralph Nader warned, "They all laugh at you."
US Constitution, Article 1:Section 7:
"All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills."
Translation....no tax bill can originate in the US Senate. The Supreme Court has already ruled that ObamaCare is, in fact, a "bill of revenue"....which did, in fact, originate in the US Senate.
Now, the Senate Republicans wish to demonstrate their own mastery of fooling all the people all the time....and write their own Tax Bill.
Y'alls bein' played.
Ralph Nader warned, "They all laugh at you."
2
How about this? Coverage that allows you to see whatever doctor you wish and go to whatever hospital you choose...
That makes it clear what your out-of-pocket costs (if any) will be before a procedure is done....
That covers mental health, addiction and pre-existing conditions....
That costs less than you are currently paying for healthcare....
That doesn't change if you are fired, laid off, become disabled or get pregnant....
That you can take with you when you change jobs or take an extended leave to care for an ailing parent....
That covers you whether you work three part-time jobs or one full-time job....
That allows you to start your own business without raising the cost of your insurance....
Single payer healthcare. That's what freedom really looks like.
That makes it clear what your out-of-pocket costs (if any) will be before a procedure is done....
That covers mental health, addiction and pre-existing conditions....
That costs less than you are currently paying for healthcare....
That doesn't change if you are fired, laid off, become disabled or get pregnant....
That you can take with you when you change jobs or take an extended leave to care for an ailing parent....
That covers you whether you work three part-time jobs or one full-time job....
That allows you to start your own business without raising the cost of your insurance....
Single payer healthcare. That's what freedom really looks like.
15
Only 2 GOP hold outs? No worries, they'll get paid off and the destructive bill will pass.
6
Why don't the Republicans do something along the lines of this:
Admit you can't come up with anything that provides better coverage than Obamacare, but at the same time, reduces health insurance premiums. So, ALLOW people ages 55-64 to buy into Medicare for a premium. These are the people with the highest health care care costs. They are most likely to have a preexisting condition and/or chronic medical condition. Their care is what drives up the cost of Obamacare premiums for everyone else.Removing these people from the private insurance pools brings down the cost of health insurance for younger, healthier people---Because, they won't have to subsidize the older, sicker people.
Then, you have a very simple fix to the ACA.
Admit you can't come up with anything that provides better coverage than Obamacare, but at the same time, reduces health insurance premiums. So, ALLOW people ages 55-64 to buy into Medicare for a premium. These are the people with the highest health care care costs. They are most likely to have a preexisting condition and/or chronic medical condition. Their care is what drives up the cost of Obamacare premiums for everyone else.Removing these people from the private insurance pools brings down the cost of health insurance for younger, healthier people---Because, they won't have to subsidize the older, sicker people.
Then, you have a very simple fix to the ACA.
3
Why is Medicaid the deal breaker in repealing Obamacare. Republicans need to show Democrats that expansion of an out of control entitlement program will be nullified and rolled back. They owe it to the American taxpayer to stop this handout of free Medical care to able-bodied individuals who prefer free everything to working for it.
The people who are benefitting the most from Medicaid expansion----older, rural, white folks living in poverty---are Trump's biggest supporters and they are people who voted these extremist hard-right Republicans into office. They are their constituents. And if these people find out that the people they voted for took away their access to healthcare, maybe they will finally realize they are voting against their best interests--- and will vote Democrat next time.
12
Reminds me of an old Python sketch:
Devious: Now then, vic. What's the trouble?
Vicar:' It's about this letter you sent me regarding my insurance claim.
Devious: Oh, yeah, yeah - well, you see, it's just that we're not, as yet, totaly satisfied with the grounds of your claim.
Vicar: But it says something about filling my mouth in with cement.
Devious: Oh well, that's just insurance jargon, you know.
Vicar: But my car was hit by a lorry while standing in the garage and you refuse to pay my claim.
Devious: Oh well, Reverend Morrison, in your policy it states quite clearly that no claim you make will be paid.
Vicar: Oh dear.
Devious: You see, you unfortunately plumped for our 'Neverpay' policy, which, you know, if you never claim is very worthwhile, but you had to claim, and, well, there it is.
Vicar: Oh dear, oh dear.
Devious: Now then, vic. What's the trouble?
Vicar:' It's about this letter you sent me regarding my insurance claim.
Devious: Oh, yeah, yeah - well, you see, it's just that we're not, as yet, totaly satisfied with the grounds of your claim.
Vicar: But it says something about filling my mouth in with cement.
Devious: Oh well, that's just insurance jargon, you know.
Vicar: But my car was hit by a lorry while standing in the garage and you refuse to pay my claim.
Devious: Oh well, Reverend Morrison, in your policy it states quite clearly that no claim you make will be paid.
Vicar: Oh dear.
Devious: You see, you unfortunately plumped for our 'Neverpay' policy, which, you know, if you never claim is very worthwhile, but you had to claim, and, well, there it is.
Vicar: Oh dear, oh dear.
6
This Republican Party serves the wealthy who have no worries about providing health insurance for their families. Multi-millionaire Sen. Mitch McConnell and his crew of selfish indifference absolutely play the bad guys in this American morality play. Americans win when they fail.
18
The republicans claim that the ACA is heading off the cliff. But rather than grab the wheel and initiate a course correction, they demand that we buy a new car. They will be held in disgrace by history for their dishonest, immoral and unAmerican behavior.
21
Big whoop.
This is just ObamaCare in Republican clothing.........another Tax Bill.
they laugh at us.
This is just ObamaCare in Republican clothing.........another Tax Bill.
they laugh at us.
2
We are back to the age of Robber Barrons running the show, entirely. Of course, back in that time of American History, Americans and the press actually called these organized crime creatures "robber barrons". They go by the following different titles, but they are robbers of the American people, and barrons of the new kleptocracy we have finally arrived at in our nation state:
The military industrial complex
the pharmaceutical industrial complex
the health insurance industrial complex
the financial Wall St. casino industrial complex
the Washington DC political industrial complex (senate, house, and lobbyists)
the media industrial complex
the commercial agriculture complex
the petroleum industrial complex
All of these entities hold complete economic and political power over the body politic and the body citizen of The United States.
Ben Franklin could, were he alive today, finally say "you could not keep your Republic"
We are no longer even a constitutional republic. We are living in an oligarchic kleptocracy. This corrupt, rotting system is not sustainable for much longer
The military industrial complex
the pharmaceutical industrial complex
the health insurance industrial complex
the financial Wall St. casino industrial complex
the Washington DC political industrial complex (senate, house, and lobbyists)
the media industrial complex
the commercial agriculture complex
the petroleum industrial complex
All of these entities hold complete economic and political power over the body politic and the body citizen of The United States.
Ben Franklin could, were he alive today, finally say "you could not keep your Republic"
We are no longer even a constitutional republic. We are living in an oligarchic kleptocracy. This corrupt, rotting system is not sustainable for much longer
18
Enough of this nonsence. I'm getting my Canadian citizenship and moving 20 minutes south to Ontario.
15
Better do it before we build that wall.
-Canada
-Canada
2
The reason they can't come up with anything better is that "Obamacare" is already a Republican plan. The only obvious improvement is Single Payer.
16
How can the other 40-odd Senators go allong mindlessly with this disaster? How about some reporting on why they are not even questioning it?
11
Senstor Mitch McConnell is sneaky, belligerent, spineless (won't stand up to lobbyist), heartless and does not do a good job protecting the most vulnerable residents in his own state from harm. As far as I csn tell he has never requested federal funds to clean the huge mess left in his state by coal mining companies.The way he treated Merrick Garland's nomination for the Supreme Court ought to be against the law.
He also frowns a lot and looks like a pale frog when he frowns. I like frogs, always have (as well as other amohibians), so I guess that is as close to a conpliment as I will ever giive to Senator McConnell.
He also frowns a lot and looks like a pale frog when he frowns. I like frogs, always have (as well as other amohibians), so I guess that is as close to a conpliment as I will ever giive to Senator McConnell.
9
"Allows insurers to sell plans that do not comply with some current insurance regulations, as long as they also sell ones that do."
My question is this: If someone buys one of these cheap, skimpy plans and then falls seriously ill will they be denied coverage and allowed to die? Somehow I don't think so and the taxpayer (me) will foot the bill. So much for choice.
My question is this: If someone buys one of these cheap, skimpy plans and then falls seriously ill will they be denied coverage and allowed to die? Somehow I don't think so and the taxpayer (me) will foot the bill. So much for choice.
9
The difficulty in dismantling the Affordable Care Act makes clear one very important fact: For all its flaws and imperfections, the ACA actually did a lot of good for people, especially the formerly uninsured:
1. Expanded Medicaid
2. Subsidies for the working class
3. No denial for pre-existing conditions
4. Funding for rural and urban hospitals and clinics
5. Improved quality, consistency and predictibility in coverage
It also makes clear another important fact: Democrats - who tend to make things better for people - are much more effective at legislating and governing than Republicans - who tend to make things worse for people.
1. Expanded Medicaid
2. Subsidies for the working class
3. No denial for pre-existing conditions
4. Funding for rural and urban hospitals and clinics
5. Improved quality, consistency and predictibility in coverage
It also makes clear another important fact: Democrats - who tend to make things better for people - are much more effective at legislating and governing than Republicans - who tend to make things worse for people.
18
The honest media needs to come up with a more accurate term than "strong conservative".
Those so called are conserving what exactly? The air, the water the health of our young, sick and poor? They want to drill in national parks, extract coal anywhere they can find it.
These "conservatives" are not, by any definition conservative.
How about "non believers in a future"? Not great, but.
Anyone else have a good alternative?
Those so called are conserving what exactly? The air, the water the health of our young, sick and poor? They want to drill in national parks, extract coal anywhere they can find it.
These "conservatives" are not, by any definition conservative.
How about "non believers in a future"? Not great, but.
Anyone else have a good alternative?
12
Regressives.
3
very good!
i will use that in the future, provided there is one.
i will use that in the future, provided there is one.
1
If the Republicans pass this, at least there is a better chance for a 2/3 Democratic majority in 2019.
9
I am not so sure of that conclusion as you seem to be.
3
This is going to pass.
The koch brothers spent tens of millions on republican reps and they will get their money's worth.
The koch brothers spent tens of millions on republican reps and they will get their money's worth.
1
The the fallout from passage of this plan will not benefit the GOP. Not the sharpest pencils in the box are they?
6
My friend just got back from Greece. He developed a blood clot and after three days in the hospital, scans, IV pain meds his total bill was $350. Single Payer people. Everyone pays taxes but no insurance premiums. Businesses don't deal with the cost to manage employee health care. Savings for all.
27
If at first you don't succeed, screw up, screw up, again.
McConnell must be ashamed of being a Conservative. Otherwise he wouldn't spend so much time lying about what he's doing. Conservatives are opposed to government entitlements, pure and simple, though they do support corporate welfare (defense contractors) and entitlements (tax breaks) to the nation's wealthiest citizens.
The GOP will never deliver a plan that will offer more for less. That's not what they're about. They are about transferring more wealth and power into fewer hands, the completion of the transformation of the US into a proper Oligarchy, and a reduction of personal liberties in real terms.
McConnell must be ashamed of being a Conservative. Otherwise he wouldn't spend so much time lying about what he's doing. Conservatives are opposed to government entitlements, pure and simple, though they do support corporate welfare (defense contractors) and entitlements (tax breaks) to the nation's wealthiest citizens.
The GOP will never deliver a plan that will offer more for less. That's not what they're about. They are about transferring more wealth and power into fewer hands, the completion of the transformation of the US into a proper Oligarchy, and a reduction of personal liberties in real terms.
18
Hey Kentucky....how has McConnell helped out your state? You are poor, hungry and sick! Keep voting against your interests. I will be sitting in NYC laughing at you bigly!
22
And by the way KY, don't come to NY to seek coverage no one wants you!
8
Kentucky Americans have, historically speaking, taken great pride in their level of self reliance, an antithesis for collective notions.
1
Trump promised a better plan, a cheaper plan, that would cover everyone. This bill does not accomplish one of those things.
He said he would not touch Medicaid, but this bill does affect it to the tune of $772 Billion cuts over ten years.
Please tell me, if there are any Trump supporters on this thread that are not in the upper 50% why do you continue to support this poor excuse for a human being and a pitiful excuse for a Liar-in-Chief who colluded with a hostile nation?
He said he would not touch Medicaid, but this bill does affect it to the tune of $772 Billion cuts over ten years.
Please tell me, if there are any Trump supporters on this thread that are not in the upper 50% why do you continue to support this poor excuse for a human being and a pitiful excuse for a Liar-in-Chief who colluded with a hostile nation?
30
Who knew taking 23 million American Citizens health insurance away most likely killing hundreds of thousands of them to give 800 billion in tax breaks to the ultra rich would be so hard?
25
Since when does Ted Cruz get to dictate health care to millions and millions of people. Something is wrong with this picture. Drastically wrong.
27
He caused a disastrous shutdown so he is in his element.
6
Nothing much changed. PEOPLE WILL DIE if this bill becomes law. This meanest, most cruel of countries has riches to spare, but not on sick people!. NYT must post, at last, a list of western countries with universal healthcare and how they pay for it! Simple single-payer is, of course, the answer. Not a government hand-out but paid for through our taxes -- according to income. marthastephens.wordpress.com
9
The GOP mantra has been repeal & replace for over 7 years. Now with a majority in congress and an incompetent WH they know this is there only and last chance to undo more of the Obama legacy.
There is no logic or value to this bill other than that.
This move will raise the cost of insurance and.cover less people. Period. No one in either party disputes that.
There is nothing left to discuss or analyze here.
The good news is with mitch at the helm the chances of passage are essentially zero.
Time to move on to single payer when the House flips in 2018.
Similar to how we almost never hear from p.ryan anymore..... this is the end of mitch. He has expended all of his political capital and is now unelectable after his term ends.
That's a good thing. The good people of KY and this nation deserve better
There is no logic or value to this bill other than that.
This move will raise the cost of insurance and.cover less people. Period. No one in either party disputes that.
There is nothing left to discuss or analyze here.
The good news is with mitch at the helm the chances of passage are essentially zero.
Time to move on to single payer when the House flips in 2018.
Similar to how we almost never hear from p.ryan anymore..... this is the end of mitch. He has expended all of his political capital and is now unelectable after his term ends.
That's a good thing. The good people of KY and this nation deserve better
8
Does your representative care enough about the citizens he or she represents to provide health care for all of them?
No need for the ands, ifs or buts, a simple yes or no will do.
No need for the ands, ifs or buts, a simple yes or no will do.
8
I'd have a little more confidence in this latest iteration of Health Care (for the Wealthy) if it had the blessing of any medical organization or groups representing nurses and/or doctors. Instead, all we get is gushing admiration from the Far Right, a group not exactly famous for deep thinking or humanitarian concern for anyone but themselves.
9
Getting something done is far better than the unmitigated ACA disaster that is exploding before our eyes as we dither.
Premiums are no longer skyrocketing as they were before ACA, more people are insured, insurance policies can no longer be bait and switch nonsense that don't actually cover anything - there's no disaster there.
4
Now there's a deep-thinking comment.
1
Well, after they get tired of failing and wasting everyone's time, maybe they will eat some crow and go back to targeted fixes to the ACA in a bipartisan manner, as it should have been from Day 1.
6
A minority party is in power thanks to Citizens United, gerrymandering, Russian interference, and an Electoral College system that ignores the popular vote, not to mention the parliamentary maneuvering that blocked a Democratic majority on the Supreme Court. The vast, vast majority of Americans (87%) dislike this bill, which gives tax cuts to the 1% of the 1% of the 1% while reducing access to affordable health care to the poor and the middle class. If democracy isn't dead, it's on life support. Maybe it's time to pull the plug and pronounce the American Experiment over.
26
Where are the tax cuts? Can you cite that for me?
Many millions are fighting back...don't give up hope yet.
3
You say parliamentary maneuvering, I say extra-constitutional power-grab. To each their own.
Pulling the plug might be a tad drastic, but we sure need some well-thought out constitutional amendments, pronto.
Pulling the plug might be a tad drastic, but we sure need some well-thought out constitutional amendments, pronto.
7
Who knew the healthcare problem was so difficult to deal with? the President asked in a TV piece recently. It's not that difficult once you dump the insurance companies. The government taxes each of us according to our income just as it does for SS. It then pays the doctors and hospitals just like it sends me a check every month and pays the doctors when you see a doctor and you are on Medicare. Take all of the insurance company employees and make them healthcare employees. They are spread out all over the nation now so each employee gets assigned a specific number of people to monitor. The a doctor or dentist sends a bill for services it goes to the employee assigned to that person. The employee calls that person and asks if he got the service or medicine in the bill. If he didn't the doctor or hospital doesn't get paid and gets warned about defrauding the public. If the patient says he got the treatment and it was necessary, the government cuts a check to the doctor or hospital.
I'd be willing to bet that the taxes we pay would be a lot less than the premiums we're currently paying and everyone would be getting care.
I'd be willing to bet that the taxes we pay would be a lot less than the premiums we're currently paying and everyone would be getting care.
16
what has this to do with health ?
It is tax relief for the overburden 1%...
It is tax relief for the overburden 1%...
14
If you step back for a moment it is so completely obvious that the flaw with this is that it's being done by Republicans with no input from the Democrats. Democracy works by the ebb and flow of ideas across the political spectrum. When one party decides that they're the only party that should have a say in what happens there doomed to fail with too many different perspectives within that party.
A bipartisan healthcare solution would indeed mean that the most liberal and most conservative ideas will probably not see much daylight but it still will probably create what could work in our fragile democracy.
Clearly the Republican party of no for the last eight years has made democracy and our form of representative government completely dysfunctional.
And I had one last reminder that the affordable care act was a republican creation in its original version that came out of the state of Massachusetts. You might remember a guy named Mitt Romney it was governor at that time.....
A bipartisan healthcare solution would indeed mean that the most liberal and most conservative ideas will probably not see much daylight but it still will probably create what could work in our fragile democracy.
Clearly the Republican party of no for the last eight years has made democracy and our form of representative government completely dysfunctional.
And I had one last reminder that the affordable care act was a republican creation in its original version that came out of the state of Massachusetts. You might remember a guy named Mitt Romney it was governor at that time.....
11
"If you step back for a moment it is so completely obvious that the flaw with this is that it's being done by Republicans with no input from the Democrats"
To that I say, "If you step back for a moment it is so completely obvious that the flaw with Obamacare is that it was done by Democrats with no input from the Republicans."
To that I say, "If you step back for a moment it is so completely obvious that the flaw with Obamacare is that it was done by Democrats with no input from the Republicans."
To that I say, "You are wrong. There was plenty of input from Republicans on the Affordable Care Act. Over 100 amendments, as a matter of fact. And input from doctors, hospitals, insurers, constituents, and business groups, to name a few. And many public hearings."
4
Factually incorrect, Scott. Really, Fox News is not your best bet.
3
Here's an idea: bi-partisan, detailed work over a reasonably extended work period, open to input from the public. Of course, such a radical idea would never occur to the GOP leadership or its ideologues, but it might, just might be what is needed to produce what the country needs: reasonably priced, universal health care for ALL Americans.
6
The tragedy of the new health bill -- or virtually any health bill -- is that "health" is at the bottom of the list of priorities in the debate. Ultimately, it's a debate over money in general, but the unwritten subtext is the preservation and protection of obscene profit.
5
Please tell us there are actually people in this senate who haven't sold their souls to this excuse of a health bill. They say they aren't doing tax cuts, or not that much. We all know better and so do you. Don't be like the president, be truthful. Vote for a resounding "no" this bill is bad for everyone.
7
The Republican party has betrayed the American people again. Oh, Brave New World!
6
This attempt to rollback coverage for millions of Americans illustrates the true values of the Republican Party and our country.
* We seem perfectly willing to spend trillions of tax dollars bombing other countries all the while feeling pretty smug about withholding basic health care from millions of our own citizens.
* We value the right to own a gun over the right to health care access.
* We value a free market over clean air and water.
* We seem perfectly willing to spend trillions of tax dollars bombing other countries all the while feeling pretty smug about withholding basic health care from millions of our own citizens.
* We value the right to own a gun over the right to health care access.
* We value a free market over clean air and water.
6
Don't worry about Medicaid. McConnell has already admitted this is nothing but optics for the GOP base -- by the time the Medicaid cuts kick in someone else will be in office and they'll be forced to do away with the cuts.
So cynical. So NOT in the best interests of the country. We have let being a Senator become too cushy a job -- these clowns want to hang on too badly.
So cynical. So NOT in the best interests of the country. We have let being a Senator become too cushy a job -- these clowns want to hang on too badly.
5
Hokus pokus in the Republican Party and with our incompetent President regarding health and US relationships with the entire world has the whole country gasping for air. Waiting in the wings are more GOP bad guys like Rand trying to muscle in worse coverage with a big smile and sweet talkin demeanor. The Republican Party does deserve to pay dearly in all elections at every level if, and only if the Democratic Party has a message which is still only "he's a bad man."
2
Are you sure this isn't a set up? Two Republican Senators come out an immediately oppose the bill but that's only two. That leaves the vote 50-50 and allows Pence to cast the deciding vote. So, this might be cover for Rand Paul and Susan Collins while the deal has already been done. I don't think they would have a vote if McConnell hadn't already got this in the bag during the recess.
7
Agreed. Total set-up.
3
I am curious about one thing. Early on in this whole debate, there was a discussion about the members of Congress being covered by the same health plans they are "fashioning' for their constituents. As I understand it, they have their own health plan. I have never seen the details of it but it must be more than adequate because the mention that the Congress drop their health plan disappeared from all discussion, except for a comment that the idea was dismissed. Is there any more information as to whether the members of Congress will be covered under Trumpcare or will they continue to have their own separate coverage? Could we hear about exactly what kind oe coverage the members enjoy?
8
Excellent idea. NY Times - Can someone on your staff provide an article on the complete details of the health coverage our esteemed representatives have ?
3
Whether or not this bill gets passed, we still need to deal with the current catastrophe that is health care, especially the tens of millions that get plans on the exchange or similar low level coverage. And even with the "repeal" of Obamacare, it is looking more like the exchange may still remain in some fashion and that low-end plans are still costly with little to no coverage. For all the GOP talk about repeal+replace, it looks more like they just wanted to cut taxes for the rich and call it a day.
So maybe it does pass, where does that leave us in 6 months or a year and who is going to fix the rising healthcare costs for horrible coverage? Do we just keep subsidizing the premiums of poor increasingly, and call that acceptable? What about in 5 years when the majority of middle class need subsidies? What is the breaking point?
So maybe it does pass, where does that leave us in 6 months or a year and who is going to fix the rising healthcare costs for horrible coverage? Do we just keep subsidizing the premiums of poor increasingly, and call that acceptable? What about in 5 years when the majority of middle class need subsidies? What is the breaking point?
2
It's a sad state of affairs when "working with the other party"/ bipartisanship is used as a THREAT
11
Just a heads up for any who don't know it, the "lower priced plans" Ted Cruz backs are actually a scam to steal your money and provide almost no service at all sticking you with the costs of the care on top of your premium which is getting you nothing.
It's cheaper to pay cash at any medical office if you have no insurance. Most offices in California will take cash and agree to a price before a visit or test. It's usually a lot less than 50% of the fake number (to scam the IRS) they bill insurance companies only to accept a pittance in return when the insurer pays them. Ex the fake charge (which they will try to collect from civilians by sending to collection if you don't make a deal ahead of time) for an MRI was around $1500-$1700. The cash price was $450ish. That $450 seems very high for an MRI considering that these things do not go begging for insured or cash customers.
It's cheaper to pay cash at any medical office if you have no insurance. Most offices in California will take cash and agree to a price before a visit or test. It's usually a lot less than 50% of the fake number (to scam the IRS) they bill insurance companies only to accept a pittance in return when the insurer pays them. Ex the fake charge (which they will try to collect from civilians by sending to collection if you don't make a deal ahead of time) for an MRI was around $1500-$1700. The cash price was $450ish. That $450 seems very high for an MRI considering that these things do not go begging for insured or cash customers.
5
Road to perdition: cut taxes on the rich, cut benefits to the poor.
5
Considering each states ability to limit the procedures covered on individual health plans, when does healthcare cease being healthcare with important diagnostic, therapeutic, surgical, emergency, pharmacy, and outpatient procedures are not covered. Reducing healthcare premiums by increasing deductibles does not decrease the cost of healthcare.
The Republican healthcare plan covers less, costs more, and forces (!) 22 million Americans to lose their current healthcare insurance with increased costs, decreased coverages, and increased deductibles.
I'll bet that Members of Congress will not be affected by their own healthcare law. Republican State Death Panels are already deciding what to eliminate from healthcare for their citizens. The Republican Party likes to call itself the "Pro-Life" Party - State Death Panels will destroy that claim.
The Republican healthcare plan covers less, costs more, and forces (!) 22 million Americans to lose their current healthcare insurance with increased costs, decreased coverages, and increased deductibles.
I'll bet that Members of Congress will not be affected by their own healthcare law. Republican State Death Panels are already deciding what to eliminate from healthcare for their citizens. The Republican Party likes to call itself the "Pro-Life" Party - State Death Panels will destroy that claim.
5
Why don't they simply pass a bill that states, "We hereby negate the presidency of Barack Obama" and be done with it? That's all they really want to accomplish, and this way nobody gets hurt.
5
Ironic that the GOP is rolling back the expansion of Medicaid which was what every governor who took up the ACA "offer" was afraid of. That expansion helped those states citizens and the GOP, in the interests of erasing everything Obama did, wants to take that back too.
What justification is there for making it harder for people to afford health care when every other country in the civilized world ensures access to health care for all their citizens and legal residents? Why should America continue to be exceptional in this way? Does the GOP think that public health principles don't apply here? Do we need to have a plague before they understand that public health affects the rich and the rest of us alike? What is coming across quite clearly now is that the GOP is anti American. Only politicians who do not care about their constituents do things like this. The Citizens United decision has had a very bad effect on Americans and American politics. This is one of the better examples. My question is what's next on the chopping block: social security, public education, or just all of working America?
GOP = Grossly Overpaid Pachyderms.
What justification is there for making it harder for people to afford health care when every other country in the civilized world ensures access to health care for all their citizens and legal residents? Why should America continue to be exceptional in this way? Does the GOP think that public health principles don't apply here? Do we need to have a plague before they understand that public health affects the rich and the rest of us alike? What is coming across quite clearly now is that the GOP is anti American. Only politicians who do not care about their constituents do things like this. The Citizens United decision has had a very bad effect on Americans and American politics. This is one of the better examples. My question is what's next on the chopping block: social security, public education, or just all of working America?
GOP = Grossly Overpaid Pachyderms.
12
It's obvious that Party TRUMPS people! How uncaring and just plain cruel..
4
Ironically, the same folks who want an end to Obamacare insist on open ended health care coverage to bring their own congenitally disabled fetuses to term. There is no cake they don't want to have and eat too.
If the US takes on the life care costs of the child the British Health Service deems untreatable, they could run to tens of millions of dollars for that one person.
If the US takes on the life care costs of the child the British Health Service deems untreatable, they could run to tens of millions of dollars for that one person.
4
Governor Sununu is biting his nails that New Hampshire may be forced to succumb to income and sales taxes to fund Medicaid.
This bill, similar to the house bill and the several bills the senate has floated since November 2016, is dead in the water. Dead.
Elected Republicans do not want a national health care coverage system. They are doing everything they can to destroy whatever protections are on the books, without any replacement. They want no robust debate on any part of their repeal of Obamacare. They are steamrolling this bill now through the Senate without one hearing.
What are elected Republican goals for providing health care coverage to Americans?
-bring down Obamacare,
-give rich Americans a tax break, and
-make one single declaration – ‘We Won!’
Why are these the goals for elected Republicans? They get massive campaign funding from folks who support the above goals.
The reason why bills with the above goals is dead is: 50 republican senators cannot find sufficient voter support in their states to be reelected if they vote for this bill. Why? Many Republican voters are in a tight bind financially and would lose health care coverage through this current scheme.
Regardless of voter needs and what truly should be the goal for this bill (i.e., develop a plan that will actually increase the number of Americans who can get real - not fake - health care insurance), reelection is the primary motivating factor for elected republicans.
Thus, this bill is dead in the water. Dead.
Elected Republicans do not want a national health care coverage system. They are doing everything they can to destroy whatever protections are on the books, without any replacement. They want no robust debate on any part of their repeal of Obamacare. They are steamrolling this bill now through the Senate without one hearing.
What are elected Republican goals for providing health care coverage to Americans?
-bring down Obamacare,
-give rich Americans a tax break, and
-make one single declaration – ‘We Won!’
Why are these the goals for elected Republicans? They get massive campaign funding from folks who support the above goals.
The reason why bills with the above goals is dead is: 50 republican senators cannot find sufficient voter support in their states to be reelected if they vote for this bill. Why? Many Republican voters are in a tight bind financially and would lose health care coverage through this current scheme.
Regardless of voter needs and what truly should be the goal for this bill (i.e., develop a plan that will actually increase the number of Americans who can get real - not fake - health care insurance), reelection is the primary motivating factor for elected republicans.
Thus, this bill is dead in the water. Dead.
2
It is really amazing how much of what 80% of the people don't want eventually becomes law in this interlocked directorship.
4
You can put lipstick on the pig...it's still a pig.
5
Dear Republicans:
Give it up already. Obamacare needs tweaking but is basically a good piece of legislation that helps millions of people. As you keep proving, anything you do will only make things worse, partly due to your warped ideology, partly due to your incompetence.
Give it up already. Obamacare needs tweaking but is basically a good piece of legislation that helps millions of people. As you keep proving, anything you do will only make things worse, partly due to your warped ideology, partly due to your incompetence.
10
Ideologues are always incompetent, because they bend the problems to fit their solutions.
3
ACA comes numerously to mind.
How can these guys sleep at night? They don't have a conscience. They have no compassion for their fellow Americans. Do what the PEOPLE want not what you want. We just need a few more Republicans with some spine and this TrumpJunkCare will be DOA.
10
Republicans have bought into a Party based on Roger Stone's ideology: no moral compass. If this Health Bill passes, we as a Country will be well on our way to Mad Max world where guess what: Rule of Law will completely disappear and Republicans will become just so many chattering monkeys...and the rest of us will have to figure out for ourselves how to survive...
2
Add to those complications the return of many communicable diseases from America's past.
1
Just say NO! This is another example of the Senators who are guaranteed health insurance playing god with ours. McConnell and Ryan -- get your head out the sand and see that you are going to seriously hurt the American people with this gift to the wealthy and lobbyist feasting on a lucrative dog bone. Seriously, please retire...
4
The operative word is "offer." There is a steakhouse in Amarillo, Texas that offers a 72-ounce steak, but there are few takers.
2
If "everyone" meaning the rich pay their dues, as they should, as the rest of us we wouldn't be in this situation...
So how many senators, really, are thinking about us???
So how many senators, really, are thinking about us???
3
Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) yesterday, briefed Republican senators on the revamped bill to roll back key parts of the Affordable Care Act, but Democrats were not included.
McConnell is still playing the republican "Hastert Rule" of keeping the Democrats out of the legislative process. You will not find even one iota of bi-partisanship in McConnell and the republicans in both houses of congress. These politicians belong to a party and get elected as such, but, when they take that seat in Congress they work for the entire country with their writing laws, what they do affects all Americans and they work should be bi-partisan, cooperative and fair in their deal making. The republicans seem to have lost that ideal a long time ago and the country is worse off for it.
A health care bill by the Federal Government affects ALL Americans; not just the republicans in the country. Writing it should be with involvement of both parties and both sexes. But that's not the way McConnell sees it since he didn't even have women republicans in his secret writing process. This is outrageous and offensive to women and all Americans.
And did this republican bill open up the world markets to our purchase of prescription drugs? Nope. We will still pay 10 or 100 times what the rest of the world pays for a prescription drug thanks to republicans.
McConnell is still playing the republican "Hastert Rule" of keeping the Democrats out of the legislative process. You will not find even one iota of bi-partisanship in McConnell and the republicans in both houses of congress. These politicians belong to a party and get elected as such, but, when they take that seat in Congress they work for the entire country with their writing laws, what they do affects all Americans and they work should be bi-partisan, cooperative and fair in their deal making. The republicans seem to have lost that ideal a long time ago and the country is worse off for it.
A health care bill by the Federal Government affects ALL Americans; not just the republicans in the country. Writing it should be with involvement of both parties and both sexes. But that's not the way McConnell sees it since he didn't even have women republicans in his secret writing process. This is outrageous and offensive to women and all Americans.
And did this republican bill open up the world markets to our purchase of prescription drugs? Nope. We will still pay 10 or 100 times what the rest of the world pays for a prescription drug thanks to republicans.
7
This is the time Dems should be going all out to oppose this bill; this is the time to hold rallies all across the nation against this bill; this is the time to be all over TV and other media to expose the Repub terrorists. But our Dems are spending their time on "Trump/Russia collusion". This bill will pass, Repubs will repeal ACA and they will then blame the Dems.
1
They are destroying themselves.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Stupid is as stupid does.
1
Be aware of the "previous condition" loop hole McConnell and the Republicans are offering insurance companies. It's not easy or cheap to fight for your medical rights in this area of the law.
3
The " knife's edge" has to do with how to pull off the greatest ripoff of the country and it's people with the least detrimental backlash.
The Republican plan has to do with scamming the country.
They depend on an uninformed and uninvolved electorate, and unfortunately, that is a pretty sure bet.
The Republican plan has to do with scamming the country.
They depend on an uninformed and uninvolved electorate, and unfortunately, that is a pretty sure bet.
3
It must be maddening to the appalling Mitch McConnell that he's unable to scuttle Obama's most attractive accomplishment. And regarding Ted Cruz's statement that it would be catastrophic for the bill not to pass, he's quite right. It would be catastrophic for the Republicans, but rather an advantage for the average American. Thanks should go to Susan Collins and other holdouts. Rand Paul's refusal to vote for the bill is more problematical: it's not draconic enough. I can hardly wait for the midterms!
5
This is an opportunity for those lawmakers too cowardly to publicly call out Trump's breathtaking malfeasance, outright law breaking, and arrogance; rebuke the President by voting NO on this, I mean, if that is really the best you can manage to do for your Country! Obamacare is not in a death spiral, the Republican Party is in a death spiral.
5
Why work this hard on something this horribly composed, when most Americans don't even want it anyways? This isn't about helping Americans, this is about delicate egos that can't handle the fact that Obamacare was not a big mess like they had hoped it would be.
5
These people are evil.
5
And.....the defunding of Planned Parenthood stands as a mistake. PP provides a number of services including prevention, detection and treatment of STDs. Thanks GOP for becoming the source for a major disease out break in this country.
3
Waivers....like asking, "Can we get away with this abomination, please?" Skimpy coverage would lower premiums. Maybe automakers could lower the price tags sold to people with lower incomes by not including all the safety features? No seatbelts, airbags, and don't worry about all the cushy padding on the dashboard! There you go. Saving money for the dumbest Americans!
3
This headline drastically understates the chances of this bill passing. There is a really good chance all 50 senators who haven't declared opposition will vote yes.
2
And some of the support is wavering... good bye to Obamacare.
I always find it ironic when Mitch McConnell continues to say different versions of the same rhetoric “This is our chance to bring about changes we’ve been talking about since Obamacare was forced on the American people"
Isn't that exactly what he and the Republicans are doing by forcing an ill conceived plan on the American people?
Isn't that exactly what he and the Republicans are doing by forcing an ill conceived plan on the American people?
3
Everything you need to know about Republican priorities is encapsulated by the fact that nearly every Republican senator intends to support this dreadful health care bill.
5
This bill will probably get passed. I would prefer no bill at all, just a complete repeal of every single nit of the PPACA. That 12 million people can be handled by the states with federal payments to cover state expenses.
The U.S. now has a perfect list of what fake tax-exempt outlets to remove exemptions from. The Soros-funded units attacking the commission set up to stop illegal fraudulent voting don't need any tax preferences.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) is first to lose its exemption if I'm in charge. There is no reason for gifts to it to come off people's taxes. It is as abusive as the very well-funded Southern Poverty Law Center.
The U.S. now has a perfect list of what fake tax-exempt outlets to remove exemptions from. The Soros-funded units attacking the commission set up to stop illegal fraudulent voting don't need any tax preferences.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) is first to lose its exemption if I'm in charge. There is no reason for gifts to it to come off people's taxes. It is as abusive as the very well-funded Southern Poverty Law Center.
The "expanded" health savings accounts is laughable and insulting. The average salary of workers in this country is less than 55k. After deducting for housing, transportation, food and if you're lucky, a paltry 401k savings for retirement, there is no extra income available for a health savings account. These accounts were simply designed to create another tax shelter for those high income earners. It's revolting how the GOP works overtime to provide for those lucky enough to already have it all while destroying the lives of the many who are hanging on by their fingernails.
66
The House and Senate bills can't legitimately be called "health care" laws as they take away health insurance from millions of Americans, and make it unaffordable for millions more.
3
I never see anyone discussing this issue, including Congress, who understands how insurance works. You sell policies to a large number of people, most whom will never need a claim, or will have minimal claims. This leaves money to pay the inevitable large claims that will occur and to pay the costs of administration. The point is no one knows whether they will need really expensive care or when. You are covering yourself from catastrophe by paying a hopefully reasonable premium each year. But without a large pool of younger, well persons, the whole system collapses. And premiums soar for everyone else. Do we allow young people to say they won't have an accident so they don't want to buy car insurance? They are "forced" to do so if they want to drive a car, and I don't hear any Republicans or Libertarians screaming about that. Health insurers are more vulnerable than car insurers because it is more difficult to predict health trends than motor accidents and they need a cushion. The whole concept of insurance for health is fraught anyway. Health care should be the right of all citizens as it is even in Mexico, Trump! The only model that is both humane and economic eliminates the middleman, Medicare for all. It will work well if these senators will put the same zeal into reining in the pharmaceutical industry in the US. Recently I needed antibiotics in France and they were a fraction of the cost here, and their big pharma is doing fine.
4
I still haven't heard a reasonable explanation of how they can repeal the law with 50 votes when it took 60 to pass it.
Mitch, all-time Champion of the Filibuster, should be true to his former statements and work with Democrats on a consensus bill. Start by listing the problems with Obama Care that need to be fixed, and then open the process to ideas from everyone on how to achieve that.
Mitch, all-time Champion of the Filibuster, should be true to his former statements and work with Democrats on a consensus bill. Start by listing the problems with Obama Care that need to be fixed, and then open the process to ideas from everyone on how to achieve that.
4
Because Democrats play nice and Republicans fight dirty. That's Our Senate!
If this calamitous bill gets enacted it will signify the complete and total surrender of America to the forces of the rich, powerful and well-connected. The Citizens United case allowed for unrestrained money to dominate politics; The environment is in the hands of industry specialists who want to reverse course; public education is being de-funded at an unprecedented pace; our infrastructure in urban areas is 30 years behind repairs and upgrades. And, now, the good health of the American public is about to be imperiled so that a further tax cut to the wealthy be enabled. WE HAVE LOST THIS FIGHT AND THINGS WILL CONTINUE TO GET WORSE FOR MOST OF US.
3
I have always thought that dealing with Health Care was a very, very bad idea. It is not the Third Rail of Politics.
Obamacare was fiscally unsustainable. Some of the ways they planned to pay for it, were struck down by SCOTUS when they made Medicaid Expansion Optional, and the tax penalty if you did get Medical Care was never really enforced.
I think it would have been smarter to make NO changes in Obamacare as It was doomed to collapse because there was not enough money to support it.
They should have done nothing and let it fall apart on its own.
Obamacare was fiscally unsustainable. Some of the ways they planned to pay for it, were struck down by SCOTUS when they made Medicaid Expansion Optional, and the tax penalty if you did get Medical Care was never really enforced.
I think it would have been smarter to make NO changes in Obamacare as It was doomed to collapse because there was not enough money to support it.
They should have done nothing and let it fall apart on its own.
Republicians talk about giving people Choice. So offer a bad plan to those with pre-existing conditions and that's Choice. All they are doing is going back to the days of people winding up in city and county hospitals in the Emergency rooms. Where the Public will pay. Millions will have no health care. So Much for a Great Health Plan As the Combover in Chief promised.
4
Sen. McConnell to his caucus "The purposes of this bill are easy to discern-we hate anything that has O'Bama's name attached to it and we promised to repeal and replace ACA so we have to do something to show our base."
1
As The Times has said in its editorial yesterday, Republicans “have become so blinded by their rage against Obamacare that they are losing sight of what ought to be their goal: safeguarding the health of their constituents.”
Though only 23 percent of their constituents support their move to repeal Obamacare (according to the Kaiser Family Foundation poll cited in the same Times editorial), there is a danger of the bill getting passed. Unless of course, there is one more conscientious Republican senator who is principled enough to say “no” to the anti-Obama crowd in the party led by McConnell.
Republicans should know that, according to the same Kaiser poll, 71 percent of Americans want them to work with Democrats to improve Obamacare. As is the case with any law in any democracy, Obamacare needs improving. Unfortunately, one cannot expect that from the Senate majority leader Mitch
McConnell and his ilk, who are determined to erase any legacy to which Obama’s name is attached.
Obsessed with the goal of repealing Obamacare, they would settle for anything that replaces it with.
Though only 23 percent of their constituents support their move to repeal Obamacare (according to the Kaiser Family Foundation poll cited in the same Times editorial), there is a danger of the bill getting passed. Unless of course, there is one more conscientious Republican senator who is principled enough to say “no” to the anti-Obama crowd in the party led by McConnell.
Republicans should know that, according to the same Kaiser poll, 71 percent of Americans want them to work with Democrats to improve Obamacare. As is the case with any law in any democracy, Obamacare needs improving. Unfortunately, one cannot expect that from the Senate majority leader Mitch
McConnell and his ilk, who are determined to erase any legacy to which Obama’s name is attached.
Obsessed with the goal of repealing Obamacare, they would settle for anything that replaces it with.
2
Let's consider Senator Portman of Ohio. has he thought about the millions of people in the whole country who will suffer if he only thinks of one state?
He must be cognizant of all the states and see as we do that his party is
Responsible for all the country.if he votes for party over country he will be turned out of office and justifiable so.Tell him to say no to removing care from innocent citizens,how many deaths will republicans cause.
People who need health care NOT health insurance
He must be cognizant of all the states and see as we do that his party is
Responsible for all the country.if he votes for party over country he will be turned out of office and justifiable so.Tell him to say no to removing care from innocent citizens,how many deaths will republicans cause.
People who need health care NOT health insurance
1
Well, this long-time Republican (along with many others) has finally been driven away by Ted Cruz (did somebody we know use the term "lyin'"?) and Mitch McConnell. Nobody, except the ideologues such as Cruz and Ryan, supports this. It will certainly haunt the Republicans at the next election.
2
McConnel's poor leadership is why this Health Bill, crafted without transparency (40 plus hearings for Obamacare), is going to fail---it hurts the little guy and the middle class.
Why is it when Republicans are in power they can readily find the trillions to invade Iraq on a lie, yet they cannot invest in a universal healthcare system that will improve America's economy by lowering healthcare costs? Since Obamacare's inception, personal bankruptcies are down by 50%, that's a good thing for both consumers and creditors. Why is kicking poor people off healthcare a good idea? They'll simply go back to the system that was there before (the emergency room) and we all end up paying those costly uninsured medical bills. As Trump would say, "Sad!"
Why is it when Republicans are in power they can readily find the trillions to invade Iraq on a lie, yet they cannot invest in a universal healthcare system that will improve America's economy by lowering healthcare costs? Since Obamacare's inception, personal bankruptcies are down by 50%, that's a good thing for both consumers and creditors. Why is kicking poor people off healthcare a good idea? They'll simply go back to the system that was there before (the emergency room) and we all end up paying those costly uninsured medical bills. As Trump would say, "Sad!"
59
This charade going on for years now with "health care" coverage is absolutely crazy. Insane. As a European who benefited from single payer health care as a child - open-heart surgery no less - I cannot fathom how "adults" could twist themselves into pretzels all to NEVER, EVER address the crux of the matter: the stranglehold pharmaceutical industrial complex has on health care.
7
If this revised GOP health care bill is passed, I hope the people of this country will finally wake up and vote the GOP senators out of office. How can a senator vote for this bill knowing full will that millions will go uninsured, and there definitely will be deaths as a result of thier vote. One has to wonder, how much do these GOP senators hate the American people? Health care should have nothing to do about political revenge, it will cause deaths.
5
Nice photo, Mitch! Glad to see such a happy smile! Looks like you're having lotsa fun, getting ready to see the circus, full of clowns, elephants, and high wire walkers. Oh, that's right, it is a circus called a "Senate healthcare bill."
8
The primary reason the Senate healthcare bill is so messy is that they avoided the normal committee process. The committee process evolved to cope with complex issues and problem solving. The only way to build a majority consensus behind a solution to the complexity of US healthcare problems is to go through the committee process, hold public hearings, hear from experts in all fields, here all opinions and views, use the amendment process, produce better and better draft bills, listen to CBO so the legislations is affordable and then go to the floor for a vote.
6
The primary reason is politics. Republicans have taken a basic human situation (health) and a basic human right (health care) and a basic moral issue (taking care of our most vulnerable) and are playing a brutal game of political football with all of these. They're trying to win political points and to enrich themselves and their buddies, rather than doing what is logical, commonsensical, caring, and moral. All the time, money, effort, and words wasted on discussing an illogical, heartless, scrambled, and stupid bill. Single-payer. Healthcare for all. Problem solved. End of discussion.
3
But we have the President's promise, in his own words...
In an interview on "60 Minutes," Scott Pelley asked Mr. Trump about his plans to fix the healthcare system.
"There's many different ways, by the way. Everybody's got to be covered. This is an un-Republican thing for me to say because a lot of times they say, 'No, no, the lower 25 percent that can't afford private'… I am going to take care of everybody. I don't care if it costs me votes or not. Everybody's going to be taken care of much better than they're taken care of now."
Trump: Promises made, promises kept. Right?
In an interview on "60 Minutes," Scott Pelley asked Mr. Trump about his plans to fix the healthcare system.
"There's many different ways, by the way. Everybody's got to be covered. This is an un-Republican thing for me to say because a lot of times they say, 'No, no, the lower 25 percent that can't afford private'… I am going to take care of everybody. I don't care if it costs me votes or not. Everybody's going to be taken care of much better than they're taken care of now."
Trump: Promises made, promises kept. Right?
14
"revising their bill to help hold down insurance costs for consumers while allowing insurers to sell new low-cost, stripped down policies." Oh, come, on, NYT! Should read "revising their bill IN A MANNER THEY CLAIM WILL help hold down insurance costs for consumers while allowing insurers to sell new low-cost, stripped down policies." Seriously, hold down costs for whom? What a credulous and sloppy opening sentence. Pffff
6
How are only 2 out of 52 Senators opposed to this awful piece of legislature?
Therein lies the true rub.
Therein lies the true rub.
6
What people must but fail to understand is that the people elected Donald J. Trump to be he President of the United States. His promise to the American people was to repeal and replace Obamacare. This bill is an attempt to fulfill that promise.
3
The people elected Hillary Clinton with the largest margin ever for a white person. The Electoral College imposed Trump as president.
11
But is this what people had hoped for?
2
Well, that isn't all that Trump promised. In the replacement he said "You're going to have such great health care at a tiny fraction of the cost. And it's going to be so easy." and People covered under the law “can expect to have great health care. It will be in a much simplified form. Much less expensive and much better… lower numbers, much lower deductibles.”
THAT is what the people understand by replacement and the Republicans in Congress does not understand. The bill does not fulfill Trump's promises on healthcare:
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/trump-obamacare-promises-236021
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-presser-obamacare-repeal-rep...
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/ap-fact-check-trumps-promises-health...
THAT is what the people understand by replacement and the Republicans in Congress does not understand. The bill does not fulfill Trump's promises on healthcare:
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/trump-obamacare-promises-236021
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-presser-obamacare-repeal-rep...
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/ap-fact-check-trumps-promises-health...
4
Here's a wild thought with no chance of going anywhere:
How about no pay for no accomplishment?
Take the Senators and the Reps off salary and put them on piece-work.
Perhaps 10% of salary paid for passing a bill.
Another 10% for getting it enacted into law.
5% commission for the President.
Or maybe 2% for this President.
How about no pay for no accomplishment?
Take the Senators and the Reps off salary and put them on piece-work.
Perhaps 10% of salary paid for passing a bill.
Another 10% for getting it enacted into law.
5% commission for the President.
Or maybe 2% for this President.
4
A lot of talk about nothing. "In a notable change, the revised bill would keep two taxes imposed by the Affordable Care Act on people with high incomes: a 3.8 percent tax on investment income and a 0.9 percent payroll tax. The taxes apply to individuals with income over $200,000 and couples with income over $250,000."
Tax structure stays in place with "chairs moved around." It will pass.
Tax structure stays in place with "chairs moved around." It will pass.
This bill is floundering because its ideological underpinnings have nothing to do with policy positions and everything to do with spite. The Republican obsession with undoing Obama's legacy has perverted McConnell's thinking. This is a needle that no one could possibly thread. Offering people more 'freedom' to choose among worse options is logic that collapses upon itself.
danschorr.blogspot.com
danschorr.blogspot.com
12
I looked at the accompanying piece "Who They Were Trying to Win Over."
From looking at this the changes being discussed were focused on about 14 Republican senators. 14 out of 52. I read this as there are 38 Republican Senators who will be good soldiers(R) who have no concerns about the bill and will vote for it, or any version of it, no matter what. And that despite there are supposedly 42 "concerned" or "Unclear or Undecided" Republican senators shown in the other accompanying piece "Where Every Senator Stands on the Revised Health Care Bill".
We understand why the hardliners love or hate the current bill and why the moderates and others from states that expanded medicaid might not like it. But what is there about the bill the silent republican majority like it enough to vote for it no matter what?
From looking at this the changes being discussed were focused on about 14 Republican senators. 14 out of 52. I read this as there are 38 Republican Senators who will be good soldiers(R) who have no concerns about the bill and will vote for it, or any version of it, no matter what. And that despite there are supposedly 42 "concerned" or "Unclear or Undecided" Republican senators shown in the other accompanying piece "Where Every Senator Stands on the Revised Health Care Bill".
We understand why the hardliners love or hate the current bill and why the moderates and others from states that expanded medicaid might not like it. But what is there about the bill the silent republican majority like it enough to vote for it no matter what?
9
That the bill sticks it to Obama. They don't care what they stick it to him with as long as it can be stuck to him.
In a way, they're more extremist than even Random Paul. At least *his* extremism is silly self-subversion, its own undoing. Theirs could actually kill Americans.
In a way, they're more extremist than even Random Paul. At least *his* extremism is silly self-subversion, its own undoing. Theirs could actually kill Americans.
2
Obviously the Democrats are far ahead in making sure that all their soldiers march in lockstep.
This is why Nancy Pelosi is so important to the Hard Left. She can easily stop campaign money from going to the Senators who weaken and consider going with the other side.
Pelosi is the best political enforcer in the post-WWII era.
This is why Nancy Pelosi is so important to the Hard Left. She can easily stop campaign money from going to the Senators who weaken and consider going with the other side.
Pelosi is the best political enforcer in the post-WWII era.
1
"Hard Left"
lol
lol
2
The net effect of this bill seems relatively simple: correct the high prices and high deductibles of Obamacare by allowing states to sell plans that allow people to waive the Obamacare requirements for mandatory coverage of preexisting conditions.
The first problem with that is that by waiving preexisting condition coverage, people will never again be able to buy a plan that offers it -- largely because the lapse in coverage will cause the price for that buyer to skyrocket beyond current levels.
The second problem is that by driving poorer customers into buying plans without Obamacare protections, the law will cause prices to rise for all other buyers of plans that honor Obamacare standards. Slow death of Obamacare standards will follow.
The third problem is that once Obamacare protections are history, insurance companies will raise the prices for the lower coverage to replace the income they have lost from the higher priced plans.
So, once we have lost all memory of why Obamacare protections were necessary, our prices will be back where they are, and we will have a massivley rising population of uninsured and underinsured people.
We will be back at the point where we are now: that of finally acknowledging that our human right to basic healthcare can only be guaranteed by placing people who cannot afford the insurance on a government-paid plan such as Medicaid.
The first problem with that is that by waiving preexisting condition coverage, people will never again be able to buy a plan that offers it -- largely because the lapse in coverage will cause the price for that buyer to skyrocket beyond current levels.
The second problem is that by driving poorer customers into buying plans without Obamacare protections, the law will cause prices to rise for all other buyers of plans that honor Obamacare standards. Slow death of Obamacare standards will follow.
The third problem is that once Obamacare protections are history, insurance companies will raise the prices for the lower coverage to replace the income they have lost from the higher priced plans.
So, once we have lost all memory of why Obamacare protections were necessary, our prices will be back where they are, and we will have a massivley rising population of uninsured and underinsured people.
We will be back at the point where we are now: that of finally acknowledging that our human right to basic healthcare can only be guaranteed by placing people who cannot afford the insurance on a government-paid plan such as Medicaid.
51
Oh, dear! Our bratty president has warned that he will be very angry if this Republican bill doesn't reach his desk for his signature into law. He may even hold his breath until he gets his way.
13
If you've got money you'll buy the Cadillac of all plans. Whether you're fit or fat or young, you'll buy the best that you can. Because you just never know when you'll sprout a tumor or leak. Be the hopeless case over whom some surgeon will "peak and scream". Maybe Mitch has invested in morgues. Maybe Ryan runs an black market in harvested organs. Maybe they have a vested interest in dead Americans beyond their corporate owners. Shared risk, community ratings, and end to pre-existing exclusions benefit us all.
That guy in Iowa wants kids to starve. Can we put him on bread and water for a week? A month?
That guy in Iowa wants kids to starve. Can we put him on bread and water for a week? A month?
5
Insurers should all be asked one question: What, in your Plans, are defined as pre-existing? When I administered benefits for a large corporation, that was the problem which always came up with various insurers in the many States we operated in. Definitions varied. "Pre-existing" is the gimmick used to deny coverage for an illness or disease.
1
At this stage, might be better for Congress to let us know when it's all done, so we don't have to spend so much time and focus reading about the endless upcoming vote.
2
These politicians take stands on issues based solely on their re-election chances.
3
What astounds me in this whole fiasco is the President couldn't care less what's in the bill. All he wants is the ceremony of signing a piece of paper while surrounded by smiling sycophants. He then can display it triumphantly. Truly amazing.
16
It is disappointing that any US Senator would approve of this attack on medicaid. With 60% of those in long term health care facilities relying on medicaid this is just an attack on the frail elderly and on special health care needs children. Who would think that attacking the vulnerable would be a way to help them. The Republican Senate bill would result in a 30% cut to medicaid and that is not improving Obamacare. It is exactly the opposite of what Mr. Trump promised.
Instead these programs should be supported, and the Senate should look to what drives the cost of health care up. First is the cost of prescription drugs which are unnecessarily higher to us than they are to Canadians. The US government should negotiate drug prices.
Next, we should reduce the cost of insurance by taking the higher risk consumers who are over 50 and cover them with Medicare. We could do this by lowering the eligibility age in steps over a period of time.
Finally, we need to be proactive in health care, encouraging people with incentives to lead healthier lifestyles. The cost of obesity to our economy in increased health procedures, increased absenteeism and other factors is close to $150 billion per year. Let us recognize this as a problem and get people into better shape.
There are a number of ways to reduce the cost of health care, while making it more accessible to all Americans. This Senate proposal is not one of them.
Instead these programs should be supported, and the Senate should look to what drives the cost of health care up. First is the cost of prescription drugs which are unnecessarily higher to us than they are to Canadians. The US government should negotiate drug prices.
Next, we should reduce the cost of insurance by taking the higher risk consumers who are over 50 and cover them with Medicare. We could do this by lowering the eligibility age in steps over a period of time.
Finally, we need to be proactive in health care, encouraging people with incentives to lead healthier lifestyles. The cost of obesity to our economy in increased health procedures, increased absenteeism and other factors is close to $150 billion per year. Let us recognize this as a problem and get people into better shape.
There are a number of ways to reduce the cost of health care, while making it more accessible to all Americans. This Senate proposal is not one of them.
7
If we want people to be healthier, we need to stop subsidizing soy, corn, and wheat, the mothers of all junk food. When a head of cauliflower is four bucks, the price of four burgers on a dollar menu in a fast food joint, you know something other than market forces are at work. Tax sugar, especially in beverages, and put that revenue toward health care. We do need to help ourselves, and this includes challenging the powers that be. Obesity is a bigger problem amongst the low income, and Big Food, just like Big Tobacco, markets to the poor relentlessly. Don't let them off the hook.
1
Single-payer. Affordable healthcare for all.
4
This legislation is one step above Republicans hunting the poor for sport.
Very Christian of them.
Very Christian of them.
10
I think I could stomach this despicable charade a little better if McConnell and the GOP would just come out and say that only some people in this society will receive health care. The rest will just have to fend for themselves. No more of this blarney of trying to sell a "new and improved" ACA that will supposedly benefit all.
Mr. McConnell, we're not stupid. Just be honest enough -- if you are even capable -- to tell us that you believe health care is an entitlement that only a few deserve. Keep widening and deepening the class divide as well. We see what is going on.
There is a reason why health care is such an intractable issue in this country, and why the rest of the developed world looks at us in amazement: Profit and corporate wealth rule all here, even right down to who lives and who dies.
Mr. McConnell, we're not stupid. Just be honest enough -- if you are even capable -- to tell us that you believe health care is an entitlement that only a few deserve. Keep widening and deepening the class divide as well. We see what is going on.
There is a reason why health care is such an intractable issue in this country, and why the rest of the developed world looks at us in amazement: Profit and corporate wealth rule all here, even right down to who lives and who dies.
7
Throwing anyone's grandmother out of her nursing home is UNACCEPTABLE. Cutting off the children of the poor, and the working poor, from health care is UNACCEPTABLE. Giving already wealthy people additional tax cuts, when they should be paying much more, as they are able, is UNACCEPTABLE. This democratic republic is supposed to be a country that takes care of its own. That should be the first thing on the list of things we should be doing. This country is not doing that. We're not doing it because the wealthy are so greedy to have ALL of the pie, instead of just most of it.
7
It's funny but all the people I know who earn a healthy wage ($200,000+) are willing to pay more so everyone has healthcare. Who are these monsters who care so little for the constituents they are supposed to represent?
5
Medicaid for nursing home care is available for those who can document no assets: no home ownership, savings, insurance for long term care. It is difficult to get. Nursing home care is usually for those whose life span will be short due to illness or old age, or both.
When does Susan Collins just change parties?
9
A simple approach to thinking (not necessarily implementing) about how to solve healthcare:
1. How much does the US SPEND, in aggregate, on healthcare yearly?
2. How much of that is real waste? (We can work on the why of that and how to reduce that later)
3. How much do we PAY in Insurance premiums (M'care, Private, employer, HSA, M'caid etc etc) and treatment/drug costs not covered by insurance?
Somewhere in there is a way to distribute the actual costs and coverage $$ so we can provide M'care-equivalent for ALL.
1. How much does the US SPEND, in aggregate, on healthcare yearly?
2. How much of that is real waste? (We can work on the why of that and how to reduce that later)
3. How much do we PAY in Insurance premiums (M'care, Private, employer, HSA, M'caid etc etc) and treatment/drug costs not covered by insurance?
Somewhere in there is a way to distribute the actual costs and coverage $$ so we can provide M'care-equivalent for ALL.
7
Single-payer. Affordable healthcare for all. Wondering if you've ever heard of it?! It seems like 98% of the people in this discussion have never heard of it!
3
...and one other thing, Christian Healthcare Ministeries: The Biblical solution to healthcare costs - has anyone reported on their possible role in all of this, or of how they may have a role in the future? I have no information or knowledge, but the way things are going.....just asking.
3
People keep bemoaning specific provisions of the Senate bill. Oh, the poor, the elderly, the addicted -- all valid. Except these comments leave out: the American people as a whole and our nation's future, writ large.
Even the CBO scoring of the last version did not address (it isn't supposed to) the big picture.
As a nation, we cannot devise a means to give everyone access to at least basic healthcare and preventative medicine, hold down the increase in costs and improve outcomes? Every other civilized nation has found a way.
Apart from the massive and needless suffering and illness and death that this bill would cause, it also sets our nation on shaky ground for our collective destiny: an aging and unhealthy work force, an unstable medical insurance market and dwindling productivity.
Not to mention the triumph of greed and me-first that it embodies. And its full effects over time would undermine the fabric of our society and our future as a once-great nation.
There are obvious categories of people who will be cruelly cast aside, but think of what it says about our country.
Even the CBO scoring of the last version did not address (it isn't supposed to) the big picture.
As a nation, we cannot devise a means to give everyone access to at least basic healthcare and preventative medicine, hold down the increase in costs and improve outcomes? Every other civilized nation has found a way.
Apart from the massive and needless suffering and illness and death that this bill would cause, it also sets our nation on shaky ground for our collective destiny: an aging and unhealthy work force, an unstable medical insurance market and dwindling productivity.
Not to mention the triumph of greed and me-first that it embodies. And its full effects over time would undermine the fabric of our society and our future as a once-great nation.
There are obvious categories of people who will be cruelly cast aside, but think of what it says about our country.
59
I would like the GOP to lead the way by adopting this healthcare bill for all members of Congress.
5
To my understanding they have placed an exception for themselves for this...isnt that nice.
1
How will this affect McConnell's leadership in the Senate, I wonder?
It seems like McConnell and Ryan have been doing things to get the bill through their respective chambers that would also poison its eventual passage. One way to interpret that is that they don't really want to push the bad bill the year before a tough midterm (at least for the House), but that they don't want to be responsible for failing to get a bill through.
When this bill fails, the nut jobs are going to come out of the wood-works with their own bills: repeal without anything else, or some other policy that would more thoroughly gut the ACA and kick people off insurance. What can McConnell say to the Rand Paul or Ted Cruz types if he wants to quash those bills? He has little credibility, since he couldn't get anything through his own chamber. This also pits him at odds with the conservative wing of his party. I also wonder if he's not angering a bunch of moderates in the process of trying to get this thing through. Will he still have a constituency if the GOP performs poorly in 2018 and there's a leadership battle in 2019?
It seems like McConnell and Ryan have been doing things to get the bill through their respective chambers that would also poison its eventual passage. One way to interpret that is that they don't really want to push the bad bill the year before a tough midterm (at least for the House), but that they don't want to be responsible for failing to get a bill through.
When this bill fails, the nut jobs are going to come out of the wood-works with their own bills: repeal without anything else, or some other policy that would more thoroughly gut the ACA and kick people off insurance. What can McConnell say to the Rand Paul or Ted Cruz types if he wants to quash those bills? He has little credibility, since he couldn't get anything through his own chamber. This also pits him at odds with the conservative wing of his party. I also wonder if he's not angering a bunch of moderates in the process of trying to get this thing through. Will he still have a constituency if the GOP performs poorly in 2018 and there's a leadership battle in 2019?
1
It is difficult to provide meaningful healthcare to Americans when the purpose of the legislation is to reduce taxes for the wealthy and to ensure that insurance companies opportunities to maximize their profits. I don't know how politicians can, assuming they have a sense of conscience and humanity, tell millions of Americans that they will not be able to obtain or afford health care.
1
Trying to ensure the crucial 50 Senate votes for passing the healthcare bill by adopting clever means like artificially holding down insurance costs, or allowing insurers to sell the low cost stripped down policies, or even providing for fewer tax cuts to the affluent might distract and confuse the Senate Republicans but can't hide the real devastating effects of the modified bill on the affected sections.
6
Kill it.
Here is a movie for it to watch. "Kill Bill."
Here is a movie for it to watch. "Kill Bill."
5
What this bill is saying to the American public, if you happen to be obese, addicted to opioids or alcohol or have any chronic condition, which may be no fault of your own, you have no choice but to pay higher premiums, if you want coverage. All of this to lower the premiums of those that are younger and healthier. Seems to me that this is plain and simple against equal rights and therefore unconstitutional.
3
We get lost in the daily health care battle! To get a wider and clearer perspective check out the site listed below:
Universal Health Care Around the World
Universal Health Care Around the World
2
Senate Republicans Unveil New anti-Health and Billionaire Bonanza Bill, but Ideology Remains a Roadblock
TFTFY
One word for the GOP.
Shame!
TFTFY
One word for the GOP.
Shame!
2
The Senate bill essentially recreates the system in the individual market that prevailed before the ACA--cheap and useless skeletal policies for the young and healthy and high-risk policies that were unaffordable and incomplete for those who are older and/or sick. There will be no protections for those with preexisting conditions, lifetime and annual caps will return, and life-saving but expensive treatments will be available only to those with fat wallets.
This is a return to the conditions that prevailed before the ACA--sweetened by the destruction of Medicaid, a Republican dream since 1965.
You can't blame Trump for this. I'm convinced he'd sign a single-payer bill in a flash if McConnell put it on his desk and called it a triumph. This is your Republican party today.
This bill will pass the Senate, as it passed the House--the so-called moderates will cave as they always do and the ugly, ugly right will get its way. I am ashamed to be an American.
This is a return to the conditions that prevailed before the ACA--sweetened by the destruction of Medicaid, a Republican dream since 1965.
You can't blame Trump for this. I'm convinced he'd sign a single-payer bill in a flash if McConnell put it on his desk and called it a triumph. This is your Republican party today.
This bill will pass the Senate, as it passed the House--the so-called moderates will cave as they always do and the ugly, ugly right will get its way. I am ashamed to be an American.
6
My local paper said this morning that Dean Heller is now undecided. If this is true, Heller is truly the waffle king. The new bill still leaves hundreds of thousands of Nevadans without insurance. What's to be undecided about?
4
Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz should try out the lowest level of their healthcare plans on themselves for a year or two before proposing massive changes. After all they have both had seven and a half years to plan and execute. Restrict their income and access to healthcare to the levels of the poorest counties in Kentucky and Texas. Only then can they face their constituents and honestly say to them they are proposing these healthcare plans in their best interest. Both Senators currently have access to the best healthcare plans our taxpayer dollars can buy for them--they shouldn't miss having access to their heathcare plans for a couple years.
2
The health insurance plans that will be offered through Ted Cruz's Amendment will be just like a diploma from Trump University, they will take people's hard earned money and give them nothing in return.
8
Please Republicans have a heart, a conscience. If you want to give rights to cell which could become a human being, what about the living ones. Cutting Medicaid would be the ultimate cruelty. My grandfather in a nursing home, my mother with alzheimers who does not recognize me and cannot take care of herself, my sister who has a serious mental disorder, my brother who was contorted at birth, are they going to be thrown out onto the streets? The irony! A cell is protected but the living becomes the living dead or dead! I beseech the 5 Republicans to defeat this monstrosity of a health care bill. Or at least defeat it, knowing a mid-term election is close. If you are not up for re-election, you maybe helping your fellow Republicans who are up. Party first. Citizens be damned.
2
I would think a healthy society would be key to making America great. Then again, it's not the entire country the GOP is looking to make great, just a small percentage at the top.
1
The bill will receive careful scrutiny.
To call TrumpCare a Health Care Bill is like calling slavery a Jobs Program. Only the strongest will survive. It seems the GOP is really writing a Hobbesian Anti-Poverty program that seeks to ends poverty through the mechanism of attrition of the poor by death. GOP where is your humanity?
5
When you hear the lamest, least educated hick politicians like Blunt, Cornyn and Steve King all lying on the floor of Congress that allowing people to choose private healthcare insurance companies is going to save them money, you see what smells so bad in the House and Senate...Men who would lie to their own mothers on Mommy's death bed.
How is it Blunt has forgotten that because his Republican states refused to set up ACA agencies that insurance rates were higher, not lower?
NY and NJ are perfect examples. NY set up a state ACA agency and NJ's Governor Big Mouth didn't. His excuse was he didn't know how much it would cost. What a liar! He knew by bending even a fraction toward helping to lower healthcare costs he and his Republicans would lose their campaign donations from HMOs and Big Pharma. So now? NJ pay 11% higher healthcare costs than NY.
But the hick states like Blunt's and others want to blame "Obamacare" on higher costs and not their own unwillingness to help their constituents get better prices on healthcare insurance.
Time to take Big Pharma and HMO CEOs down. They earn billions every year by jacking healthcare costs. How much higher will they go now than they were back in 2004?
How is it Blunt has forgotten that because his Republican states refused to set up ACA agencies that insurance rates were higher, not lower?
NY and NJ are perfect examples. NY set up a state ACA agency and NJ's Governor Big Mouth didn't. His excuse was he didn't know how much it would cost. What a liar! He knew by bending even a fraction toward helping to lower healthcare costs he and his Republicans would lose their campaign donations from HMOs and Big Pharma. So now? NJ pay 11% higher healthcare costs than NY.
But the hick states like Blunt's and others want to blame "Obamacare" on higher costs and not their own unwillingness to help their constituents get better prices on healthcare insurance.
Time to take Big Pharma and HMO CEOs down. They earn billions every year by jacking healthcare costs. How much higher will they go now than they were back in 2004?
4
The GOP has written a HealthCare plan behind closed doors, without public hearings or input from any other source, including other GOP politicians. That alone makes one suspect there is not much common sense on Capitol Hill.
It is obvious to most Americans that the Affordable Health Care Act has some beneficial features and others that do not work.
A smart leader would stop trying to secure 50 GOP votes and attempt to win 65-75 GOP and Democratic votes by enhancing those parts of the bill that work and repealing those that don’t.
One example: the mandate, which is widely disliked.
I understand it was designed because a large pool of insured was required to finance the more appealing parts of the program.
Rather than mandate - encourage.
If you enroll in the national plan in your 20s, you pay a set premium for the rest of your life.
If you wait until 30, you pay a larger premium for the rest of your life.
If you wait until 40, you pay a much larger premium for the rest of your life.
If you wait until you are ill, you pay …well, you get the idea.
Obviously, in the future all those premiums may increase along with the cost of living but the advantage of purchasing health care when younger will remain an advantage.
I’m confident there are Democrats who understand the current plan is not a perfect program and would be willing to work with the GOP to improve it.
I encourage Senator McConnell to begin working for all Americans rather than a narrow group of citizens.
It is obvious to most Americans that the Affordable Health Care Act has some beneficial features and others that do not work.
A smart leader would stop trying to secure 50 GOP votes and attempt to win 65-75 GOP and Democratic votes by enhancing those parts of the bill that work and repealing those that don’t.
One example: the mandate, which is widely disliked.
I understand it was designed because a large pool of insured was required to finance the more appealing parts of the program.
Rather than mandate - encourage.
If you enroll in the national plan in your 20s, you pay a set premium for the rest of your life.
If you wait until 30, you pay a larger premium for the rest of your life.
If you wait until 40, you pay a much larger premium for the rest of your life.
If you wait until you are ill, you pay …well, you get the idea.
Obviously, in the future all those premiums may increase along with the cost of living but the advantage of purchasing health care when younger will remain an advantage.
I’m confident there are Democrats who understand the current plan is not a perfect program and would be willing to work with the GOP to improve it.
I encourage Senator McConnell to begin working for all Americans rather than a narrow group of citizens.
2
if any dem or gop senator does not vote yes to at least debate this proposal they should resign from politics
1
What is wrong with the gist of this paragraph? Let me count the ways/
"[Under the Senate bill] Insurance plans could escape from some of the most important consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act, such as prohibitions on discrimination based on a person’s health status, medical condition, claims experience, medical history or disability.
"[Under the Senate bill] Insurance plans could escape from some of the most important consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act, such as prohibitions on discrimination based on a person’s health status, medical condition, claims experience, medical history or disability.
2
The Gang that can't shoot straight continue to take aim at our ability to take care of themselves and their families.
We have Obamacare, it has been helping people and famolfor 7 years, 7 years during which McConnell. Ryan and Gang managed to pass over 60 unless bills to repeal it and ZERO effort to make it better. Why not just make it better. No one thinks it doesn't need adjustments, tweets - that includes President Obama who repeatedly asked for Republican input.
Republicans seem to be completely not caring about their own constituents- in that I include my Republican Representative Elise Stefanik.
Ms Stefanik represents a large district of upstate NY filled with poorer folks many of whom work at places that do not offer health insurance. Many have been covered by Obamacare Medicaid expansion, some with health insurance for the FIRST time. They would very have been hurt by the plan Ms Stefanik voted for in the House, as would local hospitals and nursing homes. When I called her office asking about this, her representative said "She expects it will be 'fixed' in the Senate." We pay HER to represent our area.
Of course NY state Senators are BOTH Democrats- so I guess she relies on Democrats to fix her messes ,
We have Obamacare, it has been helping people and famolfor 7 years, 7 years during which McConnell. Ryan and Gang managed to pass over 60 unless bills to repeal it and ZERO effort to make it better. Why not just make it better. No one thinks it doesn't need adjustments, tweets - that includes President Obama who repeatedly asked for Republican input.
Republicans seem to be completely not caring about their own constituents- in that I include my Republican Representative Elise Stefanik.
Ms Stefanik represents a large district of upstate NY filled with poorer folks many of whom work at places that do not offer health insurance. Many have been covered by Obamacare Medicaid expansion, some with health insurance for the FIRST time. They would very have been hurt by the plan Ms Stefanik voted for in the House, as would local hospitals and nursing homes. When I called her office asking about this, her representative said "She expects it will be 'fixed' in the Senate." We pay HER to represent our area.
Of course NY state Senators are BOTH Democrats- so I guess she relies on Democrats to fix her messes ,
4
I am sorry but based on the news of the past week, it is rather obvious that the United States is having an existential crisis......
AND WHAT IS THE GOP FOCUSED ON?
Taking away health insurance from 22m people.
ENOUGH WITH THESE BUMS.
AND WHAT IS THE GOP FOCUSED ON?
Taking away health insurance from 22m people.
ENOUGH WITH THESE BUMS.
8
No representative government would put a proposal like this on the table.
8
Universal health care! And it will cost less than the current mosaic of big insurance and big pharma stranglehold on American medical practices. And result in healthier people who live longer.
2
Have you seen the proposal California just tried to put through their legislature. Cheaper, I think not and it didn't pass.
Schumer does Democratic sympathies no favors when he lumps frail old people in nursing homes together with young healthy people who got themselves addicted to drugs. Sometimes liberal big mouths best remain shut.
2
So in your world Iver, being "elderly" is moral and deserving of societal health and resources, while succumbing to an addiction is "immoral" and undeserving. And that apparently is how we should divide our healthcare resources, based on your view of morality. Got it.
Changes were made to win some Senators votes. Those who are bought know how to buy others.
3
After years of hating ACA, the GOP still fishing for a better option and can't seem to find it.
“This is our chance to bring about changes we’ve been talking about since Obamacare was forced on the American people,” Mr. McConnell said. “It’s our time to finally build a bridge away from Obamacare’s failures and deliver relief to those who need it.”
You mean the rich?
The people who are hurt by this healthcare plan are still those with low, or even middle class, income and those who are elderly. It is obvious that the GOP do not care about their constituents, they're more interested in protecting the organizations that donate money to them. Granted, Democrats also fall into the same problem.
So the bigger problem in this country is that our representatives can be bought by organizations. What needs to be changed is how we fund our elections.
You mean the rich?
The people who are hurt by this healthcare plan are still those with low, or even middle class, income and those who are elderly. It is obvious that the GOP do not care about their constituents, they're more interested in protecting the organizations that donate money to them. Granted, Democrats also fall into the same problem.
So the bigger problem in this country is that our representatives can be bought by organizations. What needs to be changed is how we fund our elections.
2
Never underestimate the greed of Congress as they line up to receive McConnell's bounty and find a way to vote "aye", for the bill that harms their own constituents. Our mighty Congress chooses self above constituents and party above nation.
A sorry state, indeed.
A sorry state, indeed.
3
If Cruz and Ryan get their way it's back to the original "death panels": the insurance companies. As the Times reports, even they don't want the role. I'm at a complete loss for a rational explanation of the right's fever to deny meaningful health coverage to so many of their fellow countrymen and women. Watching this spectacle is heartbreaking.
3
Carry on. Nothing new in this bill.
1
At least give the Republicans credit for seriously debating the key issues of their health insurance bill -- not just going along because their leadership told them they have to pass their bill before they can really know what's in it. Looks to me like the Repubs have a much larger tent.
1
What is needed is an option for people with limited resources like the working poor to have decent insurance that is also affordable for them. They should be able to pay for insurance without having to sacrifice the ability to feed or cloth themselves or their children. The only answer I see is National Health Care.
The voters in this country in Bipartisan fashion should get over the "Social" in Social Medicine and demand that the politicians take the country there. We are just wasting time and money arguing about laws that are not meeting the Health Care needs of our citizens.
The voters in this country in Bipartisan fashion should get over the "Social" in Social Medicine and demand that the politicians take the country there. We are just wasting time and money arguing about laws that are not meeting the Health Care needs of our citizens.
2
Still a bad bill. I see not one word to alleviate high drug costs which Bush pushed on us by law forbidding Medicare from negotiating lower costs as the VA can do.
Aside from the new bill not actually proving less health care in still rewards insurance companies, not citizens and not actual medical providers. This is still a measure designed by and for corporate America which owns the GOP.
A good example of the drug scandal is here.
http://expendableamericans.com/index.php/the-face-of-greed-and-evil
The idea of "tax credits" is a joke. Have you ever tried to call for insurance and offer to pay your premium with a tax credit. Laughter will ensue followed by demands for actual hard cash up front. No hard cash, go die somewhere until you get a second mortgage ( if you even own a home ) or start to sell your blood just for a doctor visit.
GOP's first priority as always it WealthCare not health care. All about sponsoring the needs of industry over the needs of America.
Aside from the new bill not actually proving less health care in still rewards insurance companies, not citizens and not actual medical providers. This is still a measure designed by and for corporate America which owns the GOP.
A good example of the drug scandal is here.
http://expendableamericans.com/index.php/the-face-of-greed-and-evil
The idea of "tax credits" is a joke. Have you ever tried to call for insurance and offer to pay your premium with a tax credit. Laughter will ensue followed by demands for actual hard cash up front. No hard cash, go die somewhere until you get a second mortgage ( if you even own a home ) or start to sell your blood just for a doctor visit.
GOP's first priority as always it WealthCare not health care. All about sponsoring the needs of industry over the needs of America.
Since there is no comment box on Ron Leiber's article on alternatives to Medicaid, should one need the care - the alternative being assisted death - I'll place my comment here.
While I'm all for a good death - who wants to suffer, after all - it's critical to realize that this is a deliberate part of the right-wing Republican philosophy du jour that if one can no longer work then one isn't considered a valued member of society - where value = labor. The whole trend is appalling.
I don't know what the answer is, but it's not to institutionalize euthanasia, to make it less a choice and more a necessity, whether the individual opts in or not. It's appalling, the whole thing.
While I'm all for a good death - who wants to suffer, after all - it's critical to realize that this is a deliberate part of the right-wing Republican philosophy du jour that if one can no longer work then one isn't considered a valued member of society - where value = labor. The whole trend is appalling.
I don't know what the answer is, but it's not to institutionalize euthanasia, to make it less a choice and more a necessity, whether the individual opts in or not. It's appalling, the whole thing.
5
All republicans ran on repeal and have done so for years, it's time to put up or shut up. Republicans are leaderless and aren't profiles in courage when it comes to standing up for their convictions if they have any. Right now I see republicans as democrat lite, running from the fire of the mainstream media aka democrat party at the first shot of criticism. Do we need a republican party if they are nothing more than a leaderless, lack of conservative convictions, mealy mouthed democrat party lite?
The National Embarrassment's role in all of this: Zero.
5
Senator Coons is the ultimate example of more stupid talk from Urban Elites. I am not buying a car here, I am addressing my risk of needing to care for my health. I have three options to do so, mitigate health problems, remediate health problems or transfer my risk.
I have opted my entire 57 years of life to mitigate my health risks. I eat properly, I exercise and I am responsible about my approach to risk elements of life. I would like to choose not to ask a third party to cover health risks in full. I certainly feel that I have no responsibility to pay for changes to people's bodies that they seem unhappy with. Nor be forced to cover the cost of people's health care who have been irresponsible about their life choices.
If Senator Coons were to use the same logic he seems to have with health care to his analogy, he should submit a bill to ban the personal use of automobiles in America. After all use of these vehicles is fundamentally unsafe, they kill over 60,000 people a year on American roads.
But no, the Urban Elites need automobiles so they can pass legislation, tax us to feed their urban machines and have monitory power over us peasants. The dude is dead wrong in his opinion and thoughts on this matter.
I have opted my entire 57 years of life to mitigate my health risks. I eat properly, I exercise and I am responsible about my approach to risk elements of life. I would like to choose not to ask a third party to cover health risks in full. I certainly feel that I have no responsibility to pay for changes to people's bodies that they seem unhappy with. Nor be forced to cover the cost of people's health care who have been irresponsible about their life choices.
If Senator Coons were to use the same logic he seems to have with health care to his analogy, he should submit a bill to ban the personal use of automobiles in America. After all use of these vehicles is fundamentally unsafe, they kill over 60,000 people a year on American roads.
But no, the Urban Elites need automobiles so they can pass legislation, tax us to feed their urban machines and have monitory power over us peasants. The dude is dead wrong in his opinion and thoughts on this matter.
Senator McConnell is the prime example of more stupid talk from the urban elites.
You can throw in Senator Cruz as well.
I am tired of Urban elites in Congress dictating policy that does not serve the public interest.
You can throw in Senator Cruz as well.
I am tired of Urban elites in Congress dictating policy that does not serve the public interest.
Here's a wild thought...how about a health care bill that is written so that the People it's intended to serve will like it? Not just Senators or Representatives and certainly not the donors, but the actual people who will have to rely on it. How about writing a bill that is designed to help the People instead of Congresses donors. I know it's a crazy thought, but something to consider.
6
It's simple. The goals of the trump presidency and the Republican Party are to reverse all that was done during the last 8 years. Collateral damage not a factor!
4
I suppose it says something that the Republicans are so determined to (in their minds) erase Obamacare that they're even willing to ditch the tax cuts for the wealthy that many assumed were the whole point of the exercise for them. I'm not sure what exactly it says, however, and I'm doubtful that this will improve the prospects of passage: the moderates don't seem to be any more favorably inclined to the bill than they were before, and if just one more conservative (in addition to Rand Paul) balks at it because it's too much like the ACA, then the bill will be toast.
1
Oh, and 'insuring' pre-existing conditions is not insurance. It is welfare.
Huh? This makes no sense.
The morally defensible objective is to remove pre-existing conditions (which you have, I have, everyone has) as obstacles to coverage and access. This is not welfare; it's health care.
The morally defensible objective is to remove pre-existing conditions (which you have, I have, everyone has) as obstacles to coverage and access. This is not welfare; it's health care.
1
So sad that so many in Congress are in support of this travesty of a bill. Those members are, in large part, bought-and-paid-for. As I've said before, I fear for our democracy.
9
The sardonic smiles of McConnell and his team divulge much less than what is actually in the AHCA 2.0 bill. Medicaid dependents may have to undergo a whole host of tribulations, and jump thru many hoops, in order to avoid falling thru the cracks of grossly inadequate coverage. And then there is Susan Collins of Maine, who might continue to clamor for funding of planned parenthood, which might be promptly pushed back by the conservatives.
Ted Cruz, then, ambulated into the territory and offered bare-bones policies at affordable rates, covering pre-existing conditions, for the downtrodden, but many moderates might not take the bait. At a rough glance, Medicaid is still largely presumed to have been given a step-motherly treatment by this policy. CBO ought to be feverishly working on the number games of national deficit, in addition to their crack at the number of uncovered under Medicaid.
In essence, there will be no dearth of carping commentators, for and against this bill. The querulous and the quizzical deficit hawks will maintain their stridency in being niggardly and parsimonious towards any spending. It can be a bruising and bare-knuckle brawl between the benevolent and the despots. Or it might be a test of ''the might'' in a political tug of war.
Ted Cruz, then, ambulated into the territory and offered bare-bones policies at affordable rates, covering pre-existing conditions, for the downtrodden, but many moderates might not take the bait. At a rough glance, Medicaid is still largely presumed to have been given a step-motherly treatment by this policy. CBO ought to be feverishly working on the number games of national deficit, in addition to their crack at the number of uncovered under Medicaid.
In essence, there will be no dearth of carping commentators, for and against this bill. The querulous and the quizzical deficit hawks will maintain their stridency in being niggardly and parsimonious towards any spending. It can be a bruising and bare-knuckle brawl between the benevolent and the despots. Or it might be a test of ''the might'' in a political tug of war.
So they think getting a room full of political hacks to vote for a terrible plan that 85% of Americans do NOT support is winning? The political stupidity of the current Administration and Congress is breathtaking. Americans need to replace these stringy, cruel, inhumane and out of touch fake Christians asap before they destroy the middle class and kill all the poor. They are simply not mentally fit to do what is best for the people of this country.
13
This sure is a lot of gyration for a still terrible bill. The shoe doesn't fit right. Period. It is painfully obvious that Republicans just want to continue to tear down anything that they didn't support (at least in the last 8 years.) This is not building a better country. This is is making our country weaker and telling people of this country, thanks for your vote now we will take all things you need and make you feel guilty if you accept help from anyone. Whatever happened to "simple and better"? So here I go again; what a joke.
6
Worser and worser. The CBO score for this manifestation of medical cruelty must be off the charts. Again back to those famous lines "Sir Have you no sense decency?"
5
What do Republican proposals do about the Medicare prescription apt donut hole that Obamacare was fixing? If Obamacare is repealed, we go back to the huge donut hole?
5
While the latest bill is still very bad, at least the Republicans have backed off from their plan to quickly bankrupt Medicare. What no one seems to be reporting is that the two taxes which would no longer be repealed directly fund Medicare Part A (and the hospital component of Medicare Advantage Plans) since they are paid into the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund. Before the ACA (Obamacare) was enacted, the trustees projected that trust fund would be depleted sometime this year. Thanks to the ACA's cost savings and new Medicare taxes, in the report the trustees published yesterday they predicted the trust fund will, under existing law, most likely continue to grow until 2022 and be depleted in 2029. In calendar 2016, the trust fund grew by $5.4 billion and the projected growth in calendar 2017 is $10.8 billion. The Joint Committee on Taxation said the previous Senate bill would reduce the payments into the trust fund by $1.570 billion in fiscal 2017, $16.650 billion in FY 2018 and $15.894 billion in FY 2019. That is more than enough to return to a shrinking trust fund in calendar 2018.
2
I sit on a man’s back, choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am very sorry for him and wish to ease his lot by all possible means—except by getting off his back. - Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910), Russian novelist, philosopher. What Then Must We Do? ch. 16 (1886).
Congress, get off our backs.
Congress, get off our backs.
5
50 Republican Senators a Vice President elected with a plurality of voters by a mechanism, the Electoral College, originally designed to protect white wealth off black American slaves, each worth 3/5 of a vote for the white guys who owned them for purposes of political power.
When you read this law, with its cynical deals and pure disrespect for promoting a more perfect government to promote the general Welfare and secure the blessings of liberty for We the People, all of the people including all those who used to be property worth 3/5ths more voting power in the House, you realize today's GOP has abandoned the spirit of America, the Constitutional Mandates of the Preamble and the idea that all of us are created with equal rights to be treated the same under our laws, regardless of our wealth or economic condition.
The spirit behind this Obamacare gutting law is a blasphemy of what America is supposed to be all about. No wonder the GOP embraced Trump. He embodies that same blasphemy. He is their new god, a guard of self centered narcissism.
Goodbye Mr. Lincoln. If Trump has his way, his face will replace yours on Mt. Rushmore.
When you read this law, with its cynical deals and pure disrespect for promoting a more perfect government to promote the general Welfare and secure the blessings of liberty for We the People, all of the people including all those who used to be property worth 3/5ths more voting power in the House, you realize today's GOP has abandoned the spirit of America, the Constitutional Mandates of the Preamble and the idea that all of us are created with equal rights to be treated the same under our laws, regardless of our wealth or economic condition.
The spirit behind this Obamacare gutting law is a blasphemy of what America is supposed to be all about. No wonder the GOP embraced Trump. He embodies that same blasphemy. He is their new god, a guard of self centered narcissism.
Goodbye Mr. Lincoln. If Trump has his way, his face will replace yours on Mt. Rushmore.
7
Trumpcare may be "beautiful" in the eyes of a president who doesn't even know what's in the bill that will forever bear his name, but it will stigmatize McConnell and every other Republican who favors this bill whether or not it gets enough votes to pass the Senate. The Americans who voted for this Death Panel are those who will be hurt the most. They'd better wake up before it's too late.
6
For a while I've thought that maybe McConnell's strategy is to make it look like he's pushing for a bill to be passed, but that he's made the political "calculation" that it'll be better to let the bill die now (16 months from the next election) and move on to other issues, like tax reform. That way the GOP will take their lumps now, but by the time the Fall of 2018 elections have come around, the GOP base will have mostly "moved on" from the ACA repeal promises.
If that's his strategy, he's probably correct.
If that's his strategy, he's probably correct.
We have a health insurance crisis. We do not have a life, home, property, casualty, or liability insurance crisis. Other major countries do not have health insurance crises .
We have a right to expect that we find a national solution not an alternative third world individual state administered solution. Health insurance should not be dependent upon where we live. We cannot be placed at the whim of some lobbyist controlled legislator who decides what way we can pay in premiums and be denied services according to how a legislator feels meets his or his supporters needs.
There is no doubt that we need to reduce duplication, avoid fraud, reduce expenses in health care. We cannot afford to continue to squander our scarce resources on ineffective health policy which is control by individuals who only have their specific interests in mind.
Time for Medicare for All.
We have a right to expect that we find a national solution not an alternative third world individual state administered solution. Health insurance should not be dependent upon where we live. We cannot be placed at the whim of some lobbyist controlled legislator who decides what way we can pay in premiums and be denied services according to how a legislator feels meets his or his supporters needs.
There is no doubt that we need to reduce duplication, avoid fraud, reduce expenses in health care. We cannot afford to continue to squander our scarce resources on ineffective health policy which is control by individuals who only have their specific interests in mind.
Time for Medicare for All.
18
For all those Republican voters, is this worse than Hillary's e-mails? How about Obama not wearing a flag on his lapel? Maybe it's sweet justice that this bill will fall hard on Trump voters.
10
They won't realize it until it's too late.
3
Paul: you are so right. But what's even worse, when it does happen - after it's TOO late, they will still stand by their man. They will say it was someone other than Trump's fault. They will blame the dems and even Hillary. Someone has fed them koolaid.
4
It's the "Kill Bill - and other undesirables - Bill". Hitler had work camps and ovens. Stalin simply shot hundreds of thousands in the head. The International Mafia has the health care bill for now but I'm sure they will escalate that to include Stalin/Putin tactics.
Watch your back.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stalin
Watch your back.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stalin
5
Simple question.
Why can't health care aka insurance be handled the way we make it mandatory to buy car, renters or homeowners insurance?
You buy the plan you can afford. You get the insurance you pay for.
No one else is held responsible for your actions.
PERIOD!
Why can't health care aka insurance be handled the way we make it mandatory to buy car, renters or homeowners insurance?
You buy the plan you can afford. You get the insurance you pay for.
No one else is held responsible for your actions.
PERIOD!
1
If anyone on either side of the aisle thinks for even one minute that the GOP wants healthcare for the American people, well I have a bridge or two to sell you! Lets be real here, the GOP never wanted to tackle healthcare - period.
How soon folks forget. Once they got a taste of any healthcare, even red state Americans liked it. They didn't like "Obamacare" but they liked having healthcare. Some like Obamacare, those in states that didn't refute it. There are plenty of states where the exchanges and prices are just fine, they are not in states where the GOP governor decided to fight it - and oh yea it's called "OBAMAcare" something else they didn't like about it ...but I digress.
Doesn't anyone remember when Rick Perry held a GOP meeting in Texas with the GOP in attendance and discussed Healthcare? The audience chanted "Let them DIE!!!"
NO real healthcare bill will come out of this administration, not while the GOP hold the power in the house and senate. Any real reform will have to be done after the 2018 midterms IF folks wake up and vote out the GOP. Then and only then will there be real reform. You FIX Obamacare, perhaps even replace with something even better - like single payer?
How soon folks forget. Once they got a taste of any healthcare, even red state Americans liked it. They didn't like "Obamacare" but they liked having healthcare. Some like Obamacare, those in states that didn't refute it. There are plenty of states where the exchanges and prices are just fine, they are not in states where the GOP governor decided to fight it - and oh yea it's called "OBAMAcare" something else they didn't like about it ...but I digress.
Doesn't anyone remember when Rick Perry held a GOP meeting in Texas with the GOP in attendance and discussed Healthcare? The audience chanted "Let them DIE!!!"
NO real healthcare bill will come out of this administration, not while the GOP hold the power in the house and senate. Any real reform will have to be done after the 2018 midterms IF folks wake up and vote out the GOP. Then and only then will there be real reform. You FIX Obamacare, perhaps even replace with something even better - like single payer?
8
Addition/correction: The Let them die chant also happened at the Republican debate in 2011:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ4ESP9AKnM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ4ESP9AKnM
1
The author, Ayn Rand, has had a tremendous influence on those who call themselves Capitalists. Donald Trump, and many members of his team, are firmly in her club. Ms. Rand’s philosophy centers around Objectivism (Individualism) and can be summed up as “Every man for himself”. She subscribed to the purist form of Capitalism, leaving behind the majority of the poor, middle class, sick, and aging. The closer we get to The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, the further society will suffer at the hands of a choice few. Freedom to do what you wish and putting yourself above others, regardless of its detrimental effect, may make for interesting fiction to some, but applied in real life, moral questions abound. This is why Socialism exists; to keep a check on those who ascribe to Ayn Rand’s anti-religion musings. The U.S. is not the first great civilization to travel down Selfishness Road and will not be the last. They all collapsed into moral poverty. We need to travel a very different path. The road we are on is a Dead End.
8
But, when the serfs get angry all the money in the world won't protect the John Galts of America.
Billionaires ain't bulletproof.
Now I am not condoning violence against anyone but I am here to remind the elites that the Romanoffs, Puyi, and Louis XVI we're all arogant born to privilege elitists who met ignominious defeat at the hands of the very serfs they opressed.
And there wasn't a lot of mercy to be found so don't whine when the serfs come a knocking.
Billionaires ain't bulletproof.
Now I am not condoning violence against anyone but I am here to remind the elites that the Romanoffs, Puyi, and Louis XVI we're all arogant born to privilege elitists who met ignominious defeat at the hands of the very serfs they opressed.
And there wasn't a lot of mercy to be found so don't whine when the serfs come a knocking.
I hoe Mitch has cleared this with his boss Chuckie Schumer. Wouldn't want to upset the hog trough.
Why the insistence on changing Medicaid, a system that most of the middle and low income families in this country rely on to cover the needs of their elderly and disabled family members? Since most nursing home residents are Medicaid recipients, eventually almost all of us, but for the very rich, will need Medicaid or a program like it, to pay for us in our last days. Why are Republicans so insistent on cutting that program, and what alternatives do they suggest for the millions of sick and elderly who will no longer be able to afford care in their last days? What do Republicans have against poor, elderly people?
114
Repubs hate government and taxes.
They believe that everyone needs to take care of themselves without federal help -- at least until they need help. Even Ayn Rand ended up taking charity. Pride goeth before a fall, some Wag said.
They believe that everyone needs to take care of themselves without federal help -- at least until they need help. Even Ayn Rand ended up taking charity. Pride goeth before a fall, some Wag said.
They are not poor so they do not care. The irony of it all: the party that hammers "Christianity" into all of its tenets do not care less than a beaver's home about the rest of the people in this country. It heir God had not risen and gone home he would be doing flip-flops in his grave.
The answer is perfectly simple. They have no money to give to Republicans.
With so much division in the Republican party between far right Conservatives and moderate Republicans and division in the Democratic party between the far left and center I wonder if more would be accomplished on health care and other issues if a new party was formed. A party made up of moderate Republicans and centrist Democrats. Just a thought.
Of course these members of Congress could actually work together now in a bipartisan way, but the chances of that happening seem to be slim to none in the current climate.
Of course these members of Congress could actually work together now in a bipartisan way, but the chances of that happening seem to be slim to none in the current climate.
1
The question is, "Will republicans allow the International Mafia to continue to try to destroy OUR democracy?"
That is the bottom line, ladies and gentlemen. The International Mafia has taken over OUR government and judicial system at many levels and, as we all know, they are not in the business of "protecting" average people. They are in the hate/anger/fear/kill/war business.
Will WE THE PEOPLE allow this? Not me. Not now. Not ever again.
That is the bottom line, ladies and gentlemen. The International Mafia has taken over OUR government and judicial system at many levels and, as we all know, they are not in the business of "protecting" average people. They are in the hate/anger/fear/kill/war business.
Will WE THE PEOPLE allow this? Not me. Not now. Not ever again.
2
When are the Republicans in the Senate going to get it that the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land? When are they going to focus on making it better, work out those kinks?
I agree with others about the health care provided to Congress should be stopped. I go farther: We the People need to know HOW MUCH the insurance coverage for Congress costs both Houses, what kind of options it offers to them, if it covers their families, pre-existing conditions and HOW MUCH money would be saved if this country did away with it. Most of the people in Congress are well-healed anyway. They don't need to get great health care on the dime of the working people.
Do these health benefits still cover them if they leave Congress?
How much does it all cost?
And after that, we could look at what it has cost to cover various health care needs ....
If anyone was truly serious about providing decent health care to our country at the best price, they would enact a single payer system (no matter what they end up calling it.)
I agree with others about the health care provided to Congress should be stopped. I go farther: We the People need to know HOW MUCH the insurance coverage for Congress costs both Houses, what kind of options it offers to them, if it covers their families, pre-existing conditions and HOW MUCH money would be saved if this country did away with it. Most of the people in Congress are well-healed anyway. They don't need to get great health care on the dime of the working people.
Do these health benefits still cover them if they leave Congress?
How much does it all cost?
And after that, we could look at what it has cost to cover various health care needs ....
If anyone was truly serious about providing decent health care to our country at the best price, they would enact a single payer system (no matter what they end up calling it.)
10
It seems like Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, the Republican's in general and President Drumfp, are more focused on repealing the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) only because it has been referred to as Obama-care, which has nothing to do with making the ACA stronger and fixing the problems, by maintaining a quality healthcare for the people it was meant to help.
The repeal and replace is a shortsighted and narrow-minded road to failure, they are trying to replace it with nothing that is remotely close to what is healthcare, it's a ruse, the framework is already there for a complex plan, and it would be easier and make much more sense to work in a bipartisan effort to repair and strengthen the current Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) or Obamacare which, despite much of the propaganda campaign by the Koch Brothers, rightwing extremist, and partisan Republican's, it has been working in many areas and is not at risk of imploding.
It would help if Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan are honest brokers of what the American people need and want, instead of trying to carry out a mean-spirited, vendetta by a President who has a fetish with trying expunge President Obama's many successes as a President.
Trump's ego has driven him to be a vindictive failure, which has so far managed to take incompetence to new levels, now it's time for the Republican Congress to show some leadership and work for all the people of this country,rather than as surrogates for a small minded man's vendetta.
The repeal and replace is a shortsighted and narrow-minded road to failure, they are trying to replace it with nothing that is remotely close to what is healthcare, it's a ruse, the framework is already there for a complex plan, and it would be easier and make much more sense to work in a bipartisan effort to repair and strengthen the current Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) or Obamacare which, despite much of the propaganda campaign by the Koch Brothers, rightwing extremist, and partisan Republican's, it has been working in many areas and is not at risk of imploding.
It would help if Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan are honest brokers of what the American people need and want, instead of trying to carry out a mean-spirited, vendetta by a President who has a fetish with trying expunge President Obama's many successes as a President.
Trump's ego has driven him to be a vindictive failure, which has so far managed to take incompetence to new levels, now it's time for the Republican Congress to show some leadership and work for all the people of this country,rather than as surrogates for a small minded man's vendetta.
11
"The revised bill, like the previous version, would roll back the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and it would still convert Medicaid from an open-ended entitlement to a system of fixed payments to states. However, in the event of a public health emergency, the resulting surge in state Medicaid spending would not be counted toward the spending limits, known as per capita caps."
What is the definition of a PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY and WHO gets to decide??? With the compassion already shown by this administration ("If 23 million people choose to not have health care, they're just exercising their freedom to choose." --Paul Ryan), it really does raise the specter of the Republican-spawned "death panels!"
What is the definition of a PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY and WHO gets to decide??? With the compassion already shown by this administration ("If 23 million people choose to not have health care, they're just exercising their freedom to choose." --Paul Ryan), it really does raise the specter of the Republican-spawned "death panels!"
5
Taxpayers get to decide. And this taxpayer is not at all happy with the Medicaid *expansion*. By the way, my New York State Democratic Governor, Cuomo, understands perfectly the problems with Medicaid and has implemented a plan to reduce NYS per-person Medicaid costs.
Those singing the praises of Medicaid have no idea what they're talking about. Every governor with half a brain is working to reduce his/her per-person Medicaid costs.
While the Obama Administration was busily throwing money at Medicaid, the states were trying to figure out how to actually improve it. It is at the state level where health will be improved. State control is a critical success factor for smarter Medicaid spending.
Those singing the praises of Medicaid have no idea what they're talking about. Every governor with half a brain is working to reduce his/her per-person Medicaid costs.
While the Obama Administration was busily throwing money at Medicaid, the states were trying to figure out how to actually improve it. It is at the state level where health will be improved. State control is a critical success factor for smarter Medicaid spending.
1
I wonder if we'll ever learn how much the health insurance lobby is paying Ted Cruz?
7
Once again Republicans in Congress are trying to sell the pig's ear as a silk purse and once again too many voters in this country are going to look at this pig's ear and say "What a lovely silk purse." Pretty soon American kids will be emigrating to China and Mexico to pick cotton and gut chickens in order to earn a living.
4
Passing this bill will be akin to the tobacco industry's multiyear suppression of link between smoking and cancer. It will be a slow motion death machine that unfolds over years sentencing those millions who lose coverage (and perhaps their families) to the death, suffering and despair that comes with having no access to healthcare. Other than mindless support of the President, is there anything that more exposes the rot at the heart of the GOP than this?
3
"Stripped down plans"meaning unconscionable profits to the billionaire insurers so that when boomers die their money does NOT go to their children but will most likely be spent on healthcare.
3
The persistence of the politics of Cruz as the center of gravity of this legislative gestation is a staggering indictment of that Party. Its lack of courage is simply absolute.
5
From Monty Python's "Insurance Sketch," in which Mr. Devious explains to The Vicar why no claim The Vicar makes will ever be paid: "You see, you unfortunately plumped for our 'Neverpay' policy, which, you know, if you never claim is very worthwhile, but you had to claim, and, well, there it is."
3
The common features of the Republican plans raises the hurdles faced by small town hospitals. If you think those hurdles are exaggerated, look at the small town hospitals in your state. How many have discontinued providing childbirth care? When you find the answer you will be shocked.
Here are two links to pique your interest.
https://www.propublica.org/article/despite-federal-law-some-rural-hospit...
http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-rural-hospital...
Here are two links to pique your interest.
https://www.propublica.org/article/despite-federal-law-some-rural-hospit...
http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-rural-hospital...
1
Republican donors are in charge, the same very people who stand to gain from this tax cut bill. GOP representatives both in house and congress justify the bill to themselves under the GOP ideology banner which states that there should be no transfer of wealth between have's and have not's.
1
It is odd that Republicans always talk about how much they dislike government interference in industry as is creates winners and losers. That is exactly what their lovely "healthcare" bills does.
Perhaps Congress should have their insurance coverage pulled and they should have to use what will be available to them on their proposed "healthcare" bill.
Perhaps Congress should have their insurance coverage pulled and they should have to use what will be available to them on their proposed "healthcare" bill.
5
Single
Payer
System.
Like
the
rest
of
the
affluent
world.
Payer
System.
Like
the
rest
of
the
affluent
world.
11
Before single payer, the US federal government has to demonstrate to Americans that it can handle a single payer system. To date, it has not. In fact, democrats, through their Medicaid *expansion*, demonstrated just the opposite. The *expansion*, alone, resulted in a DOUBLING of fraud. That's no way to run a single payer system.
If Medicaid is any indication how the US federal government will run a single payer system, you can forget it. We'd be broke in a decade.
If Medicaid is any indication how the US federal government will run a single payer system, you can forget it. We'd be broke in a decade.
1
Medicare and Social Security work just fine, thanks, so your theory is dead.
1
This is a good argument for Term Limits for legislators, how a legislator from Kentucky, who I had no say in electing, can make my life miserable here in New York.
12
Why can't Republicans get over the fact that the "Affordable Care " act passed by a Democratic majority Congress is called Obama Care and really put together a plan that will cover and satisfy ALL Americans regardless of where, or even whether, they work, and at a cost that is truly affordable, and coverage that truly covers everything that each member of Congress wants for his own family? It's not hard to look around the world at more advanced nations for such a plan. It will cost money of course. And Republicans will have to give up pampering the filthy rich and tax those fortunate enough to have gotten their wealth through the American economy. Maybe this is 'socialism', but so what, we/they can afford it.
6
Why hasn't anyone polled the public on single payor? Surely more than half of citizens are now for it because it guarantees full coverage for everyone, at a much lower cost. It seems doubtful that any funds would have to be raised beyond existing gov. and employer expenditures.
3
Please Times editors, stop selling the health republican plan as skeptical. As with the trump /Putin candidacy, it can pass and a public or at least the portion that cares need to be on the know that there's not a group a skeptical senators but a group of afraid ones risking the lives of 22 million people and the real possibility that they might lose their jobs because of their vote on this.
1
Go back to work: your job is not done.
1
The "revised" bill is still draconian no matter how you slice or dice it. The Republican senators, on the whole, are a morally bankrupt lot if they vote in such a horrid and pernicious plan. Shame on them all for even deliberating whether it makes sense to cover the poorest, sickest and most vulnerable amongst us.
4
The part I liked was at the same time they are expanding Benefits for veterans. Or anybody who has served. When did we become a militaristic society???? After September 11 2001. And we have never backed away from military engagements across the globe since. Is it because we have so few skilled diplomats? Probably. Or is it because one political party seems to be at the wheel of the Humvee American diplomacy. More guns at home, more guns around the world. Be afraid. Be afraid all the time. Be afraid particularly when you can no longer get any health care. Wake up people! How many billions do we need for Afghanistan and Iraq and Pakistan before it becomes another Vietnam redux. The golden fleecing.
5
Many here are under the misguided impression that (a) anything the GOP produces is terrible and (b) it is DOA. The truth outside this bubble is quite different these dire predictions.
Partisanship is blinding people to the fact that millions are awaiting the end of Obamacare, which forced millions into policies they abhor. Reviving the individual market, alone, will make millions of Americans VERY happy. Curbing the increase in Medicaid, while predictably promoted as a death sentence, makes a lot of sense to many Americans.
In the real world, Obamacare is a terrible failure, and relief cannot come fast enough.
Partisanship is blinding people to the fact that millions are awaiting the end of Obamacare, which forced millions into policies they abhor. Reviving the individual market, alone, will make millions of Americans VERY happy. Curbing the increase in Medicaid, while predictably promoted as a death sentence, makes a lot of sense to many Americans.
In the real world, Obamacare is a terrible failure, and relief cannot come fast enough.
3
Many here are under the misguided impression that anything the GOP produces is terrible.
Ok, please list 10 things that the GOP has produced that isn't terrible.
We can start there and work our way to the failures of the democrats.
Ok, please list 10 things that the GOP has produced that isn't terrible.
We can start there and work our way to the failures of the democrats.
4
They gave us Hoover; Joe McCarthy, Nixon, a war in Iraq, Sarah Palin, Donald Trump......Oh, sorry, wrong list.
1
Senator Cruz is really not that smart after all. His bare bones insurance policies will do exactly what consumer groups and even insurance companies predict which is for healthy people to buy those policies. Sick people will buy the regular policies driving up the cost of insurance. Also when someone suddenly comes down with melanoma or other types of cancers requiring chemotherapy they will find out, the hard way, their policy does not cover them. It's nothing but junk. If they were serious they would have long gone on a fact finding mission and visit other nations with universal health care. It's silly trying to prove we are the smartest people on the face of the earth when we can't get health care right. And about 34 other countries have.
97
One GOP plan allows people with pre-existing conditions to buy ACA-compliant plans at prices that the government will subsidize (on the insurers' side). In every GOP plan there is a way for every American to get covered. Every criticism, however, assumes people will not avail themselves of that option.
"Junk" might also describe the ACA-compliant plans that people now have but cannot afford. Their outlays are so high they avoid seeing doctors and taking their meds. Technically, they are "insured". In effect, they have catastrophic insurance.
"Junk" might also describe the ACA-compliant plans that people now have but cannot afford. Their outlays are so high they avoid seeing doctors and taking their meds. Technically, they are "insured". In effect, they have catastrophic insurance.
1
Au contraire. Cruz amendment is the only item, that will have the most impact in bringing down cost of insurance. Rest of the bill is all about Medicaid.
Cruz may have a big brain.
He just has no heart.
He just has no heart.
How does Mich expect this bill to pass if he can't even convince the senator from his own state ? This bill is not going to pass. Tax reform effort will also go down the drain along with it, since tax reform is contingent upon repealing Obamacare. There goes 15 % corporate tax rate that Trump promised.
Grinning Republicans (Russians), gleeful at stripping Health Care from 22 MILLION Americans.All to ensure hat in the end, they give a HUUUUGEEE tax break to the Rich.
Traitors to what Americans.
Traitors to what Americans.
6
I can not for the life of me figure why even a single Republican would vote for something so unpopular. Only 17% of Americans want this! Has Washington forgotten they are there to represent the people? I am tired of hearing politicians say we were elected to do repeal and replace. First, they were elected by a minority and second, overwhelming majority does not want this plan. Time to stop playing games and just fix the ACA.
6
This bill is going to pass. The GOP is a party of apparatchiks. The so called holdouts are going to fold as they always have in the era of Trump, who wants a "win" at any cost. McConnell has staked a great deal on this. I wish him failure of course but I fear that his skill in stealing things will prevail again. I predict we have a Trumpcare by the fall.
2
What truly amazes me is that by law, my business must carry Worker's Comp insurance, property Insurance, liability insurance, and auto insurance, but I don't have to carry health insurance. Sure, I have the choice of a 5,000$ deductible or a 50,000$ deductible, but I have to have it - for my own protection the State Legislature says! Just yesterday, the auditor was in to inspect my 1099s, my W-3 transmittal of wages, my 2016 W-2s, my Form 1096, a 2016 Payroll summary, my federal payroll liabilities E-payment history (by law we are required to do E-payments!), my Employee State Taxes Detail. And it better all match up, or there is a penalty. By law. I don't get it. It is pretty ironic. And I see by the picture that ole Yertle the Turtle has a new female staffer. What happened to the dark-haired girl who, in the pictures anyway, walked slightly behind and to the left? They make me ill. The whole sordid mess makes me ill.
5
The current effort to gut Obamacare is the most despicable legislation in a generation. Contact your Senators and Representative and tell them to instead support Medicare For All or an equivalent. You can find their contact info through:
https://www.callmycongress.com/
https://www.callmycongress.com/
5
It is good to see Mitch McConnell smiling. This must be the same smile that Attila the Hun wore on his face.
4
Sir ,
You do not realize for Profit Health Care in America is Dead !!!!
I am Watching MSNBC:
Reads This : None of you get it ... Outlaw For-Profit- Health Care in America !!!!
It exceeds the F-35 Program in Fraud. who has all the keys ????
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redstone_Arsenal
Readers Figure it out ... For Profit Health Care is Dead !!!!
Redstone Arsenal - Wikipedia
Redstone Arsenal (RSA) is a United States Army post and a census-designated place (CDP) adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The Arsenal is a garrison for a…
en.wikipedia.org
They have all the answers !!!!
You do not realize for Profit Health Care in America is Dead !!!!
I am Watching MSNBC:
Reads This : None of you get it ... Outlaw For-Profit- Health Care in America !!!!
It exceeds the F-35 Program in Fraud. who has all the keys ????
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redstone_Arsenal
Readers Figure it out ... For Profit Health Care is Dead !!!!
Redstone Arsenal - Wikipedia
Redstone Arsenal (RSA) is a United States Army post and a census-designated place (CDP) adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The Arsenal is a garrison for a…
en.wikipedia.org
They have all the answers !!!!
If we let them call it Trumpcare, will the rd leave our health care alone?
Thanks to the likes of Susan Collins (a Republican in name only), the GOP is on the precipice of losing it's majority. They fail to pass an ObamaCare replacement, I'm simply not voting in the next election. That will effect the GOP on the "down ballot" and hurt them more than they can possibly imagine.
Your position is understandable, since being stuck with Obamacare or anything remotely like it is not what millions of Americans voted for. My own feeling that the pressure to pass something immediately should not be the primary concern.
Democrats certainly got one thing right. Throw a ton of money out there, and then scream about people dying when anyone tries to cut even its *growth rate*. (Notice the NYT never showcases non-disabled Americans receiving higher Medicaid payments than disabled Americans.)
My feeling is that republicans have the dirty job of reining in democrats' profligacy, which always includes big spending with zero controls. Obamacare was a lot like the Obama stimulus, which threw hundreds of millions at "green" companies that produced zilch. Now they are throwing hundreds of billions at Medicaid without a concern for results. (Let's ignore that outcomes didn't improve, ER visits didn't decrease or that fraud DOUBLED.)
We desperately need republicans to control democrats' spending. Medicaid reform won't happen without them. After all, we do want Americans to actually get healthier for all that money we're spending. That will take the states' focusing on outcomes versus the federal government's one-sized-fits-all Medicaid *expansion* that was foisted on everyone with huge bribes (ex., 100% payments).
In other words, don't be so quick to dismiss republicans.
Democrats certainly got one thing right. Throw a ton of money out there, and then scream about people dying when anyone tries to cut even its *growth rate*. (Notice the NYT never showcases non-disabled Americans receiving higher Medicaid payments than disabled Americans.)
My feeling is that republicans have the dirty job of reining in democrats' profligacy, which always includes big spending with zero controls. Obamacare was a lot like the Obama stimulus, which threw hundreds of millions at "green" companies that produced zilch. Now they are throwing hundreds of billions at Medicaid without a concern for results. (Let's ignore that outcomes didn't improve, ER visits didn't decrease or that fraud DOUBLED.)
We desperately need republicans to control democrats' spending. Medicaid reform won't happen without them. After all, we do want Americans to actually get healthier for all that money we're spending. That will take the states' focusing on outcomes versus the federal government's one-sized-fits-all Medicaid *expansion* that was foisted on everyone with huge bribes (ex., 100% payments).
In other words, don't be so quick to dismiss republicans.
1
tpaine-
Well, maybe if you don't vote you will be doing yourself a big favor. Democrats who believe in adequately funded public education will allow your children to learn how to write and spell correctly, to learn critical thinking skills, and to have a future. So, please, for their sake, stay home.
Well, maybe if you don't vote you will be doing yourself a big favor. Democrats who believe in adequately funded public education will allow your children to learn how to write and spell correctly, to learn critical thinking skills, and to have a future. So, please, for their sake, stay home.
4
If they pass this bill they will cease to exist as a party going forward. You can only act against the basic self-interest of your voters for so long.
2
Ted Cruz's amendment to the new GOP health plan clearly demonstrates his total lack of understanding of health insurance. A plan is useless if it doesn't protect the holder from serious illness. What's the point of such a plan?
5
How did so many in Congress become so ill informed on how medical economics works? All parts of a medical system are supported through compensation from insurance. A hospital does not pay its bills from dollars designated for certain ailments or services. It is similar for providers. Scaling premiums by age purports to think the young stay in that category their whole life. Their income will not grow 500% as they go beyond 50 nor will they be adequately supporting physicians ability to gain experience or develop new treatments.
HSAs do not fill the bill. With a several thousand dollar deductible, only better off citizens can make it work. A fuller explanation here:
http://www.pnhp.org/facts/hsa.pdf
In their odd way these GOP Senators realize there has to be larger sources of dollars to cover everyone. The more streamlined version is called Medicare For All.
HSAs do not fill the bill. With a several thousand dollar deductible, only better off citizens can make it work. A fuller explanation here:
http://www.pnhp.org/facts/hsa.pdf
In their odd way these GOP Senators realize there has to be larger sources of dollars to cover everyone. The more streamlined version is called Medicare For All.
3
Cruz thinks that a his provision to allow insurers to discriminate "based on a person’s health status, medical condition, claims experience, medical history or disability" is a "substantial improvement." Yes, for insurance companies.
If McConnell came across an injured dog lying in the road, I have no doubt he would pick it up and take it to the nearest vet and, since he can afford to, even pay the medical bills. Why do some of us have have less compassion for our fellow man than for a stray animal?
Ours is a wealthy country. We have the resources to ensure that nobody should needlessly suffer medically for lack of proper prevention and care. Health insurance should not be a for-profit business. It should be available and affordable to all, subsidized by taxes on those who can afford to pay for those who cannot. Political and economic dogma should have no role in the discussion.
When a government supposedly of the people, by the people and for the people literally has the power of life and death over the people and consciously adopts policies that will lead to death and suffering, it's time for a change of personnel.
If McConnell came across an injured dog lying in the road, I have no doubt he would pick it up and take it to the nearest vet and, since he can afford to, even pay the medical bills. Why do some of us have have less compassion for our fellow man than for a stray animal?
Ours is a wealthy country. We have the resources to ensure that nobody should needlessly suffer medically for lack of proper prevention and care. Health insurance should not be a for-profit business. It should be available and affordable to all, subsidized by taxes on those who can afford to pay for those who cannot. Political and economic dogma should have no role in the discussion.
When a government supposedly of the people, by the people and for the people literally has the power of life and death over the people and consciously adopts policies that will lead to death and suffering, it's time for a change of personnel.
3
I have yet to see a single Republican senator that says that this bill is so good for the American people that he will renounce his gold-plated insurance for life, and will sign up for the new insurance plans expected from their bill.
7
Perhaps if Obamacare was called Smithcare or Jonescare "t" wouldn't be so desperate to repeal it. Just why is opioid more important than Medicaid? Those who got caught up in painkillers chose that road, those who are poor did not choose that road. This bill is a disgrace and should never pass. If the republicans want to save their party they should get rid of "t", his family and his cohorts. The wrong people have security clearance and the mess they have created is intolerable.
1
And these are the great Republican Christians who always talk of Christ and his teaching. WHAT A JOKE!
Eviscerating the poor is as much a sport as gutting a Deer with the GOP Leaders.
Eviscerating the poor is as much a sport as gutting a Deer with the GOP Leaders.
5
The voters could correct this situation in a New York minute. Problem is they don't get it.
1
That's because the voters live in Tennessee and Kentucky and Alabama and Mississippi and they vote AGAINsT their best interest ALAWYS!
2
how can 48 people be for this abomination?
5
What a way to handle those with preexisting conditions -- shuffle them off to these "low-cost stripped down policies," which will cover exactly nothing.
But, hey, they've got insurance, right?
No matter how they try to "improve" it, Mitch and the GOP are only continuing to put quality health care out of reach for millions of people, because profits come first. And the idea of using HSAs to pay premiums? Can everyone afford to withhold enough from the paychecks to pay for those, as well as copays, prescriptions, etc.?
I'd like to remind this supposedly Christian, pro-life party of a philosophy espoused by the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin of Chicago: Life is a seamless garment -- it deserves to be protected from birth until natural death. Health care should not depend on good genes, wealth, or status. It is a human right.
But, hey, they've got insurance, right?
No matter how they try to "improve" it, Mitch and the GOP are only continuing to put quality health care out of reach for millions of people, because profits come first. And the idea of using HSAs to pay premiums? Can everyone afford to withhold enough from the paychecks to pay for those, as well as copays, prescriptions, etc.?
I'd like to remind this supposedly Christian, pro-life party of a philosophy espoused by the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin of Chicago: Life is a seamless garment -- it deserves to be protected from birth until natural death. Health care should not depend on good genes, wealth, or status. It is a human right.
107
'Insuring' pre-existing conditions is by definition not insurance. It is welfare. The ONLY solution would be to repeal Husseincare and get the Feds totally out of healthcare. Otherwise all we have is a continuation of Socialized medicine where everyone loses. Oh, everyone except for the 'leaders' who are exempt from the death panels they impose on the unwashed masses.
You did not read or understand Cruz amendment, did you ?
The US has the highest per capita expenditure on health care and the lowest life expectancy of any of the world's major developed nations - by a wide margin. Get your act together people.
8
Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware, seems to confuse health insurance with health care. Those with savings should be able to buy less expensive policies with higher deductibles and no coverage at all for elective procedures. The concern that these generally healthy people will not pay their share will be offset by less use of medical services.
It seems that the latest bill is no longer a big tax cut for the rich and Democrats should consider supporting it as a safe compromise. It may not get better than this for the Dems.
It seems that the latest bill is no longer a big tax cut for the rich and Democrats should consider supporting it as a safe compromise. It may not get better than this for the Dems.
2
These "stripped down" policies are "Hollywood fronts" of insurance. People think they are buying protection, but their policies will cover little to nothing of unforeseeable major illness costs. In addition, young healthy people have little exposure to the mammoth costs of medications, especially chemotherapy. The only beneficiaries will be the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. Once again hospitals will close as they try to absorb the cost of caring for the uninsured. Again there is no discussion about support for Planned Parenthood. Maybe that is because this bill is being drafted by white men. Shameful!!!
9
Put the Penalty for not having insurance back into the bill. Raise the penalty fee...and actually collect the money from the freeloaders.....and use the $ to fix this hot mess that both parties have unleashed....
7
The senate Republicans new health bill can pass without the votes of the 2 opposing Republican senators Dr. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Susan Collins of Maine and all of the democratic senators if in the end end there is a simple majority with VP Pence casting the tie breaker. With such a fierce partisan divide and with Dr. Paul staunchly opposed to anything that is even distantly similar to Obamcare in the bill, the debate if it takes place will be interesting. But I have a feeling that Dr. Paul will suggest an amendment that may if accepted will ensure the passage of the bill. By the way does any of the NYT readers or staff know who the cheerful lady with red elephants on her dress is on the left of senator McConnell. Is she the left hand from senator McConnell's office?
5
Millions about to lose health care and your thinking about some random woman in a dress?
5
Nanny Nanno of Superbia, NY. If you have read the article you will have realized that no one who is currently insured is about to lose health care as the Republican health bill has not even been allowed to be debated, leave alone being possibly passed. In the current heated climate who is talking to whom or associating with whom takes up a large amount of press coverage. Had Donald Trump Jr not talked to a certain Russian lady lawyer we would have been spared the agony of the enormous press and media coverage of his meeting. I too believe that elected representatives should be doing people's work and not wasting enormous amount of time on trivial matters.
2
Mitch is in a bind He has let characters like Cruz and Rand Paul have veto power. Cruz is the one who said he would stop Obamacare on day one of his presidency. We've seen that wouldn't happen. His answer to Syria was to "carpet bomb" them. If instead of following their orders and Mitch sought a few Democrats,, he might get something done. Not giving the rich big breaks would be a start. Keep or better yet, expand Medicaid would let him pick up support. Medicaid is crucial. It is a program that helps the neediest. The bureaucracy is already in place. It works. Fraud is problem but that can be weeded out. Giving vouchers and starting a health savings account may be good for some but worthless for those living a life of poverty. Every penny they have goes to food, housing and survival. 49 million people struggle to put food on the table. Twenty percent of american families with children, lack access, at times, to enough food for all household members. What are health savings accounts going to do for those people? They might get through by just leaving Medicaid as is. But if reduction of Medicaid is their goal This new bill is as dead as the last one.
5
How about a novel idea - why don't the Senators actually reach across the aisle and work together to come up with a plan that is good for 90% of Americans rather than 90% of Congressional representatives and their donors?
7
They did and the Democrats said "just put more money into a failed system" that has tripled my premium cost and doubled my deductible!! Not helpful. "Socialism (still) doesn't work!!" You, eventually, "run out of other people's money."
Nonsense. Had republicans not sabotaged the ACA at every turn and not hobbled it at the outset (by not allowing negotiation on prescription prices), we'd have a workable system. That said, it still would not be as good as the free socialized healthcare the rest of the civilized world enjoys.
2
Not true. Obamacare has not increased premiums. They had been rising long before and Obamacare has all kinds of cost saving measures in it. Are premiums still rising? Yes.
Want to bring taxes down and put more money back in our pockets? Medicare for all. Lowest administrative costs of all plans period.
What the USA cannot afford is to continue getting hosed thanks to market fundamentalism in health care. Why is our lack-of-system the most expensive per capita in the developed world, while leaving millions vulnerable? Not because of Obamacare and you know it.
Although Obamacare works as a bandaid, let's be clear, the real costs and waste in the system are driven by the chaos and inefficiencies of the market within this specific aspect of the economy known as health insurance.
Want to bring taxes down and put more money back in our pockets? Medicare for all. Lowest administrative costs of all plans period.
What the USA cannot afford is to continue getting hosed thanks to market fundamentalism in health care. Why is our lack-of-system the most expensive per capita in the developed world, while leaving millions vulnerable? Not because of Obamacare and you know it.
Although Obamacare works as a bandaid, let's be clear, the real costs and waste in the system are driven by the chaos and inefficiencies of the market within this specific aspect of the economy known as health insurance.
1
I swear I really think Trump and the GOP actually hate this country and the people in it. Their policies seem calculated to inflict pain on the majority of the population while rewarding those in absolutely no need of reward. This is all by design. The majority of this country hates Trump and did not vote for him. From day one the "man" seems to be on a bitter crusade to wipe out anything that helps or protects the American public. American banks told the serial bankrupter and fraudster to take a hike. Russia and other foreign banks were the only places willing to take on this sketchy fraud of a man. Most intelligent honest people know what Trump is and he hates them for it. The GOP is neck deep in this man's treasonous behavior with a hostile foreign government to destabilize and interfere with the foundations of our democratic process. They gleefully took Russia's pilfered voter research data by the DNC. They used this ill gotten data knowing it's source. They are reluctant to condemn a treasonous fool because they have thoroughly enabled and protected him. Partners in crime against this country.
12
In typical Trump/GOP fashion, the bill divides us more: sick versus healthy, rich versus poor, conservative versus liberal. This is no way to govern!
12
Reality check the government should be more concern with waste it enables people to receive disabilty an who are not medically disable.Plenty of people who go to work every day an are medically in some way disable but they find a way to do right thing an live ther elife not indebted to government. We are becoming nation of deplorables every day weak an unable to work an support our familys. The family is the central building block of american way life take it away an nation wil crumble.
2
Call it what it really is, A Death Bill
8
With two exceptions, every Republican member of Congress calls itself "Christian" — which they manifestly are not, by definition: the word means "Christ-like" (a quality virtually none of them even remotely possess). Indeed their actual "lord and savior" is Ayn Rand, the patron saint of sociopaths, misanthropes and sadists.
11
See? The whole Trump Jr meeting is already ho hum.
1
None of you get it ... Outlaw For-Profit- Health Care in America !!!!
It exceeds the F-35 Program in Fraud. who has all the keys ????
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redstone_Arsenal
Readers Figure it out ... For Profit Health Care is Dead !!!!
It exceeds the F-35 Program in Fraud. who has all the keys ????
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redstone_Arsenal
Readers Figure it out ... For Profit Health Care is Dead !!!!
1
If the Republicans are so eager for us, the American public, to accept this new legislation then why not truly be leaders and add a clause that requires them to give up their current healthcare options and ties them to the new legislation with us? It's simple, are they with us or against us?
10
Neither. They are "For Themselves".
5
NPR reports that the US pays 18% of GDP on health, France 8% with universal health care. Australians pay 10%.
The US expends around 2.2% of GDP on defence as do some nations including Australia.
Providing universal health care is not rocket science.
I am confused.
Americans can have universal health care without busting the budget.
Do the maths.
Trump is not a great leader. He should do his housework and then confront the world.
His attitude to women exemplified in France today is tacky.
NPR mentioned the issues with 666 Fifth Avenue NY City.
Thank God that I live in Australia.
Mr Putin is probably toasting large pink marsh mellows, slowly, very slowly.
:
The US expends around 2.2% of GDP on defence as do some nations including Australia.
Providing universal health care is not rocket science.
I am confused.
Americans can have universal health care without busting the budget.
Do the maths.
Trump is not a great leader. He should do his housework and then confront the world.
His attitude to women exemplified in France today is tacky.
NPR mentioned the issues with 666 Fifth Avenue NY City.
Thank God that I live in Australia.
Mr Putin is probably toasting large pink marsh mellows, slowly, very slowly.
:
3
Same death panel same result only a little slower.
2
Pardon the language, but who in hell voted for these Senators and Representatives, they are supposed to be working on behalf of the majority, and at last count, this Bill had a 17% approval rating and for good reason!
How does taking medical coverage from 20+ million of the old and poor, closing rural hospitals, etc, and then giving the savings (budget cuts) to the rich in the form of tax cuts help the average American. Anyone supporting these Senators, Representatives, and President's Administration has checked their personal morals and ethics at the door. Wake up people, these ingrates work for us, they're in Washington to fix problems not create more!
Call your Senator today, and share your outrage at the idiocy and miscarriage of fairness in the newest Health Bill, this approach to legislating is unethical and unAmerican!
PS. After 7 years of railing against the ACA (Obamacare), this is the best they can do, perhaps we need more intelligent representatives, someone who can deliver affordable quality healthcare and balance the budget, just like we all do out here in the real world, everyday.
How does taking medical coverage from 20+ million of the old and poor, closing rural hospitals, etc, and then giving the savings (budget cuts) to the rich in the form of tax cuts help the average American. Anyone supporting these Senators, Representatives, and President's Administration has checked their personal morals and ethics at the door. Wake up people, these ingrates work for us, they're in Washington to fix problems not create more!
Call your Senator today, and share your outrage at the idiocy and miscarriage of fairness in the newest Health Bill, this approach to legislating is unethical and unAmerican!
PS. After 7 years of railing against the ACA (Obamacare), this is the best they can do, perhaps we need more intelligent representatives, someone who can deliver affordable quality healthcare and balance the budget, just like we all do out here in the real world, everyday.
7
We, we are once more brought to the precipice- and we millions fear the actions of the very people we empowered with wether we will be able to sustain life in very, very many cases. I would like one favor, each time a family suffers at their hands and they most assuredly will, I want them to take out their insurance plans and stand up in congress on the very floor they intend on passing this bill and read aloud for this country their coverage. So we may know if it was within their abilities to save us.
1
What is the address of the "Susan Collins for President 2020" committee? I would like to get my donation in early.
4
Despite the bad news that the basic Senate plan would result in 22 million people losing insurance, McConnell continued anyway. That's the pinnacle of cold-blooded.
7
Our so-called Congress spends so much time doing nothing, I have often wondered: How do they know when they are done?
10
The ACA expanded Medicaid, (for the state's that took the Federal dollars), to cover poor adults. In some states, this added 25 or more percent to the Medicaid covered population. The new GOP Senate plan wants to eliminate that expansion -- and it will instead give more money to the private insurance companies to subsidize poor adults' insurance.
However, the GOP plan also puts caps on Medicaid for people who had Medicaid even before the ACA. These caps are the single largest cut of the proposed plan.
This is not a mere "repeal and replace" of the ACA that Obama made --it goes back much farther to the initial laws setting up Medicaid 50 years ago. The "repeal and replace Obamacare" claim by the GOP is a decoy, a head fake,(insurance-wise it is actually subsidizing more adults and giving more pork to the insurance companies): what the new GOP plan really is is a fundamental shredding of the safety net that has protected our elderly, or disabled, and our poor children for the past 50 years.
Such deception.
However, the GOP plan also puts caps on Medicaid for people who had Medicaid even before the ACA. These caps are the single largest cut of the proposed plan.
This is not a mere "repeal and replace" of the ACA that Obama made --it goes back much farther to the initial laws setting up Medicaid 50 years ago. The "repeal and replace Obamacare" claim by the GOP is a decoy, a head fake,(insurance-wise it is actually subsidizing more adults and giving more pork to the insurance companies): what the new GOP plan really is is a fundamental shredding of the safety net that has protected our elderly, or disabled, and our poor children for the past 50 years.
Such deception.
6
Sounds like the Republicans want to replace the Affordable Care Act with what can only be called the Un-affordable Care Act. High price to pay for something that is un affordable. On the bright side if you do not lose your insurance, chances are the worst that can happen is your premiums go up. What a deal!
2
Hey, Times, how about an article showing the data on health insurance companies? Like their profits and what their CEO's earn. Their profit margins, how many employees they have. Comparisons. Donation amounts to legislators.
8
I've been wanting that story for years.
2
The Republican Plan is more than enough to make me sick but less than enough to make me well.
3
I live in a single-payer country (Australia). I've never paid for a doctor's appointment. When weighing up whether or not to see a doctor for any health anomaly, the only consideration is whether I actually think I need to see a doctor. Nothing else. If I don't want to take time off work to see a doctor I can phone a government service and a doctor will come out and see me no matter how late it is. That also costs me nothing. Such medication as I require is much cheaper than the same medication in America, and will be prescribed based on what the most effective medication is for my condition rather than what the pharmaceutical reps are peddling. Such tests as I require are decided by what my doctor considers advisable rather than what my hospital considers profitable. If I'm hospitalised I won't pay a thing, no matter how long I'm there or what treatment I need. I'll never worry about medical bankruptcy. I don't need to be a clairvoyant doctor in order to anticipate what coverage I need. I don't need read a health insurance policy let alone decipher its intentionally obtuse fine print, or consider deductibles or copays or out-of-pocket expenses. I'll never have to worry about being denied coverage because something is pre-existing or beyond the cap or whatever. I'll also live 4 years longer than the average American male. All of which is paid for by a 2% levy on all taxable income for everyone. Get single-payer.
10
Unconscionable. So the new health Bill cuts benefits to the poor while retaining some of the taxes on investment income for people earning more than $200,000 per year to win enough votes to get the Bill through... and kick poor people off heath care. And they want to get healthcare done now because after the recess, they want to take up a TAX Bill. If they can't provide tax relief in the health Bill, at least eliminate care for the poor now, and then they will give their tax break to the wealthy in the Tax Bill in September. This is not an improvement; it is merely changing the sequencing of elements of their strategy.
3
The opiod crisis is real and devastating here in Ohio and elsewhere. However, I fail to understand why it is essentially a line item in a health care insurance bill.
Yes, it is in there in large part to demonstrate that Republicans are aware of the problem and want to do something about it. (And, truth be told, some $45 billion is being set aside for opiod abuse programs largely to entice Rob Portman, Linda Murkowski and Shelley Moore Capito to support the overall bill).
If opiod abuse is as serious a problem as it seems to be, should not it be addressed in separate legislation as a public health issue, and thus under the CDC, with increased funding for that organization -- not a deep budget cut as proposed in Trump's insanely draconian tax proposal? Should McConnell's very bad makeover of Obamacare actually become law, how will the opiod crisis be addressed if the one agency most responsible for our nation's public health has to operate on an essentially shoestring budget?
A case, I'd say, of the left hand not knowing, or caring, what the right hand is doing.
Yes, it is in there in large part to demonstrate that Republicans are aware of the problem and want to do something about it. (And, truth be told, some $45 billion is being set aside for opiod abuse programs largely to entice Rob Portman, Linda Murkowski and Shelley Moore Capito to support the overall bill).
If opiod abuse is as serious a problem as it seems to be, should not it be addressed in separate legislation as a public health issue, and thus under the CDC, with increased funding for that organization -- not a deep budget cut as proposed in Trump's insanely draconian tax proposal? Should McConnell's very bad makeover of Obamacare actually become law, how will the opiod crisis be addressed if the one agency most responsible for our nation's public health has to operate on an essentially shoestring budget?
A case, I'd say, of the left hand not knowing, or caring, what the right hand is doing.
4
There is so much wrong and cruel about this bill, and I would ask all readers to ask their representatives one main question - would they give up their government health care plans and go on Trumpcare? I asked Scott and Graham and neither replied - telling.
Also, please realize that HSA's reduce taxable income for Social Security taxes, and thus will reduce eventual SS benefits, which are based on taxable income.
Also, please realize that HSA's reduce taxable income for Social Security taxes, and thus will reduce eventual SS benefits, which are based on taxable income.
1
Imagine if Republicans straight up told their base that they would actually do and will have to continue to pay taxes for minimal health care and more taxes for decent health care for all, and these taxes would be progressive, with the wealthiest paying the most. Or that they would work with Democrats to either improve the ACA or help create Medicaid for all. Or we can just vote their hides out of office in 2018 for incompetence and trying to destroy the health of the American people.
1
Enough already with the tinkering around the edges and the absurd convolutions. We need one, government-run single-payer system: Medicare for all.
3
THE "REAL TIME" REPORT On where GOP Senators stand is, at the time of this writing, 9 supporters, 35 unclear and 2 opposed. The probability that all 39 of those who are "unclear" at this time will vote in favor of the GOP's lethal Trumpenstein Lethal Care Monstrosity is remote, statistically speaking. Just by the numbers, the motion to bring Trumpcare to the floor for debate is DOA. Beyond that, the Democrats may again introduce delays so that the Office of the Budget can rate the new version before it is brought up for discussion. The impartial scoring are likely to increase the number of GOP members willing to vote against debating the Trump Monstrosity will have more political cover vor their decision given cover by the new Budget Office report.
2
Clearly, unlike the ACA that overwhelmingly supported by the Democrats, the majority of whom had not reads it and with Nancy Pelosi saying that it had to be passed so we could learn what's in it.
Y'all can read the version passed by the House and now the one presented by the Senate so it can be torn to shreds with misleading as well as decidedly false interpretations. Just like statements that the Senate version is opposed by every group representing the healthcare industry that then turned into the majority of voters in this country.
Y'all haven't even had time to read it, let alone do a decent job of analysis.
Y'all can read the version passed by the House and now the one presented by the Senate so it can be torn to shreds with misleading as well as decidedly false interpretations. Just like statements that the Senate version is opposed by every group representing the healthcare industry that then turned into the majority of voters in this country.
Y'all haven't even had time to read it, let alone do a decent job of analysis.
It is very possible that Democrats may control both houses of congress and the presidency. It is also a given that Democrats will pass another ACA bill. Why not just fix this ACA and help the people they supposedly represent. GOP is way out of touch.
3
When will GOP legislators realize that scads of American citizens have traveled abroad and have experienced "socialized medicine" first hand? Those who have done so realize that, even for non-citizens, office visits and pharmaceuticals cost far less outside the U.S. In my experience scheduling, wait times and paper work are also far less burdensome abroad.
My wife and I have received wonderful care in Canada, France and Italy. Care was delivered on the day needed and at a fraction of the cost for both office visits and pharmaceuticals.
Yet the GOP continue to offer their same old anti-socialist bilge--and their undereducated followers keep swallowing it--with incredibly ill effects for themselves and their families.
Why do Republican officials continue to insist that in the U.S. single-payer government healthcare would prove far less efficient than our current for-profit, opaque, cumbersome, and multi-layered public-private arrangement? Is it because the government here is run by ineffective politicians such as themselves? Because it is run by individualistic materialists who--even though so many of them masquerade as devout Christians--actually care ever so much more about their own self-interest, the survival of their Party and continued support from their plutocratic donors than they do about the Gospel message and the common good?
Is it really all about the donations (bribes?) they receive from healthcare "industry" lobbyists?
My wife and I have received wonderful care in Canada, France and Italy. Care was delivered on the day needed and at a fraction of the cost for both office visits and pharmaceuticals.
Yet the GOP continue to offer their same old anti-socialist bilge--and their undereducated followers keep swallowing it--with incredibly ill effects for themselves and their families.
Why do Republican officials continue to insist that in the U.S. single-payer government healthcare would prove far less efficient than our current for-profit, opaque, cumbersome, and multi-layered public-private arrangement? Is it because the government here is run by ineffective politicians such as themselves? Because it is run by individualistic materialists who--even though so many of them masquerade as devout Christians--actually care ever so much more about their own self-interest, the survival of their Party and continued support from their plutocratic donors than they do about the Gospel message and the common good?
Is it really all about the donations (bribes?) they receive from healthcare "industry" lobbyists?
4
As non-citizens, we received excellent care in Germany, while visiting our elderly relative receiving excellent care in an assisted living facility.
She could never understand why father wasn't sent away to recuperate and relax for a month after his heart attack. That would be because from the day of the incident, he didn't get paid. All that surgery time, recovery time. In the US, we rush back to work asap after a medical crisis.
There is no R and R. We are killing ourselves and the GOP is gleefully hammering the nails into our coffins.
She could never understand why father wasn't sent away to recuperate and relax for a month after his heart attack. That would be because from the day of the incident, he didn't get paid. All that surgery time, recovery time. In the US, we rush back to work asap after a medical crisis.
There is no R and R. We are killing ourselves and the GOP is gleefully hammering the nails into our coffins.
1
Having listened to and read quite a few Trump supporters' thoughts on this, they voted for him because he promised jobs and health care for everyone. Well, I don't know about the promised jobs (protectionism has never, ever produced sustainable jobs) but the health care for everyone was, again, pie in the sky for his voters.
But they don't seem to care because trump is a white man who can, sometimes, accurately quote a Bible phrase.
But they don't seem to care because trump is a white man who can, sometimes, accurately quote a Bible phrase.
2
As is pointed out in the Bible, the devil can also quote scripture.
2
Okay, so what do WE do about it? ... my suggestions ...
If you live in a district or state with GOP representatives or senators write to them and give them a piece of your mind. Real letters, on paper, mailed through the USPS get a lot more attention than emails and online petitions. Keep it short, sweet and respectful. But make your views 100% clear.
Remember, they hear on a daily basis from industry lobbyists. How often do they hear from us? If we don't write or call they it's no surprise they ignore us.
If you live in an area with DEM leaders write to Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. Ask them why the Democrats are not taking advantage of this moment to develop a comprehensive and inspiring plan to improve on the ACA and why they are not going around the country to promote this plan to their constituents. If they think they can beat the GOP in 2018 by being the lesser of 2 evils, they've got it wrong. They need to show the country they have vision and organization.
I will be writing to Schumer and Pelosi this week. I hope others will join me.
If you live in a district or state with GOP representatives or senators write to them and give them a piece of your mind. Real letters, on paper, mailed through the USPS get a lot more attention than emails and online petitions. Keep it short, sweet and respectful. But make your views 100% clear.
Remember, they hear on a daily basis from industry lobbyists. How often do they hear from us? If we don't write or call they it's no surprise they ignore us.
If you live in an area with DEM leaders write to Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. Ask them why the Democrats are not taking advantage of this moment to develop a comprehensive and inspiring plan to improve on the ACA and why they are not going around the country to promote this plan to their constituents. If they think they can beat the GOP in 2018 by being the lesser of 2 evils, they've got it wrong. They need to show the country they have vision and organization.
I will be writing to Schumer and Pelosi this week. I hope others will join me.
1
All present healthcare coverage is a sop to the unnecessary insurance companies. Get rid of the lot. We need Single Payer health care, and every citizen must pay for it no choice. Like paying for Social Security--everyone is in.
2
Why can't health care aka insurance be handled the way we make it mandatory to buy car, renters or homeowners insurance?
You buy the plan you can afford. You get the insurance you pay for.
No one else is held responsible for your actions.
PERIOD!
You buy the plan you can afford. You get the insurance you pay for.
No one else is held responsible for your actions.
PERIOD!
1
Oh, how we forget that Obama doubled the National Debt yet poverty doubled in his eight years in office as well as homelessness. Where did all that money go? The left is upset Obama Care may be repealed and replaced by a Republican plan but have offered zero proposal on how to sustain it. Obama Care is failing. People are seeing their premiums double or triple. Their deductibles are also out of sight. This is not healthcare, it a scam. The healthcare industry is abandoning market after market at an alarming pace. Obama Care has become worthless. It is affordable healthcare in name only because it certainly does not provide it to the majority of Americans.
1
No plan will appease everyone. People are worried about opioid addiction; then stop legalizing the gateway dug, marijuana, which enable people to be "high" and move on to narcotics.
I don't know what time it is where you live, but in the rest of America it isn't 1965.
A trump supporter at my church bragged several months ago about how she receives SSDI for a back injury, and now doesn't have to work. She claimed she was surprised that she would be eligible for SSDI and Medicaid, while blasting Obamacare. She said she supports trump because he will bring back jobs. Maybe she and her alcoholic son, whom she suppports and also does not work, will be able to get some of those newly created jobs.
it's all been said, what's left is shame, enough to go around for our congress of k street toadys and for we the people who elected them.
And all this time I thought the Trump Clan and Cohorts were scary.......now the Senate Republicans are even scarier. Combine those two groups and we have catastrophe just waiting in the wings. I would feel safer if the Congress HAD taken a recess. I am very glad I am 86 years old: Good Luck, America!
2
Wow. Making progress. Wish this neuzpaepa would report why Democrats are not contributing. I'm quite sure President Trump wants to negotiate because he understands the Art of the Deal. A fair and square deal for all is the American way!
What is so sad, is how people vote against their own interest thinking they could be rich one day too, it just show you how conman like trump hoodwink many bars works no Americans, it is sad day in America.
1
worth re-watching Michael Moore's Sicko - which reminds us of the bad old days of people without insurance, and with insurance that was a policy in name only and covered nothing. While I found some of the info on places like Cuba a bit ridiculous, the film brings the faces of those who will suffer most here in America if these bills come into law, to the fore.
1
If not for the fact that people will die as a result of this bill I would say go ahead Republicans and pass a bill with the support of 12% of Americans.
These people are criminal. They have health insurance, don't they?
All of us should flood their phones and demonstrate in the streets.
All of us should flood their phones and demonstrate in the streets.
2
Single payer. Just do it.
1
Impeach McConnell, a real piece of work. Revoke his healthcare that's paid by 99 percent of the people.
The Times is nearly always very careful with its wording -- no exception here:
"The revised bill, like the previous version, would roll back the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act..."
Nevertheless, I think most people reading that would (mistakenly) conclude that the Senate bill would reduce Medicaid.
Is a writing misleading when it's technically correct but likely to be misinterpreted by many readers who don't already know about the subject matter? Does it depend on whether the writer intended to deceive readers?
"The revised bill, like the previous version, would roll back the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act..."
Nevertheless, I think most people reading that would (mistakenly) conclude that the Senate bill would reduce Medicaid.
Is a writing misleading when it's technically correct but likely to be misinterpreted by many readers who don't already know about the subject matter? Does it depend on whether the writer intended to deceive readers?
I think Republicans cannot afford Jesus punishing them if they fail to look after poor, aged, and disabled poor - for a camel can enter into the eye of a needle but not the rich man entering the heaven' hope u remember friends. recall b be sensible - poverty anyone can be attacked anytime none knows as none knows next second why boast of your wealth and yet you need benefits.
Where do the Republicans state anywhere "why" they want this bill? Why they want these draconian cuts that will surely harm millions? What good do they think will come from making sure employers don't have to offer insurance for their employees? What about the 76% increase in premiums many will confront? Or the 770 rural hospitals expected to close? Or what will happen when poor women and others can no longer have access to affordable healthcare and pregnancy services because Planned Parenthood clinics have been shut down?
26
Because they want to promote their cynical dogmatic ideological agenda - thats's why. And undo each and every measure by the most intelligent and compassionate president ever - Obama.
The GOP is a bunch of midwestern and southern racists, thats the underlying "why". They can't bear a black man succeed, plain and simple so they need to invent all kind of stuff and give it a sheen of moral concern.
The GOP is a bunch of midwestern and southern racists, thats the underlying "why". They can't bear a black man succeed, plain and simple so they need to invent all kind of stuff and give it a sheen of moral concern.
Medicaid keeps people alive. Even middle income Americans cannot afford nursing home fees. Medicaid pays for our seniors at the end of life. It is no exaggeration that children with pre-existing or the disabled who Mitch had thrown from his office, catheters and breathing tubes, oxygen tanks and all, folks from every walk and age of life will die when they can't pay the skyrocketing costs of insurance. This is a death sentence that 90% of Republicans think is okay, so long as the rich profit from these deaths. We always knew Republicans were at war with the American people but now they will also be defunct.
20
Let's face it, folks. The only goals of Trumpcare are to erase the legacy of the nation's first black President and give the rich a whopping tax break.
56
~
Some day the U.S. will join the 21st century and implement a single payer health care system which, like democracy, is the best system so far devised for a healthy workforce populace. Without one, the U.S. simply shows it doesn't see its citizens as any more than worker cogs in the great machine.
Fortunately, there are better places to raise children.
Better yet, there borders are still open.
Maybe when the U.S. starts losing its most creative, innovative, and productive workers to better places it will see the light.
Of course, walls work two ways, don't they?
Keep people in as well as keep people out.
Americans are headed to a "sad" fate.
Some day the U.S. will join the 21st century and implement a single payer health care system which, like democracy, is the best system so far devised for a healthy workforce populace. Without one, the U.S. simply shows it doesn't see its citizens as any more than worker cogs in the great machine.
Fortunately, there are better places to raise children.
Better yet, there borders are still open.
Maybe when the U.S. starts losing its most creative, innovative, and productive workers to better places it will see the light.
Of course, walls work two ways, don't they?
Keep people in as well as keep people out.
Americans are headed to a "sad" fate.
10
WishFixer,
"Of course, walls work two ways, don't they?
Keep people in as well as keep people out."
Not sure what you're saying here: that the US government might prevent an American from emigrating to another country? I've never heard that, and seriously doubt it. The hard part is finding another country that will let you come. Most countries worth moving to don't let many people in. The countries with open borders usually have no immigration problem because nobody wants to move there. If people ever do want to move there, the country will probably adopt immigration restrictions.
"Of course, walls work two ways, don't they?
Keep people in as well as keep people out."
Not sure what you're saying here: that the US government might prevent an American from emigrating to another country? I've never heard that, and seriously doubt it. The hard part is finding another country that will let you come. Most countries worth moving to don't let many people in. The countries with open borders usually have no immigration problem because nobody wants to move there. If people ever do want to move there, the country will probably adopt immigration restrictions.
That the bill is not getting laughed out of Congress is a sign of how far gone they are.
24
An easy-to-understand summation of the "new" Republican bill:
Just remember what it was like to have, or not have, health insurance before ObamaCare.
Just remember what it was like to have, or not have, health insurance before ObamaCare.
22
For the past six years, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan and other Republican leaders have worked with insurance companies and other groups to sabotage Obamacare because it was regarded as a Democratic victory. They have desperately tried to design a healthcare financing bill which could masquerade to the public as Obamacare 2.0 – better and much cheaper than anything that interloper, Barack Obama, had been able to put together.
Not surprisingly, what the Republicans have come up with is a cruel sham. It is designed to fool working-class people into thinking they have insurance. The guiding force has been the large insurance companies whose executives want to collect more and more premiums for providing less and less insurance.
If the average Trump voter ever wakes up to what the Republican Party is doing to him or, especially, her regarding health care, they will violently revolt. No one wants to be fooled by the politicians they put into office – particularly on a life-and-death issue.
Not surprisingly, what the Republicans have come up with is a cruel sham. It is designed to fool working-class people into thinking they have insurance. The guiding force has been the large insurance companies whose executives want to collect more and more premiums for providing less and less insurance.
If the average Trump voter ever wakes up to what the Republican Party is doing to him or, especially, her regarding health care, they will violently revolt. No one wants to be fooled by the politicians they put into office – particularly on a life-and-death issue.
28
Guess what?
Senate majority leaders don't put a bill up for a vote unless they know ahead of time exactly what the vote will be.
Keeping that in mind, and knowing that McConnell has vowed to put his health care bill to a vote this week, what is your prediction for that vote?
Senate majority leaders don't put a bill up for a vote unless they know ahead of time exactly what the vote will be.
Keeping that in mind, and knowing that McConnell has vowed to put his health care bill to a vote this week, what is your prediction for that vote?
10
That it won't succeed and will be pulled!
Remember that McConnell and Trump previously thought they had the votes, too...
Remember that McConnell and Trump previously thought they had the votes, too...
Other than the "exactly" reference, you're correct.
Cruz's contribution is pointless.
Offering coverage that match's ACAs benefit requirements and opt-out-of what-you-wish plans is unhelpful. The ACA plans will be expensive while the opt-out plans will be cheaper. The problem is that opt-out plans will probably have high deductibles to guard against to adverse selection. Consumers will select plans that cover their conditions so insurance carriers must manage that risk with a high deductible before they are on the hook to pay for care.
The fact that the Republican leadership is ignorant of basic insurance principles is a sad commentary on the brain power of our elected officials. It is even more so when they are so convinced of their expertise that they do not engage respected experts on the topic for guidance.
Offering coverage that match's ACAs benefit requirements and opt-out-of what-you-wish plans is unhelpful. The ACA plans will be expensive while the opt-out plans will be cheaper. The problem is that opt-out plans will probably have high deductibles to guard against to adverse selection. Consumers will select plans that cover their conditions so insurance carriers must manage that risk with a high deductible before they are on the hook to pay for care.
The fact that the Republican leadership is ignorant of basic insurance principles is a sad commentary on the brain power of our elected officials. It is even more so when they are so convinced of their expertise that they do not engage respected experts on the topic for guidance.
14
How strange - the more Republicans revise their ever-more complex mess of a health care bill, the farther away they get from the conservative base of the party which has been pushing for complete repeal for seven years. That being said, all the conservatives will cave as they did in the House. Almost all of the few Republicans that voted "no" on the House bill were more moderate or represented more moderate districts which are vulnerable in midterm elections. As for the Senate, despite bloviating by conservatives, including the renegade Rand Paul, they will all fall in line and pass whatever the conference presents. The only two that might hold out are Collins of Maine and Heller of Nevada (the first on principles, the second on reelection vulnerability). That leaves exactly 50 plus Pence casting the tiebreaking vote. If there's any good news, it's that Trump will blindly sign anything in his desperation to look like he's leading the Party. When all is said and done, he and his Party will own health care for individuals 100%. Whatever infighting is going on behind closed doors now will be exposed by those running for reelection in the midterms. Whether they can win by dissociating from Trump remains to be seen. They might be wise to remember what happened to the Democrats in the first Obama midterm. However, they've been so obsessed with replacing the ACA, it's hard to see them doing the smart thing; i.e., just stabilizing markets for 2018 and taking up repeal/replace later.
10
I think McConnell has realized that he's not going to get his tax cuts for the wealthy through this health care bill -- which has always been the real goal. So he will make whatever compromises he needs to to get his 51 votes and move this thing off the tarmac so that he can move on to a tax cut bill. Then watch out, because that's where he's going to really stick it to the American people -- that is, 90% of us.
21
Completely agree, and we heard it yesterday - pass the repeal and deal with the tax cuts later - meaning 800 billion coming off the backs of the poor, and the middle class and Medicaid future funding to give the 400 rich families what they paid for when they bought this election. It's totally scary, but a wonder that they didn't figure this out sooner. The bill will pass, and I dread what comes next in healthcare and in taxes next year - I am sure I will lose State and local tax deductions and will be hit with new surtaxes, and that my health premiums and deductibles will go way up to cover emergency department losses by hospitals and doctors for people who cannot or do not have insurance. One election that causes so much destruction to so many citizens is hard to fathom in this country
Surprising:
"That's 90% GOP support for a bill that is opposed by every group representing the health care industry."
Big news!
Very often, GM, Ford and Chrysler -- not to mention Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes and Hyundai -- favor proposed legislation that isn't necessarily good for drivers or car owners. As Gomer Pyle used to say: "Surprise, surprise."
The fact that the American Medical Association, for example, opposes a health care bill doesn't mean that bill is bad for patients. It just means it's bad for doctors -- not quite the same thing.
"That's 90% GOP support for a bill that is opposed by every group representing the health care industry."
Big news!
Very often, GM, Ford and Chrysler -- not to mention Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes and Hyundai -- favor proposed legislation that isn't necessarily good for drivers or car owners. As Gomer Pyle used to say: "Surprise, surprise."
The fact that the American Medical Association, for example, opposes a health care bill doesn't mean that bill is bad for patients. It just means it's bad for doctors -- not quite the same thing.
8
Many are understandably upset that the Obama gravy train (Medicaid *expansion*) is coming to an end. It has essentially been used as a revenue stream for many in the health care industry.
As taxpayers, we should be less concerned about the profits of hospitals and more concerned that health outcomes didn't improve and fraud doubled under the *expansion*. Then there is the question whether non-disabled people should be getting more generous benefits than the disabled -- or Medicaid benefits at all.
If the Medicaid *expansion* were allowed to continue grow unimpeded, by 2020 almost 46% of Americans would be getting their health insurance from the federal government.
If we're going to have "single payer" it had better be a lot more efficient and effective than what we have today. "Medicaid for everyone" would bankrupt the country in a decade. The expansion sounds like a boondoggle in terms of checks and controls.
As taxpayers, we should be less concerned about the profits of hospitals and more concerned that health outcomes didn't improve and fraud doubled under the *expansion*. Then there is the question whether non-disabled people should be getting more generous benefits than the disabled -- or Medicaid benefits at all.
If the Medicaid *expansion* were allowed to continue grow unimpeded, by 2020 almost 46% of Americans would be getting their health insurance from the federal government.
If we're going to have "single payer" it had better be a lot more efficient and effective than what we have today. "Medicaid for everyone" would bankrupt the country in a decade. The expansion sounds like a boondoggle in terms of checks and controls.
2
But in this case, it's unequivocally bad for patients!
No matter what you think of the AMA!
No matter what you think of the AMA!
What a load of rubbish! There isn't a single group that has anything to do with healthcare that endorses this bill.
Health savings accounts benefit Wall Street more than Main Street. And they're paired with high deductible health insurance plans, which benefit employers at the expense of employees (transfer more of the cost of providing health insurance). But that's the modern day GOP for you - if it involves bleeding the middle class, they're all over it.
13
Another commenter wisely pointed out that this article "buries the lede" -- Cruz's amendment to allow states to permit stripped-down health-insurance policies as long as the state allows at least one ACA-compliant policy.
As others have predicted, Cruz's amendment would result in most people choosing a "stripped-down" policy, not the ACA-compliant policy, because premiums would be much lower. The only people who would choose the ACA-compliant policy would be those who have medical problems that are not covered by stripped-down policies (i.e. pre-existing conditions) but are covered by the ACA-compliant policy.
That would erase the ACA mandate that people with pre-existing conditions be covered at the same rate as other people, since the "pool" for those who choose the ACA-compliant policy would be mostly high-cost patients that insurance companies won't want, except at high premiums.
That being so, it will all boil down to how much of a subsidy is provided by the government for ACA-compliant policies. My understanding is that the Cruz amendment would be offset by a very large increase in the government subsidy for ACA-compliant policies. If so, that's good.
The NYT is surprisingly vague on this key point.
As others have predicted, Cruz's amendment would result in most people choosing a "stripped-down" policy, not the ACA-compliant policy, because premiums would be much lower. The only people who would choose the ACA-compliant policy would be those who have medical problems that are not covered by stripped-down policies (i.e. pre-existing conditions) but are covered by the ACA-compliant policy.
That would erase the ACA mandate that people with pre-existing conditions be covered at the same rate as other people, since the "pool" for those who choose the ACA-compliant policy would be mostly high-cost patients that insurance companies won't want, except at high premiums.
That being so, it will all boil down to how much of a subsidy is provided by the government for ACA-compliant policies. My understanding is that the Cruz amendment would be offset by a very large increase in the government subsidy for ACA-compliant policies. If so, that's good.
The NYT is surprisingly vague on this key point.
3
And people who don't get subsidies would be screwed because plans that covered anything of worth would be totally unaffordable.
When ideologues try to govern, you end up with... ideology. Who could have guessed?
But why did we have to end up with Ayn Rand as our right's patron saint?
In an alternative universe, the US is governed by Asimovians, who follow the principles of Isaac Asimov. I am not saying it would be better governance (are ideologues ever actually intelligent?) but at least we would be talking about space colonies and rocket ships, instead of this crass dogmatism that everyone gets what they deserve, and if you can't afford it you don't deserve it.
I wish the Republicans would just be out and proud, and admit that here in the US everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, relative of course to the market price such things at any given time command.
But why did we have to end up with Ayn Rand as our right's patron saint?
In an alternative universe, the US is governed by Asimovians, who follow the principles of Isaac Asimov. I am not saying it would be better governance (are ideologues ever actually intelligent?) but at least we would be talking about space colonies and rocket ships, instead of this crass dogmatism that everyone gets what they deserve, and if you can't afford it you don't deserve it.
I wish the Republicans would just be out and proud, and admit that here in the US everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, relative of course to the market price such things at any given time command.
3
It is unreal that, a few heartless MEN can decide what health care they want to force on almost 400 million people in this country. The only just health care is the health care that covers everyone equally, including president, senators, member of congress and their families. As long as they and their families are covered by the best health care for the rest of their life, the big guys are going to force a substandard heath care to the rest of us. They don't care if the old, the poor, and people with disabilities are left out to die. An ex republican friend of mine called it the survival of the fittest. SHAME on them.
14
Dear Republicans: Nyet. Just Nyet. Is that all you've got? Pathetic.
6
McConnel is a dinosaur. Why he isn't extinct is beyond my comprehension. I hope that Kentucky voters get rid of him for their own good.
14
Speaking of dinosaurs, what's Pelosi up to?
The Republicans already have it in the bag. They are just creating a cliff hanger to distract attention away from the President. When the time comes, we'll have another 50/50 split (so that some senators can appease their constituents) and Pence will cast the tie breaking vote.
7
I think that health savings accounts are just a clever way to shift more burden and costs to healthcare consumers.
11
When McConnell flashes that fake grin, He knows he is trying to sell fraudulent changes to an already unacceptable bill.
Watch what he does with his other hand and you will see the frauds.
With one hand he accepts the Cruz proposal that will put those with pre-existing conditions in one plan. With his other hand he adds $70 billion, which won't put a dent in the premiums of those with pre-existing conditions, and claims they will be protected. Yeah, like offering to pay the tip if you pay for the meal!
With one hand he leaves the 4% tax on investment income greater than $200,000/$250,000. With his other hand he greatly increased the amount of first dollar income the wealthy can invest in HSAs (for as long as they live and then pass it to their heirs!), use tax free money to pay premiums, deduct more medical expenses, etc. Yeah, he was only being fair to other taxpayers, most of whom don't have lots of extra cash to invest in HSAs.
With one hand he adds $45 billion for opioids treatment to give Portman and Capito a fig leaf for their vote. He holds his other hand over Republican Gov Kasich's mouth when he says you might as well spit in the ocean.
With one hand he allows insurers to sell plans with skinny coverage, to limit plan reimbursement, exclude the sick from coverage, etc. With his other hand he diverts attention from CEOs of leading insurance companies who said this won't work and they don't want to offer such plans
Next week watch his smile & his other hand
Watch what he does with his other hand and you will see the frauds.
With one hand he accepts the Cruz proposal that will put those with pre-existing conditions in one plan. With his other hand he adds $70 billion, which won't put a dent in the premiums of those with pre-existing conditions, and claims they will be protected. Yeah, like offering to pay the tip if you pay for the meal!
With one hand he leaves the 4% tax on investment income greater than $200,000/$250,000. With his other hand he greatly increased the amount of first dollar income the wealthy can invest in HSAs (for as long as they live and then pass it to their heirs!), use tax free money to pay premiums, deduct more medical expenses, etc. Yeah, he was only being fair to other taxpayers, most of whom don't have lots of extra cash to invest in HSAs.
With one hand he adds $45 billion for opioids treatment to give Portman and Capito a fig leaf for their vote. He holds his other hand over Republican Gov Kasich's mouth when he says you might as well spit in the ocean.
With one hand he allows insurers to sell plans with skinny coverage, to limit plan reimbursement, exclude the sick from coverage, etc. With his other hand he diverts attention from CEOs of leading insurance companies who said this won't work and they don't want to offer such plans
Next week watch his smile & his other hand
8
Of course divisions remain.
By now, with Obamacare, everyone wants free stuff. Nobody should have to pay for their own healthcare; the RICH should pay for them. Everyone always votes for free stuff, for themselves.
That is why "Democracy" never works.
Personally, I'm the self-employed person who was booted off my plan, in 2013. So, I have no "health insurance." For four years
My D3 level is 80; The average American citizen is 20; signally disease.
I am a healthy person. I want catastrophic insurance, which is what insurance should be. Something unexpected, happens. Hit by a bus; but even then, the auto insurance medical would cover it.
Or, I don't even know.
The reality, everyone just wants free stuff. And the government will provide it.
This is how empires end. The takers exceed the Makers; and it all falls apart.
By now, with Obamacare, everyone wants free stuff. Nobody should have to pay for their own healthcare; the RICH should pay for them. Everyone always votes for free stuff, for themselves.
That is why "Democracy" never works.
Personally, I'm the self-employed person who was booted off my plan, in 2013. So, I have no "health insurance." For four years
My D3 level is 80; The average American citizen is 20; signally disease.
I am a healthy person. I want catastrophic insurance, which is what insurance should be. Something unexpected, happens. Hit by a bus; but even then, the auto insurance medical would cover it.
Or, I don't even know.
The reality, everyone just wants free stuff. And the government will provide it.
This is how empires end. The takers exceed the Makers; and it all falls apart.
1
What if the catastrophic coverage you want has, say, a $100K lifetime limit? And maybe doesn't cover chemotherapy? Or can't be used at a hospital near enough to you when you gave to go in for chemo or radiation therapy several times per week? And what if you don't qualify for a high risk pool, or it takes weeks or months for you to be assigned while you get sicker?
These are real life pre-ACA scenarios. The ACA does not resolve all of these access and cost issues, but I don't see how the GOP plan will help people like you and me. (I am also now self-employed, 57 yrs old, and have a pretty good policy via the ACA exchange in Calif). And this new plan could hurt millions of people, and we should not assume are unworthy of access to healthcare.
These are real life pre-ACA scenarios. The ACA does not resolve all of these access and cost issues, but I don't see how the GOP plan will help people like you and me. (I am also now self-employed, 57 yrs old, and have a pretty good policy via the ACA exchange in Calif). And this new plan could hurt millions of people, and we should not assume are unworthy of access to healthcare.
1
I think you drank the Ayn Rand KoolAid. There is nominsurance for that poison.
1
What a colossal waste of time, energy and money. Instead of being hell-bent on destroying something that was making real progress simply because it has Obama's name on it (a name the GOP assigned to it BTW), they should spend their efforts shoring up the insurance market and working to bring down medical costs and prescription drug costs. There is a lot of waste and greed in our healthcare system and the costs are zapping our economy as many us (and our employers) pay more and more into the system and get less and less out of it. The only viable answer is to take the for-profit insurance industry out of healthcare and go with a single-payer distributed cost model that works for just about every other country in some form or another. If you want to boost GDP, it starts with a healthy workforce. The humane thing to do is to give people real help for their obesity, diabetes, mental health and opioid addictions as well as support for those with long-term disabilities and special needs. But the GOP is far from humane, so the rich get richer and everyone else can die in bankruptcy.
267
Rick C., you must be one of the smartest, wisest, and most articulate people in St. Louis. If you're not, then that city is full of astute thinkers and writers.
Your comment packs a powerful political punch: you said a lot in just a few words, which is hard to do. If Repub Congressmen cared about people and humane policies that work, they would follow your advice. So be prepared to be totally ignored in every way by them; but we NYTimes readers hear you and appreciate your comments.
You and I ought to send a copy of your comments to our representatives nonetheless. Would Marco Rubio listen or be moved? Hmmm ... probably not, but ya gotta try.
Your comment packs a powerful political punch: you said a lot in just a few words, which is hard to do. If Repub Congressmen cared about people and humane policies that work, they would follow your advice. So be prepared to be totally ignored in every way by them; but we NYTimes readers hear you and appreciate your comments.
You and I ought to send a copy of your comments to our representatives nonetheless. Would Marco Rubio listen or be moved? Hmmm ... probably not, but ya gotta try.
I'm with you 100% except for the part of giving people "help for their obesity." Unless you mean mandatory nutrition education in schools, discounted/free memberships to gyms, and/or taxes on sodas, then I'm not sure how you can "help" all obese people. I am at a loss why people who eat enormous quantities of fat- and sugar-laden food fail to see the connection between their behavior, their obesity, and their obesity-related illnesses. If you could see the number of obese people that I see on a regular basis in the rural South, you would understand that nothing short of taping their mouths shut will "help people with their obesity." (Our most popular BBQ place here serves a huge plate of "loaded tater tots" which are, of course, deep fried, and covered in pulled pork, liquid cheese, sour cream, and BBQ sauce. How can someone think that eating that won't make them fat?!)
Much too sensible for this government to adopt.
This is the 2018 electioneering bill by isolated people of privilege who inhabit a luxurious echo chamber into which little public input enters.
We DO NOT have a "Government of the People. We have a Government of the Government People and the rich who paid for it and as health industry shareholders, they will profit handsomely. So will the banks if this comes to be creating health savings accounts.
We DO NOT have a "Government of the People. We have a Government of the Government People and the rich who paid for it and as health industry shareholders, they will profit handsomely. So will the banks if this comes to be creating health savings accounts.
3
Show me someone making 40000 a year with a family of four who can contribute to a medical savings account and I will sell you a bridge i know about. Do they have any clue how expensive it is to raise a family in this day and age? Even at a 50k household, you can barely afford a house and food and a car. This only helps people like me who make a decent living in a two income household. I will gladly pay a but more in taxes to help everyone have access to healthcare. Most people in my income bracket are willing. How is that none in this country likes their bill but they are still trying to shove it down our throats? Why aren't they being asked this every time they stand in front of a microphone?
11
Where's the GOP bill to enable the 28 million without insurance today to get insurance, as well as their bill to reduce costs by 40%, something other countries are able to do?
5
I have said this before, but it bears repeating. What exactly do these senators think that people who lose there insurance coverage are going to do? Do they think that a father who loses a child for lack of care will simply "oh well, sucks to be my kid"? Do they suspect that they will be able to quietly and safely walk the streets after a husband loses his spouse because the repealed the ACA? Indeed, I depend on the ACA for treatment that, were it to be withdrawn, would leave me with the dilemma of certain death within months.
What exactly do these Republicans think all the people they hurt will do? For myself, I can say I will confront one of these senators to their home district, or possibly meet them at their next public event. The meeting will NOT be cordial! Will these men and women charged with doing what their constituencies want, really want to wonder each time they appear in public if one of those ex-ACA recipients is in the audience. Who knows what they might do? Even George Bush got hit with a pair of shoes thrown by an Iraqi guy who felt Bush had instigated the murder of members of his family. Given the track record of U.S. citizens, who may very well feel like they have nothing left to lose, what do you think they will do? Do you really want thousands and thousands of people who feel their life is over because you cast a feckless vote in the Senate?
What exactly do these Republicans think all the people they hurt will do? For myself, I can say I will confront one of these senators to their home district, or possibly meet them at their next public event. The meeting will NOT be cordial! Will these men and women charged with doing what their constituencies want, really want to wonder each time they appear in public if one of those ex-ACA recipients is in the audience. Who knows what they might do? Even George Bush got hit with a pair of shoes thrown by an Iraqi guy who felt Bush had instigated the murder of members of his family. Given the track record of U.S. citizens, who may very well feel like they have nothing left to lose, what do you think they will do? Do you really want thousands and thousands of people who feel their life is over because you cast a feckless vote in the Senate?
6
Dear Elected Members of the House and the Senate:
Your House and Senate Bills will not be what the pubic expects from either of you. Handle the desire to reduce entitlements in another public manner with appropriate airing. People want and all need the essential benefits at a price affordable according to one's income without the fear of becoming bankrupt.
Republican's are being far to literal in interpretation by stating that either of these two pieces of legislation represent what your constituents are asking with the "Repeal and Replace" mantra.
Your House and Senate Bills will not be what the pubic expects from either of you. Handle the desire to reduce entitlements in another public manner with appropriate airing. People want and all need the essential benefits at a price affordable according to one's income without the fear of becoming bankrupt.
Republican's are being far to literal in interpretation by stating that either of these two pieces of legislation represent what your constituents are asking with the "Repeal and Replace" mantra.
3
Breaks my heart to see the smile on the face of the young woman walking with McConnell. What is she thinking? (rhetorical) Hope someone clues her in.
3
Insurance, especially health insurance, has several features that set it apart from other business activities as appropriate for a public undertaking -- along the lines of national defense and taxation management.
1. As long as the laws of statistics hold, there is little risk in the insurance business. That is, an often-cited justification of private profit, namely, the risk to the capital assumed by the capitalist. is irrelevant here.
2. Health insurance in particular is a matter of existential significance to the nation as a whole. Along with the military and the law-and-order apparatus, the proper place for health insurance is among the array of public undertakings.
3. The very idea of insurance -- one for all and all for one -- is a rebuke to using the fear of ill health for making private profit. [Private companies can still bid for the fingers of piano players, the throwing arms of baseball pitchers as well as their cars and homes.]
And there's no need to re-invent the wheel either. In virtually every enlightened nation single-payer rules.
1. As long as the laws of statistics hold, there is little risk in the insurance business. That is, an often-cited justification of private profit, namely, the risk to the capital assumed by the capitalist. is irrelevant here.
2. Health insurance in particular is a matter of existential significance to the nation as a whole. Along with the military and the law-and-order apparatus, the proper place for health insurance is among the array of public undertakings.
3. The very idea of insurance -- one for all and all for one -- is a rebuke to using the fear of ill health for making private profit. [Private companies can still bid for the fingers of piano players, the throwing arms of baseball pitchers as well as their cars and homes.]
And there's no need to re-invent the wheel either. In virtually every enlightened nation single-payer rules.
8
I propose an easy fix for all of the US healthcare woes: simply require that Congress members buy their health insurance through the free market business model that they think works so well. If Mitch & Co. had to insure their families using non-employer-tied coverage options, all of this nonsense they spout about "consumer freedom" in healthcare would be over in a flash. How absurd that they are insulated from ANY effects of the healthcare laws they pass.
9
This travesty proposed for enactment by the Senate calls for the requisite number of senators - just one if Collins and Paul stand fast in opposition, as has been reported - to act in a way meriting nothing less than a "profile-in-courage" designation for voting no.
2
It may seem like only words, but words having meaning and words are the blood of our Democracy.
So, when McConnell, et. al., present legislation for health care they are in fact only presenting legislation about health care insurance. What they are not legislating is health care. And this is the importance of words in our Democracy. Case in point is the Gang of Thirteen without any women present legislating about women's health care "insurance."
So, when McConnell, et. al., present legislation for health care they are in fact only presenting legislation about health care insurance. What they are not legislating is health care. And this is the importance of words in our Democracy. Case in point is the Gang of Thirteen without any women present legislating about women's health care "insurance."
3
"the Senate’s most conservative Republicans, who want less regulation of health insurance, and moderate Republicans concerned about people who would be left uninsured."
So it's all about regulation as a priority over people dying?? Not that controversial.
I wonder.
Maybe it's all about who is paying who to do what? Yeah, that sounds like a controversial subject.
So it's all about regulation as a priority over people dying?? Not that controversial.
I wonder.
Maybe it's all about who is paying who to do what? Yeah, that sounds like a controversial subject.
1
Will the Democrats offer well thought-out amendments that put the interests of the American people first, or will they follow the Republican model of unenlightened partisanship perfected during the 8 years that their sole raison d'etre was opposing President Obama?
1
With all the battling over the bill, I haven't heard anything about what will happen after the Senate approves it (an unlikely event, of course). From there it would go to a House/Senate conference committee, which will have the impossible task of reconciling the Senate and House versions. And whatever they might come up with will have to overcome the even greater hurdle of getting both Houses of Congress to approve it. Just as one example, the House will not be happy with the removal of the tax reductions -- and the House version passed there by the thin margin of two votes.
2
Cruz is Hispanic yet he would crucify the poor of his ethnicity by supporting a healthcare bill that will harm and even sometimes bring death to some. He is up for reelection. Vote him out of office. You have that right.
11
Maybe a healthcare lottery. Maybe train someone in every family to be a doctor. Maybe deport sick people. Maybe insure half the country for 6 months then the other half for 6 months. I beginning to think its hard to destroy Americas safety net without people being upset. Maybe single payer.
13
Seems to me that the current Medicare risk pool - seniors - would benefit by the addition of - everyone else. Call it McConnellCare, TrumpCare or even IvankaCare; whatever you want. Just get it done. If not, well we have elections coming up next year...
9
It's quite interesting that for 9 out of 10 issues, the GOP can usually stick together like glued fingers. But for whatever reason, thankfully, they are having a hard time doing it. I'm glad there is a rift. From one side who wants to see no healthcare (oddly, people like Cruz who are religious crazies) and form the other people who want more care but parceled out to select people.
And this is one thing democrats have done well with sticking together over.
And this is one thing democrats have done well with sticking together over.
8
How is this called a "fresh" new approach to healthcare??
No public input? Our Senators hiding out??
The American Medical Assoc and AARP and the Nurses Association and pediatricians and 83% % of America think this stinks.
No public input? Our Senators hiding out??
The American Medical Assoc and AARP and the Nurses Association and pediatricians and 83% % of America think this stinks.
13
Look at those smiles! So happy to be ringing the death knell for the elderly, children, the poor, the middle-class, the addicted, and the mentally ill. I truly don't know what lies the GOP tells themselves before they go to sleep at night. How they can be so righteous -- and so un-Christian -- is beyond me.
18
We are currently being ruled by a bunch of 9-year-olds. They just want something to pass so they can say 'Hey, we won!' Nowhere in their heads is the concept of what is best for the American people. Mitch McConnell should be replaced as the Senate Majority Leader. He's a complete disaster.
15
How can this even be called a health care bill? It is nothing more than a Ponzi scheme to divert resources from the middle class and the poor to the wealthiest among us because we all know that these job creators need more financial resources. What is even more depressing is the fact that this bill does nothing to lower premiums, bolster the exchanges and provide coverage for more people. If this passes gird your loins. Ryan and McConnell will dismantle Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Welcome to the world of modern Eugenics.
11
Healthcare is a fundamental human right and everyone should have at full coverage. Nothing more, nothing less...
13
We all are Bear Boy .Just as we all pay for Public lands.The thing here is that that dirty word "socialism ", is what created a safety net that
afforded your grand parents ,the ability to thrive , which in effect ,is why you are writing on this board today .
Now, onto climate change and your future generations .
afforded your grand parents ,the ability to thrive , which in effect ,is why you are writing on this board today .
Now, onto climate change and your future generations .
6
In reality, it's just sad that there aren't 51 senators from both parties who can find some kind of reasonable middle ground. Sad, and scary.
In reality, healthcare was done in 2010. Done. Why do people expect the good people who did good work to go back and do it over?
1
After 7 years of false claims and incessant whining about the ACA, the Republican House and the Republican Senate have produced bills that are so bad that can barely rally their own caucuses to support them. And so bad that insurance companies, hospitals, doctors nurses, and patient advocacy groups that rarely find common ground are united in their opposition to these abominations. The members of Congress who support this madness have one and only one objective. It is not to replace a bad health care law with a better one. It is to erase Obama's legacy at any cost -- even if that cost involves diminishing the quality of millions of Americans' lives and sending hundreds of thousands of Americans to early graves.
Our apathy, our political ignorance, and our willingness to allow self-serving politicians to manipulate and divide us is literally killing us. It is time to make it stop.
Our apathy, our political ignorance, and our willingness to allow self-serving politicians to manipulate and divide us is literally killing us. It is time to make it stop.
12
If it allows companies to offer insurance that doesn't cover those in need, can we call it something other than a health care bill?
2
I've not read the bill, but the process that gave it birth tells me it is bad for anyone that is not already rich. Those that would be affected most are too busy watching Fox and listening to Rush to know they will soon be blindsided.
So, I hope it passes and becomes a wake-up call for the Trump crowd. Maybe then, we can get everyone a decent level of basic heath care.
So, I hope it passes and becomes a wake-up call for the Trump crowd. Maybe then, we can get everyone a decent level of basic heath care.
3
All senators and congressmen should be required to buy their own health insurance through this new "plan" of theirs. No more separate, but unequal health care for them. Then they will have some skin in the game for which they set the rules.
11
I keep asking this question over and over again. Who are the congressional republicans working for?
They grab the votes from their overwhelming poor and ignorant constituents and turn around to stab behind them by throwing them under the bus to work for the 0.1% mega rich.
The vile and soulless lawmakers continue to lie through their teeth to their constituents and systematically destroy them while smiling at their face.
The nation as whole is suffering as a direct result of the stupidity of the uninformed conservative constituents, so pathetic.
They grab the votes from their overwhelming poor and ignorant constituents and turn around to stab behind them by throwing them under the bus to work for the 0.1% mega rich.
The vile and soulless lawmakers continue to lie through their teeth to their constituents and systematically destroy them while smiling at their face.
The nation as whole is suffering as a direct result of the stupidity of the uninformed conservative constituents, so pathetic.
6
It has been said that, "people vote their values, not their interests."
David Brooks has a good column about this from about two weeks ago.
David Brooks has a good column about this from about two weeks ago.
God Bless Senator Susan Collins and any other Republican Senator with a conscience who will save the nation from this newest despicable iteration of Trumpcare.
10
What a disgrace. Instead of making efforts to improve the ACA and make it work better for more people, the Republicans want to tear it to shreds, because it was Obama's work. If this isn't screaming racism, what is?
Shame on all of us.
Shame on all of us.
6
Would somebody with an ounce of mercy put this catastrophic Republican "health care" bill out of its misery? We know Republicans don't give a hoot about health care and wish it would die. Why then do they continue to beat this dead horse? They are a miserable lot, are they not?
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
7
The MOST miserable, Dennis...I could just see and hear what would go on if someone tried to do this to them, and to their families...
3
The Senate's biggest problem with the ACA is that it is not called Gopcare, or Trumpcare; why not fix that rather than destroying health care in America? It wouldn't even be exactly a lie, since the ACA, once called Romneycare and designed by right wing "think" tanks, is the compromise that the Dems accepted to get anything good passed. But no, the crazies on the far far right control the primaries and the GOP Senators are cowards.
4
I hate to be skeptical but really? Giving up your tax cuts! I really don't buy it. I smell back room deals. And very bad coverage is no coverage at all. While Ryan is making congress safe for all you from all the"bare naked armed ladies," we have Fifty guys and Gals still willing to sell their constituents down the road to early graves! GOOD GOD US!
5
So Senator Scalise, what do you think about what kind of healthcare insurance should be offered to Americans ?
5
"...even though the GOP's health care bills have polled poorly, and they will be forced to defend yanking insurance coverage from millions, a worse result would be failing to repeal. That would undermine the GOP's ability to present itself as a governing party, while breaking seven years of promises." What's good for the American people is secondary to what's good for the Republican party. I would be ashamed of calling myself a servant of the people. May all of you who vote for the bill and who tremble in fear of the wrath of Trump lose in your bid for re-election 2018. The clock is ticking...
4
This proposal is a nightmare brewing. We are no longer an advanced civilization. We have devolved to Tribalism and barbarism.
This is nature at it's worst as we are now faced with a government of human predators.
If you Senators have any sense of compassion, righteousness or a sense of responsibility to the well being of your constituents, you must vote no on this theft of a bill.
This is nature at it's worst as we are now faced with a government of human predators.
If you Senators have any sense of compassion, righteousness or a sense of responsibility to the well being of your constituents, you must vote no on this theft of a bill.
9
All legislators must share the bill that they pass for their medical care. Better still, pass as is and let their constituents finally get the real picture when they discover the folks they voted for just pulled the rug out from under them. These legislators best be careful, there going to be a whole lot of angry folks out there. Election time comes around and the fools who voted for t-rump and his band of fools all will get the boot, if the voters wake up.
2
The unfixable problem with their healthcare bill is that it is not about healthcare.
5
We need single payer healthcare in this country.
Mr. McConnell, if this bill fails, try to be old-fashioned and sit down with the Democrats and craft legislation to fix Obamacare's problems, and stop trying to sabotage it.
I'll never understand why you don't care that millions of people will die sooner than they were meant to if you succeed in this evil quest; I'll just assume you were born with a lump of coal where your heart is supposed to be and leave it at that.
I hope the ghost of Everett Dirksen visits you late tonight, a la Dickens, and says: "Compromise or face the dire consequences!"
Mr. McConnell, if this bill fails, try to be old-fashioned and sit down with the Democrats and craft legislation to fix Obamacare's problems, and stop trying to sabotage it.
I'll never understand why you don't care that millions of people will die sooner than they were meant to if you succeed in this evil quest; I'll just assume you were born with a lump of coal where your heart is supposed to be and leave it at that.
I hope the ghost of Everett Dirksen visits you late tonight, a la Dickens, and says: "Compromise or face the dire consequences!"
5
Same old story--a cynical, blatant attempt to further enrich insurance companies at the expense of everyone but the very wealthy. Get the insurance industry OUT of the business of healthcare, or no resulting legislation will do anything different.
6
Mr. McConnell, Mr. Ryan, Mr. President:
You have broken few the promises you made to us:
1. You promised to get rid of 3.8% tax on Investment income for me.
2. You promised to get rid of 0.9% payroll tax I was paying.
3. You promised to repeal ACA but your plan is ACA tier II.
4. You promised 1 trillion infrastructure spending. I have seen 0.
5. You promised for tax cuts and reform. 0 progress.
I hope you will look at your campaign clips and do something for us.
Why we should vote for you in 2020.
You have broken few the promises you made to us:
1. You promised to get rid of 3.8% tax on Investment income for me.
2. You promised to get rid of 0.9% payroll tax I was paying.
3. You promised to repeal ACA but your plan is ACA tier II.
4. You promised 1 trillion infrastructure spending. I have seen 0.
5. You promised for tax cuts and reform. 0 progress.
I hope you will look at your campaign clips and do something for us.
Why we should vote for you in 2020.
2
Why did you vote for him in 2016?
Hospitals in the US are required to accept persons who cannot pay for treatment in Emergency Rooms. This needs to be dropped so that those who are insured are not required to pay for those who are not. This back door is used by those who want the "freedom" to remain uninsured but who want to have access to treatment. In Germany, treatment is given to those who have insurance or who can prove that they can pay.
1
Sorry pal , this still is a Democracy in name perhaps only .I don't believe that Germany allows it's citizens to die on the street although you seem to think that mabe preferable .merkel just took in thousands of refugees .the U.S did not .
And who was the country responsible ? Germany seems to be doing more than it's fair share cleaning up the remains of war .
Everyone is entitled to healthcare .Actually ,healthcare is not an entitlement , it is a right .
And who was the country responsible ? Germany seems to be doing more than it's fair share cleaning up the remains of war .
Everyone is entitled to healthcare .Actually ,healthcare is not an entitlement , it is a right .
2
Last I heard, Germany is a democracy, and Angela Merkel is now widely viewed as the leader of the free world.
When one of the parties creates a single payer system divorcing us from the thieving insurance companies that will surely give us a more definitive universal healthcare plan I will not pay attention to any of the suggestions for national healthcare. In particular, any plan that the GOP creates since only the aristocracy, otherwise known as the elites, will be able to afford it while leaving millions without.
4
The way this legislation was put together will forever remain the antithesis of the way the Senate has designed, debated, amended, voted on and passed legislation with the support of the people through testimony and the well considered actions of their elected representatives.
McConnell has earned himself permanent membership in the Senate Hall of Shame.
McConnell has earned himself permanent membership in the Senate Hall of Shame.
4
It gets tiresome to keep saying this, but follow the money.
Who benefits under a single-payer system?
Who loses under a single-payer system?
Who contributes the most money to Republican campaigns?
Once you answer all of the above questions, it becomes understandable how the GOP can support a plan that the majority of Americans oppose.
Who benefits under a single-payer system?
Who loses under a single-payer system?
Who contributes the most money to Republican campaigns?
Once you answer all of the above questions, it becomes understandable how the GOP can support a plan that the majority of Americans oppose.
3
In principle, the idea of having the government subsidize plans for those with preexisting conditions, as opposed to having young people pay a lot more than otherwise required by their actuarial risk has some merit.
But, how would this work in reality? Let us look at maternity benefits. I imagine roughly only one in ten families requires these services. Given that the costs remain the same, this would mean that anybody wanting to be insured for maternity benefits would have to pay ten times more, before subsidies, for said insurance.
Given that the people requiring maternity benefits are probably the young, it might even out in the end.
I can already foresee huge logistic problems trying to manage health insurance.
I don't think the republicans fully understand how messy their new plan is about to become.
But, how would this work in reality? Let us look at maternity benefits. I imagine roughly only one in ten families requires these services. Given that the costs remain the same, this would mean that anybody wanting to be insured for maternity benefits would have to pay ten times more, before subsidies, for said insurance.
Given that the people requiring maternity benefits are probably the young, it might even out in the end.
I can already foresee huge logistic problems trying to manage health insurance.
I don't think the republicans fully understand how messy their new plan is about to become.
Anyone who trusts Republicans to do the right thing needs to heed the words of FDR in 1936.
----- Let me warn you and let me warn the Nation against the smooth evasion which says, "Of course we believe all these things; we believe in social security; we believe in work for the unemployed; we believe in saving homes. We believe in health care. Cross our hearts and hope to die, we believe in all these things; but we do not like the way the present Administration is doing them. Just turn them over to us. We will do all of them- we will do more of them we will do them better; and, most important of all, the doing of them will not cost anybody anything." -----
OK, I added the specific sentence about to health care, and the reference to the "present Administration" is not timely, but FDR's words express the mentality of today's Republicans even more so than the party of his day.
----- Let me warn you and let me warn the Nation against the smooth evasion which says, "Of course we believe all these things; we believe in social security; we believe in work for the unemployed; we believe in saving homes. We believe in health care. Cross our hearts and hope to die, we believe in all these things; but we do not like the way the present Administration is doing them. Just turn them over to us. We will do all of them- we will do more of them we will do them better; and, most important of all, the doing of them will not cost anybody anything." -----
OK, I added the specific sentence about to health care, and the reference to the "present Administration" is not timely, but FDR's words express the mentality of today's Republicans even more so than the party of his day.
16
This Republican plan does nothing to address the two major issues: the cost of health care (we have the most expensive health care system in the world) and covering the millions of uninsured. This is health care legislation in name only, Of course, the primary goal from the beginning has been political--destroy the major accomplishment of Obama--not making health care available to the American people at affordable prices. Explain to me why we taxpayers have to pay for the salaries, benefits, and retirement programs for all these deadbeats that have done nothing to advance the public/common good?
22
"The bill also provides $45 billion to help combat the opioid abuse crisis." No money for meth or crack addition--ain't white enough.
26
The sad truth about this bill is that it is so close to being passed.
If they can pass this bill then they can default on the national debt, destroy Medicare and start another war.
Tell me, what exactly is the Republican Party good for and who do they really work for? I guess that we will find out the really, really hard way.
If they can pass this bill then they can default on the national debt, destroy Medicare and start another war.
Tell me, what exactly is the Republican Party good for and who do they really work for? I guess that we will find out the really, really hard way.
26
The RP is good for the NRA and the Medical, Pharma and Military Complexes, and they really work for the global 1%, led by Putin. Think Koch, Mercer, Adelson, Exxon, ... Trump is just their puppet, they sold out since Reagan.
1
The primary reason that healthcare works in other countries such as Japan is that Japanese people are more likely to take personal responsibility for their health. Americans, on the whole, are simply irresponsible when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. There is no healthcare system that will work when a large fraction of the population subsists on the nutritional equivalent of twinkies and cheeseburgers. Regardless of political persuasion, those of us who make the effort to eat healthy food and exercise will always subsidize the folks who choose to do otherwise.
7
Ever thought about why a large fraction of the population subsists on the nutritional equivalent of twinkies and cheeseburgers? Let's forbid promoting that junk to start with, tax it with 50% and generally treat it the way we have come to treat smoking! And make sure mom and pop groceries providing fresh produce in low income areas can thrive.
3
How does this nonsense get traction on every comment thread?
6', 175 lbs, resting heart rate in the mid 40's, normal blood pressure, non smoker, primarily plant eater.
2 surgeries: for sleep apnea and to remove staph infected tissue inside a leg joint.
What did I do wrong to cause myself those afflictions? The second required a 5 day hospital stay!
6', 175 lbs, resting heart rate in the mid 40's, normal blood pressure, non smoker, primarily plant eater.
2 surgeries: for sleep apnea and to remove staph infected tissue inside a leg joint.
What did I do wrong to cause myself those afflictions? The second required a 5 day hospital stay!
5
Have some proof to back up 98 percent Americans don't try their best to ear healthy and exercise?
4
Does Ted Cruz know how insurance works? It sure doesn't sound like it.
10
Lady Susan Collins for President.
6
I would really like to know how Ted Cruz got elected to Congress?
17
Well ... DUH! Together with the house version his is the most disastrous and idiotic bill to come to a vote in my lifetime. It has terrible consequences for the huge majority of Americans, and that is why less than 20% of voters approve of it.
This bill is a test of two things only:
1. how cravenly dependent Republican representatives are on their big-money 0.1% constituency, and hence how willing they are to hurt millions to give them a tax cut
2. How stupid ordinary Republican voters are.
The evidence from town hall meetings and the public polling is that ordinary Republicans aren't as stupid as their representatives need them to be, to pull this off.
The Democrats and the handful of prudent Republicans who oppose this bill due to the harm it does are saving all the rest of the Republicans from political hara-kiri.
Get this farce over with.
This bill is a test of two things only:
1. how cravenly dependent Republican representatives are on their big-money 0.1% constituency, and hence how willing they are to hurt millions to give them a tax cut
2. How stupid ordinary Republican voters are.
The evidence from town hall meetings and the public polling is that ordinary Republicans aren't as stupid as their representatives need them to be, to pull this off.
The Democrats and the handful of prudent Republicans who oppose this bill due to the harm it does are saving all the rest of the Republicans from political hara-kiri.
Get this farce over with.
15
This bill HAS TO PASS because Reps promised their constituency! Period!
And once it passes - is there a need to purchase insurance.? Can everyone go instead to emergency? That would be like a single payer. Is that even possible?
Maybe that is what our response should be to these buffoons.
And once it passes - is there a need to purchase insurance.? Can everyone go instead to emergency? That would be like a single payer. Is that even possible?
Maybe that is what our response should be to these buffoons.
9
Too bad we can't impeach McConnell,Ryan and Cruz. They deserve it! Their healthcare plan belongs to the Dark Ages and reduces Americans to serfdom. These guys have great insurance and live in their ivory towers so they worry. But WE ARE THE PEOPLE and this is OUR
Healthcare. They have no right to destroy it but they want to. We want a Universal healthcare for all. Nothing else is fit and honorable. We VOTE!
Healthcare. They have no right to destroy it but they want to. We want a Universal healthcare for all. Nothing else is fit and honorable. We VOTE!
19
These people are cowards, as are Paul Ryan and his cohorts. They are entirely unconcerned with medical care for poor and middle class people, and entirely consumed with lowering taxes for the wealthy. That they slavishly follow our dishonest and incompetent President speaks to their collective character. The Affordable Care Act moved us closer to the standards of Western European countries--standards that a 'great' America should be setting. So, why not destroy that program and replace it with something discriminatory and inhumane?
12
Senators like Rand Paul are useless. They are a caucus of one, convinced of their own purity but unable to convince anyone else to go along with them.
10
Cutting Medicaid will lead to the earlier deaths of the most reliable GOP voters. Is that a good move for the Party?
8
President Trump in Paris, France noted today that he would be very angry if GOP majority in the Senate fails to pass the revised Healthcare bill .The first public reactions are not encouraging for Sen. McConnell 's continuing scheme . Not providing $864 billion Medicaid funds for the poor, disabled, seniors and millions of other folks ' affordable Healthcare .This is not acceptable to GOP majority for the vote in the Senate . President Trump if has influence left on the process should focus on fulfilling his election promise. President Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign promised : Cheap Health Care, affordable for " every body" . President agreed to protect the Affordable Care Act. of 2010 's provisions: i ) Preexisting conditions. ii) Children under 26 years of age.The new CBO numbers expected Monday would bring huge problems with coverage ,with opinion polls ' only 20 percent approval of the Trump Care at this time . What do you think ?
3
Republican Senators are hedging their bets. McConnell will allow two of them--Heller being one--to oppose this. The rest will be strong armed into voting for this. Those wafflers will go back to their constituents and say "well we tried!" but they will vote for this horrible bill anyway. This juggernaut of a disaster can't be stopped. There is too much riding on the determination of the Republicans to destroy everything accomplished in the Obama administration, no matter how many people die or go bankrupt. Disgusting. Shameful.
They must be voted out of power in 2018. That is the only hope for the American public.
They must be voted out of power in 2018. That is the only hope for the American public.
18
We need one healthcare plan for all, not multiple plans with low risk and high risk groups and unaffordable premiums for the latter. Everybody grows old and needs more medical care and so do the very young and the sick no matter what their age. What is so difficult for these guys to understand?
11
Nobody will read my comment as there are already over a thousand. But add me to the list of people who decry the heartless Republicans who offer neither good economic policy nor good health policy.
29
I read it, and agree with you wholeheartedly.
4
We are reading it, Diane! And we agree with you.
1
Message received, Diane :)
1
Studies have shown that the last year of a person's life is the most costly for healthcare, but that the treatments given do little. We need to move away from extreme measures for people who will die imminently anyway. Doctors get paid per service. So, if you visit them for an illness they charge for the visit, and then if they prescribe a medication, they charge extra for explaining the dosage and side effects. Certain services should not get an extra fee. We have made great strides in reducing smoking, which will reduce costs in the long run. But we haven't educated people about the basic science of illness. A cold, for example, is not necessarily a sinus infection. A sinus infection is not necessarily caused by bacteria - most are caused by viruses. Antibiotics do not work on viruses. So people who continually demand antibiotics every time they have a cold because they think they have a bacterial sinus infection need education. And doctors need to stop over prescribing. Lots of problems in the system that lead to higher costs. It's about time someone started making hard decisions about what basic health insurance should include.
1
On the merits neither the ACA or the Republican bill provide what is needed for health care. The ACA has a large Medicaid program and every doctor and nurse who has observed first hand the care given to Medicaid patients knows it is second class care at best. The Republican bill will penalize those with pre-existing illnesses since the money set aside for them will be inadequate and many will be devastated by the loss of insurance or obscene premiums. The outcome will be determined by political considerations. Rand Paul and Susan Collins have been known to take principled stands but the next Republican Senator to break ranks will be in peril. No Democrat will dare to break ranks. A single payer system, Medicare for all, is inevitable but many Americans will suffer until that day arrives. Lobbyists and special interests can live with either side but can Americans?
If the GOP offers cheap health care options, those options will be useless. It won't be accepted at good hospitals, which is important, because younger, healthier people tend to have sports related accidents. With high deductibles, and poor coverage, they would be better off using good emergency rooms. In the meantime, those who really need quality healthcare won't have access or coverage. Pre-existing conditions, maternity coverage, seniors, and Medicaid will be both weakened and costly. We have the ACA, which is a working plan. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the ACA is ripe for repair...god forbid our lawmakers do anything that makes sense.
7
When the modern Republican Party sold their souls - did they get a group deal?
24
"The bill also provides $45 billion to help combat the opioid abuse crisis." No money for meth or crack addiction--ain't white enough.
4
Also nothing to stop the over prescription of opioids because that would cut into the profits of the donor class.
These silly Senators, if at first you don't succeed, fail and fail again until you give up. Can we finally stop this charade and just let Our Man with a Plan, Donald J Trump step in with his "something terrific" replacement? You know, the one he promised will be "a lot less expensive," where "everybody's going to be taken care of much better than they are now"..."at a fraction of the price"! Boy, won't he show Nanny Mitch and Wonky Paul how to legislate when he reveals his "wonderful new Healthcare Bill"! Come on, Don, the waiting is killing me!!
28
They are not silly, they are evil!
1
Just read in a mainstream Alaska newspaper that the proposed bill contains a huge bribe for Lisa Murkowski. It might be enough to tip her vote.
7
By this, I mean they included in the bill a huge chunk of money that goes to states that fit a certain specification (high enough costs relative to the rest of the US), and Alaska is (surprise! surprise!) the only state that meets the criterion. In other words, they're promising Alaska a hefty chunk of money that no other state gets. And if / because Murkowski's sole obligation is to Alaska and not to anyone else in the country, well, why wouldn't she accept the (gift)?
1
To see McConnell broadly smiling in the photo as he works so diligently to deny millions health care and life saving help is truly abominable.
22
Who's the lady to McConnell's right who is wearing the flattering dress ... that if you look at it closely appears to be endless red elephants .... marching to the LEFT! (at least in the eye of the beholder)!
3
The person to watch right now is Dean Heller out of NV. His governor got him to switch to the No column last time around, so he's a key voice this time.
5
But $400 billion for the highly flawed F-35 program without so much batting an eye or a murmur from Repubs or Dems.
10
As I read about this revised health care bill, I get the image in my mind of the creepy guy who entices kids to come along with him for a candy bar.
4
This is the Republican Plan: Create Faster Death Scenarios
1) for anyone who cannot afford insurance and has a pre-existing, undesirable or unaffordable health condition. Get rid of 'em sooner. A drain on the economy.
2) make Medicaid unattainable for people who are seriously disabled and cannot work or need to care for someone who is disabled. They are a drain on the workforce and make insurance overall more expensive for normal healthy workers.
3) cultivate a society that moves the poor, old and sick to a marginal existence out-of-sight and out-of-care.
4) make families care for or dump old parents, relatives and sick children in the gutter for death squads to pick them up along with the trash.
This is the richest country on earth. If we want to pour trillions of dollars to fight two wars for a dozen years and NOTHING for universal health care, this is the dumbest country on earth.
Shame on the Republicans for wasting our right to liberty and happiness. Our faith in a compassionate government is GONE.
SHAME ON TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICANS. SHAME ON O'CONNELL FOR KEEPING THIS LEGISLATION SECRET. SHAME ON RYAN FOR HIS DEVILISH REFUSAL TO HONOR AMERICA'S LIVING LEGENDS.
SHAME ON AMERICANS FOR LETTING THIS HAPPEN.
1) for anyone who cannot afford insurance and has a pre-existing, undesirable or unaffordable health condition. Get rid of 'em sooner. A drain on the economy.
2) make Medicaid unattainable for people who are seriously disabled and cannot work or need to care for someone who is disabled. They are a drain on the workforce and make insurance overall more expensive for normal healthy workers.
3) cultivate a society that moves the poor, old and sick to a marginal existence out-of-sight and out-of-care.
4) make families care for or dump old parents, relatives and sick children in the gutter for death squads to pick them up along with the trash.
This is the richest country on earth. If we want to pour trillions of dollars to fight two wars for a dozen years and NOTHING for universal health care, this is the dumbest country on earth.
Shame on the Republicans for wasting our right to liberty and happiness. Our faith in a compassionate government is GONE.
SHAME ON TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICANS. SHAME ON O'CONNELL FOR KEEPING THIS LEGISLATION SECRET. SHAME ON RYAN FOR HIS DEVILISH REFUSAL TO HONOR AMERICA'S LIVING LEGENDS.
SHAME ON AMERICANS FOR LETTING THIS HAPPEN.
12
Skimpy policies! I remember those! When I was in junior high and high school they offered us health insurance for ....what? $2.00 a month for the school year. If we got a paper cut, slipped on a banana peel in the cafeteria, or got our fingers caught in a locker door, we were covered! Anything else...not so much. Sounds like a great idea for the American people. These will give them great peace of mind and they'll sleep well as long as they are completely deluded by the thought...."I have health insurance."
3
Surprise! From Bloomberg:
"House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters Thursday that if the new health-care law is enacted that keeps the Obamacare taxes for the wealthy in place, Republicans may use tax legislation to repeal them. Enacting a tax overhaul is one of the GOP’s major goals for this year."
I thought i heard this in the afternoon when the new improved Republican plan was rolled out but i wasn't sure.....so there it is the Senate retains the Obama ACA taxes on the rich and then when the bill is passed the House trashes them.
At least they let us in on the big joke on the working stiffs, now we have to broadcast this plan for duplicity and beat the Senate's bill before it gets voted on.
"House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters Thursday that if the new health-care law is enacted that keeps the Obamacare taxes for the wealthy in place, Republicans may use tax legislation to repeal them. Enacting a tax overhaul is one of the GOP’s major goals for this year."
I thought i heard this in the afternoon when the new improved Republican plan was rolled out but i wasn't sure.....so there it is the Senate retains the Obama ACA taxes on the rich and then when the bill is passed the House trashes them.
At least they let us in on the big joke on the working stiffs, now we have to broadcast this plan for duplicity and beat the Senate's bill before it gets voted on.
8
Look at the ear-to-ear grins on McConnell and his aide.
There's just nothing to beat the feeling of achievement you get when you rip healthcare away from 22 million people, and condemn seniors in nursing homes to being thrown out on the streets.
For a republican, that's a good day's work. For thousands, if not millions of Americans, it's a death sentence.
There's just nothing to beat the feeling of achievement you get when you rip healthcare away from 22 million people, and condemn seniors in nursing homes to being thrown out on the streets.
For a republican, that's a good day's work. For thousands, if not millions of Americans, it's a death sentence.
13
I'll put it plain, I work in healthcare, for those GOPers who think that they will never need Medicaid, think again. Think long and hard about that, most people never imagine getting a bill for 400K or even 20 thousand, but it happens everyday. Most young think that they will have their health forever, they think that they are you and they will always stay that way. But like good looks youth is fleeting, and will be gone. I thought the same way, until a drunk ran me off the road, killed my passenger and left me crippled and trapped in the car. I got that 400K bill, but I had nothing left, I lost all my assets, my 90,000 dollar a year job, I eventually wound up filing for bankruptcy through no fault of my own. So be careful what you wish for because as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow, you WILL need it.
20
Read a comment on here that a guy in the US paid $35,000 to get a broken wrist fixed while his mate in Australia was out of pocket only $300.
All I can say is his mate was robbed blind.
I went to the public hospital ER and got a broken wrist, a broken fibia and a tibia fixed for free. That is why we pay our Medicare levy.
All I can say is his mate was robbed blind.
I went to the public hospital ER and got a broken wrist, a broken fibia and a tibia fixed for free. That is why we pay our Medicare levy.
10
shouldn't we ask the question why the richest 1 % need more tax breaks
9
We should also be asking why taxpayers are paying billions to address the opioid epidemic, which mostly starts from taking a prescribed drug, while big pharma walks away with trillions in profits.
8
The failure to repeal the taxes on the wealthiest taxpayers makes me question what the Republican party stands for. Seriously. Is this some kind of trick?
2
Ah, I read later that it does allow the upper-middle class and the wealthy to stash money into tax free medical accounts. I also noticed that there was no mention of keeping the tax on medical instrument manufacturers and tanning bed businesses. Seems like slight of hand, although I've seen no one run the numbers.
Why do we have so many voters happy to turn over their money, their healthcare, the education of their children and their country to McConnell, Ryan and Cruz who are only there to then turn it over to the Kochs, the Trumps, the Mercers, the DeVos etc. who reap the benefits of others going without? The richest country in the world, but also the stingiest to,the poorest of its citizens.
7
It's amazing, I just read this article. I thought they were discussing health care. not taxes. They always toss something into the mix. Stay on point, I know it's hard for them. They are to worried about, having to getting a real job. Protecting themselves, not the public.
4
McConnell and the R-Cs are made stupid by their adherence to their "free market" philosophy. They could easily attain their quest of replacing the ACA with a better, cheaper, plan: Medicare For All, plus still allowing supplemental plans, like Medicare Part-B for those who want, and can afford, more coverage. But as long as they insist on healthcare being underwritten by for-profit insurance companies, they're going to have to accept higher, and un-cappable costs. Their demand for the "free market" to be the primary aspect of their plans ties them up in a no-win situation: they cannot deliver on their promise to provide better, cheaper coverage, and they can't control the costs.
Single Payer - a.k.a. Medicare For All - is the only realistic way to get what they want, but their ideology blinds them. And the fact that they place ideology over the well-being of the People is as old as the Republican Party, so don't hold your breath waiting for them to change.
Single Payer - a.k.a. Medicare For All - is the only realistic way to get what they want, but their ideology blinds them. And the fact that they place ideology over the well-being of the People is as old as the Republican Party, so don't hold your breath waiting for them to change.
5
When Churchill observed that Americans invariably do the right thing after exhausting all other options, he could have been talking about our current healthcare debacle.
We seem to be utterly determined to try everything other than the one system that the rest of the developed and much of the developing world has realized is the only just and moral system of providing healthcare - universal, single payer coverage.
Perhaps in a generation, hopefully sooner, we'll get there.
We seem to be utterly determined to try everything other than the one system that the rest of the developed and much of the developing world has realized is the only just and moral system of providing healthcare - universal, single payer coverage.
Perhaps in a generation, hopefully sooner, we'll get there.
4
This could turn out to be a good thing:
1. We get rid of McConnell, who hasn't made a sensible move during the whole debacle.
2. Democrats embrace moderate Republicans, recognizing how much they have in common and how beneficial most of these things are.
3. Having taken a look at Medicaid and how much we need it, we may also look at Medicare--loved by all who have it. Medicare for everyone is the intelligent way to go.
Why?
1. First, it's more economically efficient, with much less overhead than what we have now. (Defending "free enterprise" in healthcare has reduced itself to submitting to the lobbyists--several per congressperson--who make profit from the vast 17% of our GNP our healthcare costs.)
2. As anyone on Medicare can tell you, there is no reduction in choice nor longer waiting period for care.
You're going to pay for healthcare no matter what. Our "for profit" healthcare causes everything to cost more. If things cost massively more, that's what you're paying, whether it's in the form of taxes or in the form of money right out of your pocket. Medicare is cheaper. I see the same doctors that I saw before. The only thing that's disappeared is the massive paperwork and bureaucracy of "free" enterprise healthcare.
Let's bring the USA up to the level of the rest of the developed world. How can 30 other countries have populations that live longer than ours?
1. We get rid of McConnell, who hasn't made a sensible move during the whole debacle.
2. Democrats embrace moderate Republicans, recognizing how much they have in common and how beneficial most of these things are.
3. Having taken a look at Medicaid and how much we need it, we may also look at Medicare--loved by all who have it. Medicare for everyone is the intelligent way to go.
Why?
1. First, it's more economically efficient, with much less overhead than what we have now. (Defending "free enterprise" in healthcare has reduced itself to submitting to the lobbyists--several per congressperson--who make profit from the vast 17% of our GNP our healthcare costs.)
2. As anyone on Medicare can tell you, there is no reduction in choice nor longer waiting period for care.
You're going to pay for healthcare no matter what. Our "for profit" healthcare causes everything to cost more. If things cost massively more, that's what you're paying, whether it's in the form of taxes or in the form of money right out of your pocket. Medicare is cheaper. I see the same doctors that I saw before. The only thing that's disappeared is the massive paperwork and bureaucracy of "free" enterprise healthcare.
Let's bring the USA up to the level of the rest of the developed world. How can 30 other countries have populations that live longer than ours?
4
This is why it's critical to elect women to Congress. Thank you, Senator Collins, for representing the women and girls of the nation!!!
5
This, or something very similar will pass.
It's not about it being good, right or fair ... it's to put a check mark next to it, so DJT can say, "see, I keep my promises." (Not that he even gets what is happening.)
And apparently enough GOP Senators are on board with that philosophy -- a 'win' above all -- either because they are personally morally bankrupt, or Russia has dossiers on them as well.
Whatever. Something needs to happen, so I can figure out my next steps. Their limbo has me in my own. And that's not healthy!
It's not about it being good, right or fair ... it's to put a check mark next to it, so DJT can say, "see, I keep my promises." (Not that he even gets what is happening.)
And apparently enough GOP Senators are on board with that philosophy -- a 'win' above all -- either because they are personally morally bankrupt, or Russia has dossiers on them as well.
Whatever. Something needs to happen, so I can figure out my next steps. Their limbo has me in my own. And that's not healthy!
1
I wasn't born in the US but I came here in 1969 so I've lived here for 48 years. It's still incredible to me how the American voters keep voting for politicians
who show on every ocassion how little they care about them.People in the US mix religión and abortion, for example,in their politics and vote accordingly, not realizing they are prey of the politicians who use those issues to get a vote they
don't deserve.The Republican Health Care law is another example.
who show on every ocassion how little they care about them.People in the US mix religión and abortion, for example,in their politics and vote accordingly, not realizing they are prey of the politicians who use those issues to get a vote they
don't deserve.The Republican Health Care law is another example.
10
That a health care bill that affects millions of people in our country is hoping to pass with a Pence tie breaking vote is embarrassing. These people don't care about what's good or bad for the people. Why should they? They're covered. If they can't get 60-70% approval then it's ipso facto bad. It's an anathema.
3
The Republicans unveil their new but stale Health Care Dollar Menu in yet another attempt to take away Obamacare' combo healthcare coverage. One is complete health care while the other is incomplete and leaves you needing more care at higher costs than the equivalent Obamacare combo.
They prefer their initial plan, similar to stealing food stamps so reciients can beg for food at food banks and meals on wheels - let 21 million beg to get health care from medical banks or health on wheels paid for through donations from generous citizens (when they are employed). Then the money saved can be given to the wealthy for nothing.
Obviously the wealthy and legislators still have access to their five star a la carte medical advantages that we citizens pay for them.
One thing is "transparent" and it is the Republicans do not have a Mandate from the majority of Americans to be inhumane and cruel to their own constituents or interfere and sabotage the ACA.
They prefer their initial plan, similar to stealing food stamps so reciients can beg for food at food banks and meals on wheels - let 21 million beg to get health care from medical banks or health on wheels paid for through donations from generous citizens (when they are employed). Then the money saved can be given to the wealthy for nothing.
Obviously the wealthy and legislators still have access to their five star a la carte medical advantages that we citizens pay for them.
One thing is "transparent" and it is the Republicans do not have a Mandate from the majority of Americans to be inhumane and cruel to their own constituents or interfere and sabotage the ACA.
1
Here's an idea. Instead of more futile attempts at repealing Obamacare (and I thought Republicans were all about cutting government waste), work on enhancing the ACA - not "fixing," because it seems to be doing quite a lot of what it promised to do - and take Obama's name off to it, because we all know that's why the GOP and their bases hate it so much.
"The bill would, for the first time, allow people to use tax-favored health savings accounts to pay insurance premiums."
I'm sorry," health savings account..." ??
Pray tell, HOW does one get to do that on an annual wage of $50,000?
I'm sorry," health savings account..." ??
Pray tell, HOW does one get to do that on an annual wage of $50,000?
4
Here is my take: this propsed revision to ACA would, if enacted, replace the medical coverage provided, at taxpayers' expense, to sitting members of Congress and their families, no exceptions.
2
And still I feel we are being overly generous! At least when we work we don't condemn millions to suffering and debt. We earn our pays and pay our own health coverage.
With each iteration, lawmakers in both chambers are grudgingly reintroducing some Obamacare protections but the gap remains immense.
Although it sounds far fledged, this could be the tipping point for a fresh bi-partisan approach. History provide ample precedents of seemingly insurmountable national/international impasses that were neutralized with a strategic withdrawal, simultaneously coupled with a sober-thought task force led by professionals of exemplary integrity, dedication and experience in managing large-scale change.
Rather than continuing the coercive pattern pressing for a healthcare act with less coverage than expected, the President should call on all members of Congress by requesting a year moratorium on Congressional Bills and appointing a bi-partisan commission bring together widely respected leaders to propose a sustainable universal health plan that Americans would be proud of for generations.
The commission could be composed with individuals like Judith Rodin, Jeffrey Immelt and Alan Mullaly, perhaps even Michael Bloomberg. With a proven track record in leading complex organizations with pace-setting healthcare portfolios, Judith Rodin should be among the candidates to chair such commission.
Such initiative would demonstrate that the President is committed to work for all Americans by sparing no efforts to find innovative and sustainable non-partisan solutions to a vital issue that affects every citizen and especially the most vulnerable.
Although it sounds far fledged, this could be the tipping point for a fresh bi-partisan approach. History provide ample precedents of seemingly insurmountable national/international impasses that were neutralized with a strategic withdrawal, simultaneously coupled with a sober-thought task force led by professionals of exemplary integrity, dedication and experience in managing large-scale change.
Rather than continuing the coercive pattern pressing for a healthcare act with less coverage than expected, the President should call on all members of Congress by requesting a year moratorium on Congressional Bills and appointing a bi-partisan commission bring together widely respected leaders to propose a sustainable universal health plan that Americans would be proud of for generations.
The commission could be composed with individuals like Judith Rodin, Jeffrey Immelt and Alan Mullaly, perhaps even Michael Bloomberg. With a proven track record in leading complex organizations with pace-setting healthcare portfolios, Judith Rodin should be among the candidates to chair such commission.
Such initiative would demonstrate that the President is committed to work for all Americans by sparing no efforts to find innovative and sustainable non-partisan solutions to a vital issue that affects every citizen and especially the most vulnerable.
2
"One more defection would doom the bill and jeopardize the Republicans’ seven-year-old quest to dismantle the health law that is a pillar of President Barack Obama’s legacy."
So that's all the Republican leadership in Congress has been about for the last seven years?
'fraid so, folks.
So that's all the Republican leadership in Congress has been about for the last seven years?
'fraid so, folks.
1
Insurers are laughing because they win either way. Wish we could get rid of them altogether because the insurance model cannot work without the individual mandate and without competition.
1
The idea of freedom to be covered by a health plan is ludicrous. There's no freedom when people that makes responsible choices need pay for irresponsible ones. A healthy population is a must for any nation to grow.
Elevate Medicare to all with proper payments to doctors and hospital and a sensible distribution of resources is necessary. Not every hospital and clinic needs the most advanced medical device to be underutilized. Health care is much more than Obamacare or Trumpcare. It requires a will to make significant changes.
Elevate Medicare to all with proper payments to doctors and hospital and a sensible distribution of resources is necessary. Not every hospital and clinic needs the most advanced medical device to be underutilized. Health care is much more than Obamacare or Trumpcare. It requires a will to make significant changes.
1
Hopefully it won't be long and we'll all be on Medicare. One gets tired of all the games the GOP is playing trying to pass a new medical plan. Basically there is very little difference from the initial plan, the chairs are moved around and around, but in the end it has always been the same: less people are covered, premiums are substantially increased, insurers are substantially insured of greater profits, the wealthy will pay less taxes, and McConnell smiles as he stabs the American worker in the back.
3
Republicans and Trump promised to "repeal and replace." But the "replacement" they promised was to make things better, not to make things far worse than Obamacare, which is what the Senate and House bills would do.
They promised more covered, better coverage, at less cost. These bills would worsen all three, without any doubt and by large measure.
And nobody campaigned on rolling back traditional Medicare, which this bill would also do. Which would hurt 50% of babies born in this country, and impact 2 out of 3 elderly citizens in nursing homes.
And traditional Medicare is not even part of Obamacare, this is just something Republicans want to do and see an opportunity to slip it by Americans in the smoke and chaos they are creating.
It would also start the long-standing Republican dream of eroding Medicare and Social Security, which Republicans view as welfare for the middle and working classes, not something you earned throughout your lives.
They promised more covered, better coverage, at less cost. These bills would worsen all three, without any doubt and by large measure.
And nobody campaigned on rolling back traditional Medicare, which this bill would also do. Which would hurt 50% of babies born in this country, and impact 2 out of 3 elderly citizens in nursing homes.
And traditional Medicare is not even part of Obamacare, this is just something Republicans want to do and see an opportunity to slip it by Americans in the smoke and chaos they are creating.
It would also start the long-standing Republican dream of eroding Medicare and Social Security, which Republicans view as welfare for the middle and working classes, not something you earned throughout your lives.
1
This whole exercise is sheer madness. Obamacare has stabilized, so now with the new Republican plan, the insurance industry will need to estimate which people will pick which plan, returning us to the pre-Obamacare mess. Much better to improve Obamacare.
The early problems with the pricing of plans for Obamacare were inevitable. Now, the Insurance industry has solid experience with the pricing of policies in each State. Whenever you change the basic rules for an insurance program, it takes awhile to see what the insured base will be. With the Republican plan, assuming each company has 2 plans for each State, the learning process starts over again. Will be messy, that's for sure.
The early problems with the pricing of plans for Obamacare were inevitable. Now, the Insurance industry has solid experience with the pricing of policies in each State. Whenever you change the basic rules for an insurance program, it takes awhile to see what the insured base will be. With the Republican plan, assuming each company has 2 plans for each State, the learning process starts over again. Will be messy, that's for sure.
What country in the world links its healthcare to tax cuts for the rich? Ahh, the greatness of America. Again.
5
This is essentially the same story that was published earlier under a different headline. Annoying.
14
I have an idea.
Let congressional Republicans get together to propose a suppurating pustule on the backside of Medicaid, that is enriching some insurance companies beyond their wildest dreams while beggaring others, and that causes middle class people who don't get insurance from their employers to pay retail for their healthcare because of stratospheric deductibles and co-pays, and that reinforces a Medicaid that had been bankrupting our states long BEFORE the pustule ever appeared ... and let's call it "AmericanCare".
That way, Republicans can say they're repealing the ACA, but (wink-wink) they're really not. One more significant revision to McConnell's plan and I'd challenge anyone to tell the difference.
Shakespeare was wrong: the obvious target after the crunch isn't lawyers per se, but politicians. And if they're lawyers as well, so much the better.
Let congressional Republicans get together to propose a suppurating pustule on the backside of Medicaid, that is enriching some insurance companies beyond their wildest dreams while beggaring others, and that causes middle class people who don't get insurance from their employers to pay retail for their healthcare because of stratospheric deductibles and co-pays, and that reinforces a Medicaid that had been bankrupting our states long BEFORE the pustule ever appeared ... and let's call it "AmericanCare".
That way, Republicans can say they're repealing the ACA, but (wink-wink) they're really not. One more significant revision to McConnell's plan and I'd challenge anyone to tell the difference.
Shakespeare was wrong: the obvious target after the crunch isn't lawyers per se, but politicians. And if they're lawyers as well, so much the better.
13
Oh now I get it ... the real problem is those profiteering insurance companies. If you want a real free market solution why not require prospective providers to bid a single rate structure for all customers, public and private. Let them compete with each other for a change instead of cherry picking the taxpayer subsidized employer market and then cherry picking the individual market.
2
Different lipstick, same pig.
43
Honestly; please GOP. Just stop. You don't get it. You've had 7 years and you still don't get it. And this is from me, a Republican supporter (who did not vote for Trump). What a wreck this administration has turned out to be. Just give it up folks. You are hopeless.
78
I sincerely do thank for being a brave Republican, and not voting for this den of thieves.
1
POLITICIANS: STOP HOLDING AMERICANS HOSTAGE!!!!!!!!!!!
34
It is a shame that this bozo from South Carolina will kill this bill. It is not perfect but a big improvement over Obamacare. Some Senators are just plain senile and Graham is one of them.
3
Please explain how it is better than the Affordable Health Care Act. I am not seeing it.
To McConnell: Time to retire to a rocking chair. You have no idea of how much of a tragedy the cost of health care is in America. You belong to another time frame long past. Ryan should retire too. He is just a simpleminded racist.
57
Well, I agree!! Mitch should retire now! And also Ryan. They are terrible for our country. Also, did you know congresspeople get different better insurance than we do and they get it for life. They should be on the EXACT
Healthcare we are!
Healthcare we are!
Yesterday the Los Angeles Times reported an 87 year old man murdered his severely ill wife and then shot himself in the head because he was "struggling with board and care home bills". The man is not expected to survive.
Medicaid cuts will make this sort of thing common, when nursing homes are no longer accessible. Heck of a job, Mitchie!
Medicaid cuts will make this sort of thing common, when nursing homes are no longer accessible. Heck of a job, Mitchie!
60
It makes me sick to see mcconnell with a big smile on his face as he proposes a bill to give the 1% a tax cut and leave 22 million Americans without Health Insurance.
This is what we've become America, the poor will die and the rich will live.
And these people call themselves Christians?
This is what we've become America, the poor will die and the rich will live.
And these people call themselves Christians?
58
They are not Christians...but the antithesis of Christians. They are minions of Satan. No one but someone who was PURE EVIL would want to do this to their fellow Americans...trick them into buying useless health insurance...or make the useful health insurance policies so expensive, that millions of people are priced out of the market. And all so that they and the rich can keep stuffing their pockets.
Republicans in Congress just want to keep their jobs. What's wrong with killing a few million of their own people in hopes of reaching their goal?
19
Anybody know if fines will be enforced for not buying insurance this year? It was the only decent thing I've seen out of Trump.
2
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose or worse as in this case. How does the saying go? You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig.
15
Republicans will find a way to repeal Obamacare. What unites them with Trump and his voters is their universal hatred for Obama. To Republicans, both inside and outside Congress, erasing Obama`s legacy is their number one priority, regardless of the cost. Even the coal miners of West Virginia will be happy to lose their health coverage if that means the black boy is finally back in his place. This is a hard truth to swallow, but that fact doesn`t invalidate it.
46
I was wrong. Health care is necessary for every person who cannot afford it
An angry Donald could be dangerous. He could start grabbing things. If you're a woman, consider yourself forewarned.
16
GOP bill to replace the Affordable Care Act: DOA. Believe me.
11
I hope you are correct.
Just another nightmare on the horizon for 2017. I guess with a foreign country possibly attempting to take over our government, maybe getting sick and dying because we don't have healthcare is the least of our worries...
17
I REALLY want to see Donald " very angry". It should be a pay-per-view event, I'd certainly watch. Now that's entertainment.
11
Window dressing. Can't see Paul not voting for this as it destroys Medicaid. Same with Capito. She will hem haw and act like she's worried about West Virginians but she's not. Ditto for Lee.
The none tax cuts will be moved to the new tax reform bill that will come up next. The Repo's are not going to let their real constituents down.
Cruz is flapping his jaws because he craves attention.
The Repo's could care less about the people that will be truly affected!
The none tax cuts will be moved to the new tax reform bill that will come up next. The Repo's are not going to let their real constituents down.
Cruz is flapping his jaws because he craves attention.
The Repo's could care less about the people that will be truly affected!
16
There are two senators tied to Trumpcare 3.0, Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee. Leadership gets to move 2 no votes to 2 yes votes.
THIS PUTS THE PASSAGE OF THIS LATEST SENATE'S VERSION IN PLAY!
This is worst of 3 bills. This is either A crass political calculatIon or it reflects a complete lack of understanding as to how insurance works. By allowing young healthy folks to choose stripped down, less expensive policies, this leaves Obamacare with mostly sick folks. Any insurance expert will tell you that this would definitely place Obamacare in a "death spiral." The sick folks premiums will skyrocket with higher deductibles and copays to where they will no longer sign up.
This is why health insurance companies are dead set against Trumpcare 3.0.
THIS PUTS THE PASSAGE OF THIS LATEST SENATE'S VERSION IN PLAY!
This is worst of 3 bills. This is either A crass political calculatIon or it reflects a complete lack of understanding as to how insurance works. By allowing young healthy folks to choose stripped down, less expensive policies, this leaves Obamacare with mostly sick folks. Any insurance expert will tell you that this would definitely place Obamacare in a "death spiral." The sick folks premiums will skyrocket with higher deductibles and copays to where they will no longer sign up.
This is why health insurance companies are dead set against Trumpcare 3.0.
10
We need single payer, and we need it asap. If this bill passes it will hasten single payer when grandmas (like my mother in law who was in a nursing home on medicaid for 9 of 11 years until she died) are turned out onto the parking lots.
22
We need a national healthcare that covers everyone, like the healthcare in Western European countries more CIVILIZED than our own country. In their plans of course there is CHOICE so don't let the Republicans sell you that lie that there isn't. Those who want more choices pay for them.
Also don't let them feed you a bill of goods that without their plan we pay for other people's insurance. The truth is we already DO and have for years in wasteful high premiums to cover emergency room near death scenes for the people who can't afford care. Hospitals have been closed due to these extra costs.
Also don't let them feed you a bill of goods that without their plan we pay for other people's insurance. The truth is we already DO and have for years in wasteful high premiums to cover emergency room near death scenes for the people who can't afford care. Hospitals have been closed due to these extra costs.
20
The GOP has the House, the Senate and the White House, so they are supposed to represent the majority in this country.
4 out of 5 Americans reject a healthcare bill that does the very opposite of what the GOP ran on and promised to achieve.
Conclusion: this bill should NEVER pass, and Trump should never sign it into law. If not, the GOP will have proven that it doesn't care about its campaign promises at all. And in that case, in 2018 there will be only one response from the American people, Republicans and Independents and Democrats alike: YOU'RE FIRED!!
4 out of 5 Americans reject a healthcare bill that does the very opposite of what the GOP ran on and promised to achieve.
Conclusion: this bill should NEVER pass, and Trump should never sign it into law. If not, the GOP will have proven that it doesn't care about its campaign promises at all. And in that case, in 2018 there will be only one response from the American people, Republicans and Independents and Democrats alike: YOU'RE FIRED!!
18
Instead of finding a way to insure all Americans, the Senate and House bills cover fewer people and pass the "savings" on to the rich. What cynical attempts to "reform" health insurance!
Republicans want to cut government spending the only way they know how - reduce essential services for the poor and needy. (See also welfare "reform.")
Sudies and models say single-payer would save money by removing the middle man (insurance companies), covering everyone (no one opts out because they are young, healthy, and think they're invincible), and gives the government power to set or negotiate prices.
Republicans are slaves to the so-called free market. It doesn't work with health insurance. (See last 100 years of failure.)
Republicans want to cut government spending the only way they know how - reduce essential services for the poor and needy. (See also welfare "reform.")
Sudies and models say single-payer would save money by removing the middle man (insurance companies), covering everyone (no one opts out because they are young, healthy, and think they're invincible), and gives the government power to set or negotiate prices.
Republicans are slaves to the so-called free market. It doesn't work with health insurance. (See last 100 years of failure.)
13
Republicans have yet to consider what Americans need, as opposed to what they are willing to do. Repealing the ACA remains their central purpose along with an unnecessary tax cut for the rich. Per capita caps on Medicaid and block grants and the extra money McConnell "found" are not enough to make this bill adequate let alone "good." It's certainly still far below the standard of the ACA, which can be fixed and kept on stable footing while giving more Americans decent coverage.
8
When are they going to stop messing with health insurance and try to do something to fix health care?
12
DP, for the time being we are just trying to prevent Republicans from making things far far worse for millions of Americans.
1
Medicare for all. This bill will cost lives and create misery. It must not pass. Today's radical GOP is beholden to the donor class. The insurance industry and the wealthiest are the only citizens of interest to the GOP. The bill makes no sense if the aim to to improve health care and lower the cost of delivery. This latest disaster from Republicans is a reminder of why the stolen Supreme seat will do immense damage. Citizens United will not be overturned. Big money from the Oligarchs and Corporate Elite will continue to run and ruin the US for years to come.
17
They won't stop with this because they lose everything if they do - all their credibility for their nonstop attempts during the Obama Administration, plus the 170+ days and counting continuum of wasting taxpayers money and time to repeal it.
I am incensed at the arrogance and contempt Mitch McConnell and his party have for ordinary Americans, especially those struggling and the most vulnerable.
That they continue to be re-elected is the saddest and most infuriating things of all.
I am incensed at the arrogance and contempt Mitch McConnell and his party have for ordinary Americans, especially those struggling and the most vulnerable.
That they continue to be re-elected is the saddest and most infuriating things of all.
25
Rand Paul is right the key issue is guaranteed issue or right to buy insurance without regard to preexisting conditions. I just don't see why people will not buy bare bones policy and switch to full coverage policy when they get cancer/diabetes etc. You have also eliminated the mandate to buy insurance. This will require massive government cash infusions to keep full coverage insurance affordable.
Am I missing something?
Am I missing something?
1
Yuuuuuup!
You are missing something huge.
You get cancer, the bill is millions of dollars. There are two ways to pay for it - charge you some monthly amount that will let pay it off over your lifetime - or have EVERYONE have insurance, and the contributions from EVERYONE, the healthy and the sick, pays for all of the medical conditions.
The first approach - you don't have millions, won't be able to pay it back - so insurance is impossible for you to get once you get cancer, and you die for lack of medical care.
The second approach - you pay when you are healthy, and if you are sick - great, you are covered.
The system doesn't work when you forget that these are real bills, the money coming in has to cover the money going out.
You are missing something huge.
You get cancer, the bill is millions of dollars. There are two ways to pay for it - charge you some monthly amount that will let pay it off over your lifetime - or have EVERYONE have insurance, and the contributions from EVERYONE, the healthy and the sick, pays for all of the medical conditions.
The first approach - you don't have millions, won't be able to pay it back - so insurance is impossible for you to get once you get cancer, and you die for lack of medical care.
The second approach - you pay when you are healthy, and if you are sick - great, you are covered.
The system doesn't work when you forget that these are real bills, the money coming in has to cover the money going out.
From what I understand with the budget projections, the comprehensive plans will cost tens of thousands of dollars per year and have very high deductibles - more than most people's entire salary for a year. So in your scenario, when that tumor turns out to be stage three cancer and you go to switch plans from the fake insurance to the real kind, you might find that you can't actually ind a policy that you can afford. Unless you can somehow come up with more than your yearly salary every year.
So the Cruz plan says we all get "access" to real insurance - not "access" in the sense that there is any way to actually get that insurance, more like "access" in the sense that everyone has "access" to a four-million-dollar McLaren sports car: it's legal to own one and there's a dealership in your state.
So the Cruz plan says we all get "access" to real insurance - not "access" in the sense that there is any way to actually get that insurance, more like "access" in the sense that everyone has "access" to a four-million-dollar McLaren sports car: it's legal to own one and there's a dealership in your state.
If we could turn the clock back, way back, I suppose this wouldn't be so bad. But, I am talking about WAY back in our history when most of America was agricultural, and people often paid their doctors with chickens. Maybe that is what the Republicans want to go back to, for they certainly seem to long for the "good old days," when women and minorities had no rights. Of course, even for those in agriculture today, doctors will not accept chickens, or any other farm product, as payment. But, maybe that will be an amendment when it goes to the floor--that medical providers must accept barter instead of money for payment.
Interesting side note: most Republican voters are rural, most Democratic voters are urban. So, who would have those chickens?
Interesting side note: most Republican voters are rural, most Democratic voters are urban. So, who would have those chickens?
4
Recall Rand's father when asked, "what would you have a person not insured do when they come down with a catastrophic illness" ... crickets that belied that he just couldn't bring himself to reveal what fate that person should experience. Rand seems to believe that what we have in America is a Meritocracy. That we as individuals prosper in direct proportion to what we sow. Some of us live in the real world.
7
so it's still dropping 5 out of every 6 children with chronic conditions who currently receive help from Medicaid? It will still cost a fortune for a worker 55 -64? It will still dump people with preexisting conditions into the abyss of super expensive insurance? And it will eviscerate all current insurance with the introduction of Cruz's pet project?
I don't understand why any Republican senator would seriously consider voting for it.
I don't understand why any Republican senator would seriously consider voting for it.
9
"I don't understand why any Republican senator would seriously consider voting for it."
They get HUGE pay offs from the health care industry corporations...pay offs, bribes, graft, etc. So they get richer, the health care corporations get richer, the rich get richer...and everybody else can go DROP DEAD! It is the GOP way! If we have universal health care, those big pay offs, bribes, graft (whatever you want to call those ill-gotten gains) WILL STOP. And they would rather see us ALL dead then turn off their money faucet.
They get HUGE pay offs from the health care industry corporations...pay offs, bribes, graft, etc. So they get richer, the health care corporations get richer, the rich get richer...and everybody else can go DROP DEAD! It is the GOP way! If we have universal health care, those big pay offs, bribes, graft (whatever you want to call those ill-gotten gains) WILL STOP. And they would rather see us ALL dead then turn off their money faucet.
1
Mitch Is looking so,so happy in the photos. How many lives will be affected negatively by his ideology? How many lives will be ended?
16
Bill released today to give McConnell and his white, privileged GOP colleagues a long weekend to spin untruths before the familiar, crushing reality of the latest repeal-and-tax-break gambit is once again exposed by the CBO. The next few weeks will be repeated attempts at weaseling this through--think football analogies, ball on the one-yard line, yada yada. Go defense (and common sense).
9
So, it's the patients that are the root cause of the problem, not the opaque delivery system of care, in terms of success rates and fees, nor the lack of regulations and lack of transparency of the insurance industry.
I get it. It's the people who have the audacity to want or need medical care.
I get it. It's the people who have the audacity to want or need medical care.
8
The Cruz amendment purports to allocate billions in additional funding that states could use “to assist such health insurance issuers in covering high risk individuals.”
But as Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) told reporters on Thursday, there is no additional money. Instead, the amendment takes money already appropriated in the bill for other needs and says it can be used for these payments to insurers under the Cruz Amendment.
“It seems to me you’re using that money over and over again,” she said. “It’s supposed to relieve the cost of high premiums. It’s supposed to solve the problem with deductibles being unaffordable. It’s supposed to be available for high-risk or reinsurance pool. It’s supposed to be available under the Cruz Amendment to help prevent a huge increase in rates for people with pre-existing conditions.”
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/senate-republicans-double-dip-obamacare-...
But as Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) told reporters on Thursday, there is no additional money. Instead, the amendment takes money already appropriated in the bill for other needs and says it can be used for these payments to insurers under the Cruz Amendment.
“It seems to me you’re using that money over and over again,” she said. “It’s supposed to relieve the cost of high premiums. It’s supposed to solve the problem with deductibles being unaffordable. It’s supposed to be available for high-risk or reinsurance pool. It’s supposed to be available under the Cruz Amendment to help prevent a huge increase in rates for people with pre-existing conditions.”
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/senate-republicans-double-dip-obamacare-...
9
This latest Senate version of the AHCA reveals American special interest legislative chicanery at its worst. McConnell is revealed as a butcher making sausage, mixing in a pinch of lean pork here with substantial dashes of sawdust and gristle there.
Like many sausage makers, McConnell is trying to "fool most of the people most of the time" - by grinding out a new sausage recipe which looks and tastes barely palatable but which costs much less than the previous recipe for sausage (the ACA) did. The winners are shareholders of the sausage company - while the losers are everyone who'll consume this rancid product.
If this analogy makes you queasy, perhaps you'd prefer the Rube Goldberg analogy. What McConnell has done is festoon the original AHCA (already a Rube Goldberg monstrosity filled with smoke and mirrors to hide the true horrors in this bill) with an entirely new layer of "bells and whistles". Each of these "improvements" are designed to look and sound impressive, but whose purpose is simply to bribe and dazzle certain Senators (and their plutocratic constituencies) with bright, shiny objects to soothe their egos - while still producing a legislative nightmare of immense complexity, riddled with loopholes, dead ends and halls of mirrors - all of which can be manipulated by The Powers That Be to enrich themselves at the expense of We the People.
We the People simply want comprehensive, universal health care - as good as what the rest of the world has had for decades.
Like many sausage makers, McConnell is trying to "fool most of the people most of the time" - by grinding out a new sausage recipe which looks and tastes barely palatable but which costs much less than the previous recipe for sausage (the ACA) did. The winners are shareholders of the sausage company - while the losers are everyone who'll consume this rancid product.
If this analogy makes you queasy, perhaps you'd prefer the Rube Goldberg analogy. What McConnell has done is festoon the original AHCA (already a Rube Goldberg monstrosity filled with smoke and mirrors to hide the true horrors in this bill) with an entirely new layer of "bells and whistles". Each of these "improvements" are designed to look and sound impressive, but whose purpose is simply to bribe and dazzle certain Senators (and their plutocratic constituencies) with bright, shiny objects to soothe their egos - while still producing a legislative nightmare of immense complexity, riddled with loopholes, dead ends and halls of mirrors - all of which can be manipulated by The Powers That Be to enrich themselves at the expense of We the People.
We the People simply want comprehensive, universal health care - as good as what the rest of the world has had for decades.
5
This is just an invitation for insurance companies to sell worthless policies that leave people uncovered in case they have a serious medical problem. It invites healthier consumers to free ride until they get sick, when they can move over to a plan that has actual benefits. It makes the insurance pool inherently unstable.
11
Universal, nationalized health care: Done.
8
Why don't the GOP stop calling this a health care bill and use a more appropriate name for it -- a massive redistribution of wealth from the poor and middle class to the upper ten percent?
I was born during FDR's administration and I've never seen a more ruthless and unscrupulous congress in my life. It will go down in the history books/
I was born during FDR's administration and I've never seen a more ruthless and unscrupulous congress in my life. It will go down in the history books/
12
"412 Charged in Crackdown on $1.3 Billion Health Care Fraud" in today's news
It refers to fraud committed on Medicare and Medicaid.
Any comments on that?
It refers to fraud committed on Medicare and Medicaid.
Any comments on that?
Are you saying medicare/medicaid are instituted frauds?
Sigh.
Sigh.
Yes, imagine the fraud taking place in the other insurance markets.
1
Yes - issue not addressed by ACA or this dog of a GOP bill. Single payer.
1
So basically THIS version of the Republican Healthcare bill will once again allow "Junk Insurance" policies to be sold. Have we forgotten the number of families that went into bankruptcy before the ACA outlawed these scam policies?
9
Senator Mitch McConnell, many Republicans and some Democrats continue to ignore the obvious solution of a more efficient, humane and affordable system for universal coverage in the public interest: H.R. 676, single-payer national health insurance. The real debate is not between the ACA vs. AHCA/BCRA, but rather is between our terrible health care financing system vs. single payer - improved Medicare for all insurance. We are being led by politicians blinded by their irresponsible ideology and beholden to big-money donors serving the greed of today’s medical-industrial-Big Pharma-Big Insurance complex.
Dissatisfied with the deficiencies of the Affordable Care Act, Americans are now realizing that the Republican repeal and replace movement was never founded on sound health policies and would leave us worse off, mired in the same old dangerous and dysfunctional insurance system. The Democratic and Republican politicians are quibbling over details of a dysfunctional, fragmented, inequitable health care financing system that costs too much and delivers too little.
We can't control health care insurance costs until we reform our method of financing health insurance. We simply have to give up the fantasy that the for-profit private insurance industry can provide us with comprehensive coverage when this requires premiums that average-income individuals cannot afford. Now, more than ever before, the nation is realizing that the other real option is an improved Medicare for all
Dissatisfied with the deficiencies of the Affordable Care Act, Americans are now realizing that the Republican repeal and replace movement was never founded on sound health policies and would leave us worse off, mired in the same old dangerous and dysfunctional insurance system. The Democratic and Republican politicians are quibbling over details of a dysfunctional, fragmented, inequitable health care financing system that costs too much and delivers too little.
We can't control health care insurance costs until we reform our method of financing health insurance. We simply have to give up the fantasy that the for-profit private insurance industry can provide us with comprehensive coverage when this requires premiums that average-income individuals cannot afford. Now, more than ever before, the nation is realizing that the other real option is an improved Medicare for all
3
As a practicing physician for the past 39 years I have never seen such a farce as what the Republicans are trying to call health care reform. There are terrible problems with the health and well-being of too many of our fellow Americans. There is little support for developing a public advocacy of the basic goals of health care by the government that we have elected to meet those goals. The US Constitution takes only 25 words to get to “general welfare”: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare”. The “general welfare” is Health Care. It is about 16% of the US economy. That is because caring for the health of those in need is a major activity that a civilized society does.
There are important questions that are ignored. Political distractions have undermined the ability of the American people to adequately consider the issues! There is too much at the business end of medicine that can only be called scandalous. In particular, the pricing of medications is price gouging. Should insurance companies that pay the bill be treated more as a utility that must provide fair and equal service to everyone? How should the costs be paid? By everyone or a few? Should health care be provided birth to extreme old age? Let’s first show that we can fix a few specific problems and then hopefully move on from there.
There are important questions that are ignored. Political distractions have undermined the ability of the American people to adequately consider the issues! There is too much at the business end of medicine that can only be called scandalous. In particular, the pricing of medications is price gouging. Should insurance companies that pay the bill be treated more as a utility that must provide fair and equal service to everyone? How should the costs be paid? By everyone or a few? Should health care be provided birth to extreme old age? Let’s first show that we can fix a few specific problems and then hopefully move on from there.
8
They make it sounds as if the only plans that will take advantage of the Cruz amendment are bare-bones plans. If that was the case I could see many healthy people still sticking with the plan(s) that meet ACA requirements to get the better coverage for unlikely events. But instead wouldn't insurance companies take advantage of the amendment by also offering a host of plans with excellent coverage that don't have the pre-existing condition protection? In other words, an insurance company could have the following three offerings: (1) ACA compliant plan (2) Quality plan that requires medical underwriting (3) Bare-bones plan that requires medical underwriting. In this case, when people shop for insurance they might get a quote on (2), and pick it only if it's cheaper than (1). So effectively all healthier people would end up in (2) and (3), and all the people with expensive pre-existing conditions would end up in (1). Won't this make the premiums for the ACA compliant plans skyrocket?
3
The issues are greater than attributing problems in the malfunctioning expensive health care system to insurance companies who treat their customers like cash cows.
The problem with health care in the US is that the US is the only country in the civilized world that still uses the insurance company based system for health care which is REGRESSIVE to the insured. In contrast, Canada, Japan and Western Europe use the single-payer health care system which is PROGRESSIVE to the insured.
Notwithstanding the positive developments of more affordable health care being offered to Americans under the ACA, the central issue on explaining the high costs for health care that has NOT been debated is that the U.S. insurance system of health coverage is REGRESSIVE. It is regressive in that a given policy with identified benefits will have a set price and this price is to be paid by all persons whether they are rich or poor. As a result, the rich buy the Cadillac versions and the poor the Skateboard versions.
In contrast the public single payer system of payments through taxes is PROGRESSIVE. In Canada, the government established that everyone has the right to have free access to health care. But the fact is that all health care expenses are paid by taxes and these payments of income taxes are progressive in that the more one makes in income the more one pays in taxes. The universal health care system in Canada is not a perfect system, but it works. Also administration costs are lower.
The problem with health care in the US is that the US is the only country in the civilized world that still uses the insurance company based system for health care which is REGRESSIVE to the insured. In contrast, Canada, Japan and Western Europe use the single-payer health care system which is PROGRESSIVE to the insured.
Notwithstanding the positive developments of more affordable health care being offered to Americans under the ACA, the central issue on explaining the high costs for health care that has NOT been debated is that the U.S. insurance system of health coverage is REGRESSIVE. It is regressive in that a given policy with identified benefits will have a set price and this price is to be paid by all persons whether they are rich or poor. As a result, the rich buy the Cadillac versions and the poor the Skateboard versions.
In contrast the public single payer system of payments through taxes is PROGRESSIVE. In Canada, the government established that everyone has the right to have free access to health care. But the fact is that all health care expenses are paid by taxes and these payments of income taxes are progressive in that the more one makes in income the more one pays in taxes. The universal health care system in Canada is not a perfect system, but it works. Also administration costs are lower.
7
Single payer insurance NOW!
2
It's interesting how the concept of choice gets used in this context. People who have the good fortune to be able to take health coverage for granted have one idea of what choice is and people for whom health coverage is unattainable have another. When it comes to health care, it seems that calling ourselves Americans means something other than all for one and one for all.
4
I modestly believe that the reason multi-millionaire Sen. Mitch McConnell and his fellow Republicans can't or won't offer a reasonable health care bill (and the reason they oppose the one we have) is that they have no empathy for the not-wealthy. They just don't care about most of us. This is a chronic shortcoming of modern Republican politics.
17
7 years of whining and crying by the GOP and 7years to build a responsible health care replacement to Obamacare and the only thing they can offer is a plan to save THEIR OWN REPUTATION--pathetic and disgusting!
22
Each revision of their "Go Die Quick Act" that the repubs devise still has the same affect, murder.
9