Republicans question health care improvements

[kaydee457 13]

The biggest problem with all these proposals is that they want to provide uniform coverage for all (except Congress of course as they seek to exempt themselves in some of the proposals).

Sounds good and should make you socialists happy. However, to me, and many others with what the Dems have labeled "caddillac" health care plans, those that exceed some arbitrary annual cost, will be burdened by having to subsidize those that currently do not have HC. So we loose and the "have nots" gain......

Redistribution that Comrade Obama promised comes to fruition!

Republicans question health care improvements:

WASHINGTON – Republicans are asking voters a basic question about Democratic proposals to overhaul the nation's health care system: "Will this improve your life?"

Most people agree that health care changes should decrease the costs and make it easier to receive health care, Republican Nebraska Sen. Mike Johanns said Saturday in the GOP's weekly video and radio address.

"Yet current proposals in Congress don't accomplish this goal and could even have the opposite effect, negatively impacting each and every one of us," Johanns said.

"As a select few deliberate over legislation that will mean higher premiums across the board, higher taxes for hardworking families and cuts to Medicare for senior citizens, I ask: will this improve your life?" he said.

Though details are still being hashed out, the legislation would remake the nation's $2.5 trillion health care system with a new requirement for most Americans to purchase health insurance, and government subsidies to help lower-income people do so. Insurers would face new restrictions against dropping coverage for sick people or denying coverage to people with pre-existing health conditions.

Johanns listed several examples of proposed changes he said could have a negative effect on various groups of people. Among them:

_"To the factory worker, who has forgone pay raises for the promise of better insurance benefits for you and your family: your health insurance will be taxed and your premiums will go up."

• "To the recent college graduate burdened with student loans: you'll be forced to buy health insurance the government mandates, and if you refuse, you'll be hit with a penalty."

• "To our seniors, who wish to receive care in the comfort of their homes: funding for hospice care and home health care services would be cut."

The White House and congressional Democrats dispute such arguments, saying their health care plans would result in stronger and better coverage for all and ultimately lower prices since they are seeking to rein in wasteful spending.

They also note that currently, people with insurance pay a "hidden tax" created by the costs of emergency room visits by the uninsured being shifted to the rest of the population.

As for the proposed cuts to Medicare providers, Democrats say they would not affect core Medicare benefits and would strengthen the program overall by reducing fraud and abuse.

___

Associated Press writer Erica Werner contributed to this report.

link

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Your health insurance will be taxed and your premiums will go up.

My health care premiums have gone nowhere but up for years and will go nowhere but up if we retain the status quo.

You'll be forced to buy health insurance the government mandates, and if you refuse, you'll be hit with a penalty.

People will be able to buy health insurance coverage and yes, there needs to be a stop to the free rides.

Funding for hospice care and home health care services would be cut.

Scaring the Seniors again? Classy.

Now that this is out of the way, let's ask the more important question: What better plan has the GOP offered up?

*sound of crickets*

[kaydee457 13]

Well, if their proposals are so wonderful then why are they proposing to exempt all federal employees, including congress, as well as union members, railroad workers, fireman, policeman, and more?

We're talking exempting up to 20 million workers plus the hippocrits in congress themselves.....who the heck is left to pay for this?

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

.....who the heck is left to pay for this?

the ones that want it so bad.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

.....who the heck is left to pay for this?

the ones that want it so bad.

Everyone pays. Whether you want it or not. That truly is the American way.

[rebeccajo 14]

Well, if their proposals are so wonderful then why are they proposing to exempt all federal employees, including congress, as well as union members, railroad workers, fireman, policeman, and more?

We're talking exempting up to 20 million workers plus the hippocrits in congress themselves.....who the heck is left to pay for this?

Because the federal and state workers already have plans that the government pays for, genius.

[kaydee457 13]

.....who the heck is left to pay for this?

the ones that want it so bad.

Everyone pays. Whether you want it or not. That truly is the American way.

Umm, that's not the "American" way.....We are Capatalist, not Socialist and I don't want to pay for your freebie.....

As for the timing of all this; it's absurd in the midst of the worst recession ever and with the debt and deficit this President's run up to record levels, it's simply absurd to do this now.

Republicans have it right: TORT REFORM (Obama as a Laywer himself is resisting this), fix MEDICARE and MEDICAID first and wait for a recovery before throwing the monkey wrench into the HC system......

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Well, if their proposals are so wonderful then why are they proposing to exempt all federal employees, including congress, as well as union members, railroad workers, fireman, policeman, and more?

We're talking exempting up to 20 million workers plus the hippocrits in congress themselves.....who the heck is left to pay for this?

Because the federal and state workers already have plans that the government pays for, genius.

But the Rethuglicans would be happier if the government taxed itself.

[kaydee457 13]

Well, if their proposals are so wonderful then why are they proposing to exempt all federal employees, including congress, as well as union members, railroad workers, fireman, policeman, and more?

We're talking exempting up to 20 million workers plus the hippocrits in congress themselves.....who the heck is left to pay for this?

Because the federal and state workers already have plans that the government pays for, genius.

But the Rethuglicans would be happier if the government taxed itself.

Why would they not impose their wonderful HC plan on themselves? Abolish the HC plans they have now for Civil Servants and impose this great system on them!

I also have a very good HC plan but I'm not exempt from this moronic plan. The only Fed's that should have their own, seperate HC plan should be the Military, period.

It's just the typical double standard and business as usual in DC.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Well, if their proposals are so wonderful then why are they proposing to exempt all federal employees, including congress, as well as union members, railroad workers, fireman, policeman, and more?

We're talking exempting up to 20 million workers plus the hippocrits in congress themselves.....who the heck is left to pay for this?

Because the federal and state workers already have plans that the government pays for, genius.

But the Rethuglicans would be happier if the government taxed itself.

Why would they not impose their wonderful HC plan on themselves? Abolish the HC plans they have now for Civil Servants and impose this great system on them!

I also have a very good HC plan but I'm not exempt from this moronic plan. The only Fed's that should have their own, seperate HC plan should be the Military, period.

It's just the typical double standard and business as usual in DC.

Again, nobody wants to take your HC plan away from you. If your employer sees fit, they'll keep offering it to you.

[kaydee457 13]

Congress has already exempted itself from Public Option

By: Mark Tapscott

Editorial Page Editor

09/08/09 6:41 PM EDT

One of the clearest messages from the Town Hall forums during the August congressional recess was that people want Congress to be covered by the same health care reform plan they impose on the rest of us.

Members of Congress presently get health insurance coverage through the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), which offers enrollees nearly 300 choices among a variety of plans, coverages and costs.

The FEHBP covers federal employees and retirees, as well as Members of Congress, though the latter have additional perks of office that make their health coverage far better than that available - or affordable - for the vast majority of working Americans.

Public anger may explain why the White House is now insisting that Congress has not exempted itself from the Public Option, most notably in this new "Reality Check" video on the White House web site featuring former ABC reporter Linda Douglas, who now flaks for Obama as communications director for the White House Office of Health Care Reform.

The problem is, according to The Heritage Foundation's Robert Moffitt, the White House assertion is "incorrect."

And in this video Moffit points to an amendment offered by Rep. Dean Heller, R-NV, during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting just before the recess began that would have required Members to be covered by the Public Option plan if they approve it for private citizens.

Predictably, however, the Heller amendment was defeated, with all 21 committee Democrats voting against it. That vote is indicative of the reality that any bill requiring Congress to be covered by the same health care as the public has the proverbial snow ball in Hades' chances of being enacted.

Moffitt is presently director of health policy studies at Heritage. During the Reagan administrtion, he was assistant director for congressional relations at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which manages the government's health care program. (FULL DISCLOSURE: I also served as a Reagan appointee with Moffit at OPM, during my pre-journalism career days). In short, Moffit knows Congress and he knows FEHBP.

Moffitt is awfully diplomatic in terming the White House video "incorrect." Something more along the lines of "outrageous propaganda" comes to my mind.

One thing is certain, though - as a journalist who presumably knows the critical importance of getting the facts, Linda Douglas ought to be ashamed of herself, especially since she covered Congress for nearly a decade and thus presumably knows a thing or two about how Members of Congress have given themselves all sorts of perks, including a special place in FEHBP.

Just because you signed up to be a political appointee and left the newsroom behind doesn't mean you have to check your journalistic integrity at the door.

link

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Congress has already exempted itself from Public Option

By: Mark Tapscott

Editorial Page Editor

09/08/09 6:41 PM EDT

One of the clearest messages from the Town Hall forums during the August congressional recess was that people want Congress to be covered by the same health care reform plan they impose on the rest of us.

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Nonsense argument. There's nothing that suggests that any of the health care plans will impse a public option on anyone. That's why it's called an "option". As it currently stands, I wouldn't even be able to choose the public option because I have employer provided insurance. The option is supposed to be available for those that are left to shop for health insurance coverage on their own as an additional plan to choose from.

It's not that difficult, really. We have a public option homeowners insurance here in Florida. I can buy my property insurance from that public option or from any other provider. I actually have private insurance coverage and that coverage is around 30% less expensive today than it was prior to the public option being added to the mix. Some people don't have any private coverage available to them - for those it's either the public plan or the loss of their home. So they chose the evil, socialist public plan rather than having their home foreclosed on.

The kicker is that this particular public insurance option - which contradicts everything the opponents of such a construct in health care claim - works well and is the product of our conservative legislature and executive here in sunny Florida.

[kaydee457 13]

Congress has already exempted itself from Public Option

By: Mark Tapscott

Editorial Page Editor

09/08/09 6:41 PM EDT

One of the clearest messages from the Town Hall forums during the August congressional recess was that people want Congress to be covered by the same health care reform plan they impose on the rest of us.

Members of Congress presently get health insurance coverage through the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), which offers enrollees nearly 300 choices among a variety of plans, coverages and costs.

The FEHBP covers federal employees and retirees, as well as Members of Congress, though the latter have additional perks of office that make their health coverage far better than that available - or affordable - for the vast majority of working Americans.

Public anger may explain why the White House is now insisting that Congress has not exempted itself from the Public Option, most notably in this new "Reality Check" video on the White House web site featuring former ABC reporter Linda Douglas, who now flaks for Obama as communications director for the White House Office of Health Care Reform.

The problem is, according to The Heritage Foundation's Robert Moffitt, the White House assertion is "incorrect."

And in this video Moffit points to an amendment offered by Rep. Dean Heller, R-NV, during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting just before the recess began that would have required Members to be covered by the Public Option plan if they approve it for private citizens.

Predictably, however, the Heller amendment was defeated, with all 21 committee Democrats voting against it. That vote is indicative of the reality that any bill requiring Congress to be covered by the same health care as the public has the proverbial snow ball in Hades' chances of being enacted.

Moffitt is presently director of health policy studies at Heritage. During the Reagan administrtion, he was assistant director for congressional relations at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which manages the government's health care program. (FULL DISCLOSURE: I also served as a Reagan appointee with Moffit at OPM, during my pre-journalism career days). In short, Moffit knows Congress and he knows FEHBP.

Moffitt is awfully diplomatic in terming the White House video "incorrect." Something more along the lines of "outrageous propaganda" comes to my mind.

One thing is certain, though - as a journalist who presumably knows the critical importance of getting the facts, Linda Douglas ought to be ashamed of herself, especially since she covered Congress for nearly a decade and thus presumably knows a thing or two about how Members of Congress have given themselves all sorts of perks, including a special place in FEHBP.

Just because you signed up to be a political appointee and left the newsroom behind doesn't mean you have to check your journalistic integrity at the door.

link

Well, I wholeheartedly disagree! The proposals being put forth now are designed to entice your employer to drop your coverage in favor of paying a token fee (fine) for each employee they don't provide medical coverage for.

There will be an avalange of employees forced into the public plan by design.

If this doesn't happen, those of us that do keep employer based HC plans will be forced to subsidize the public plan through exorbitant taxes imposed on us that the Feds have exempted themselves from having to pay.....

If they (the Dems) continue with this craziness they will pay dearly on 2010.....

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Congress has already exempted itself from Public Option

By: Mark Tapscott

Editorial Page Editor

09/08/09 6:41 PM EDT

One of the clearest messages from the Town Hall forums during the August congressional recess was that people want Congress to be covered by the same health care reform plan they impose on the rest of us.

Members of Congress presently get health insurance coverage through the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), which offers enrollees nearly 300 choices among a variety of plans, coverages and costs.

The FEHBP covers federal employees and retirees, as well as Members of Congress, though the latter have additional perks of office that make their health coverage far better than that available - or affordable - for the vast majority of working Americans.

Public anger may explain why the White House is now insisting that Congress has not exempted itself from the Public Option, most notably in this new "Reality Check" video on the White House web site featuring former ABC reporter Linda Douglas, who now flaks for Obama as communications director for the White House Office of Health Care Reform.

The problem is, according to The Heritage Foundation's Robert Moffitt, the White House assertion is "incorrect."

And in this video Moffit points to an amendment offered by Rep. Dean Heller, R-NV, during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting just before the recess began that would have required Members to be covered by the Public Option plan if they approve it for private citizens.

Predictably, however, the Heller amendment was defeated, with all 21 committee Democrats voting against it. That vote is indicative of the reality that any bill requiring Congress to be covered by the same health care as the public has the proverbial snow ball in Hades' chances of being enacted.

Moffitt is presently director of health policy studies at Heritage. During the Reagan administrtion, he was assistant director for congressional relations at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which manages the government's health care program. (FULL DISCLOSURE: I also served as a Reagan appointee with Moffit at OPM, during my pre-journalism career days). In short, Moffit knows Congress and he knows FEHBP.

Moffitt is awfully diplomatic in terming the White House video "incorrect." Something more along the lines of "outrageous propaganda" comes to my mind.

One thing is certain, though - as a journalist who presumably knows the critical importance of getting the facts, Linda Douglas ought to be ashamed of herself, especially since she covered Congress for nearly a decade and thus presumably knows a thing or two about how Members of Congress have given themselves all sorts of perks, including a special place in FEHBP.

Just because you signed up to be a political appointee and left the newsroom behind doesn't mean you have to check your journalistic integrity at the door.

link

Well, I wholeheartedly disagree! The proposals being put forth now are designed to entice your employer to drop your coverage in favor of paying a token fee (fine) for each employee they don't provide medical coverage for.

There will be an avalange of employees forced into the public plan by design.

If this doesn't happen, those of us that do keep employer based HC plans will be forced to subsidize the public plan through exorbitant taxes imposed on us that the Feds have exempted themselves from having to pay.....

If they (the Dems) continue with this craziness they will pay dearly on 2010.....

Well, you're wholeheartedly wrong. I take the assessment of the CBO over that of political hacks any day of the week. And the CBO is on record saying that...:

... a health care reform bill that includes a public option sought by Democrats would result in 3 million more people enrolled in employer-sponsored coverage by 2016, compared with what would happen under current laws.

[kaydee457 13]

Congress has already exempted itself from Public Option

By: Mark Tapscott

Editorial Page Editor

09/08/09 6:41 PM EDT

One of the clearest messages from the Town Hall forums during the August congressional recess was that people want Congress to be covered by the same health care reform plan they impose on the rest of us.

Members of Congress presently get health insurance coverage through the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), which offers enrollees nearly 300 choices among a variety of plans, coverages and costs.

The FEHBP covers federal employees and retirees, as well as Members of Congress, though the latter have additional perks of office that make their health coverage far better than that available - or affordable - for the vast majority of working Americans.

Public anger may explain why the White House is now insisting that Congress has not exempted itself from the Public Option, most notably in this new "Reality Check" video on the White House web site featuring former ABC reporter Linda Douglas, who now flaks for Obama as communications director for the White House Office of Health Care Reform.

The problem is, according to The Heritage Foundation's Robert Moffitt, the White House assertion is "incorrect."

And in this video Moffit points to an amendment offered by Rep. Dean Heller, R-NV, during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting just before the recess began that would have required Members to be covered by the Public Option plan if they approve it for private citizens.

Predictably, however, the Heller amendment was defeated, with all 21 committee Democrats voting against it. That vote is indicative of the reality that any bill requiring Congress to be covered by the same health care as the public has the proverbial snow ball in Hades' chances of being enacted.

Moffitt is presently director of health policy studies at Heritage. During the Reagan administrtion, he was assistant director for congressional relations at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which manages the government's health care program. (FULL DISCLOSURE: I also served as a Reagan appointee with Moffit at OPM, during my pre-journalism career days). In short, Moffit knows Congress and he knows FEHBP.

Moffitt is awfully diplomatic in terming the White House video "incorrect." Something more along the lines of "outrageous propaganda" comes to my mind.

One thing is certain, though - as a journalist who presumably knows the critical importance of getting the facts, Linda Douglas ought to be ashamed of herself, especially since she covered Congress for nearly a decade and thus presumably knows a thing or two about how Members of Congress have given themselves all sorts of perks, including a special place in FEHBP.

Just because you signed up to be a political appointee and left the newsroom behind doesn't mean you have to check your journalistic integrity at the door.

link

Well, I wholeheartedly disagree! The proposals being put forth now are designed to entice your employer to drop your coverage in favor of paying a token fee (fine) for each employee they don't provide medical coverage for.

There will be an avalange of employees forced into the public plan by design.

If this doesn't happen, those of us that do keep employer based HC plans will be forced to subsidize the public plan through exorbitant taxes imposed on us that the Feds have exempted themselves from having to pay.....

If they (the Dems) continue with this craziness they will pay dearly on 2010.....

Well, you're wholeheartedly wrong. I take the assessment of the CBO over that of political hacks any day of the week. And the CBO is on record saying that...:

... a health care reform bill that includes a public option sought by Democrats would result in 3 million more people enrolled in employer-sponsored coverage by 2016, compared with what would happen under current laws.

I think not....Not when the proposed "fine" for not providing coverage is $750/employee vs. 4~8k/employee. You're going to see employee coverage eliminated in numbers not seen before. The incentive is to drop coverage, not increase the coverage......