Vermont may get a waiver from Obamacare

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

isn't that different from single payer?

Yes it is. The single payer program is what is proposed. Here is why...

When the law was implemented employers had the option of either providing insurance for their employees (the usual method common aorund the country) OR they could opt out and pay the state "per employee" along with a monthly premium charged to the employee based on income.

The idea was to cover unemployed people, pepople working part time or for small business which does not offer insurance. However what has happened is that many employers who formerly had private insurance are opting to pay the state as the fees are lower and the coverage is better. My employer did that last year about this time. MY monthly premium went from more than $600 per month (for a family plan) to $149 per month and my coverage is incredible! I am diabetic and had a heart attack/bypass surgery. All of my meds, test supplies etc. cost me about $20 per month on co-pays. Formerly I paid more than $100 JUST FOR INSULIN. AND they covered my family despite my medical history.

Not to mention that the Hospital system here has its own fund (private charitable donations) that covers ANY other expense for ANY other non-elective service for residents of Vermont. So whatever the insurance does not pay, the hospital will waive and this applies to ANY of their facilities throughout the state and they are HUGE. It covers all in-hospital care plus any care at any of their branch offices for nearly every type of health care imaginable.

As more and more employers drop out of the usual healthcare method, the subject of "single payer" has become more of a topic in local politics.

Anyone living in Vermont has this great coverage, they just need to sign up for it and/or contact the hospital regarding their plan. Hopefully we will not allow the FEDs to mess it all up!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Assure that the insurance industry meets certain uniform minimum standards. They as well as the states are free to go above but not below.

Maybe YOUR state needs that. I think you also need permission to carry a concealed handgun. We just need the FEDs to go away and leave us alone. we are not interested in "minimum" standards.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

And that's exactly what the affordable care act (obamacare) provides for - exchanges run at the state level, except for states that say they don't want to do it and would rather have their residents participate in a federal-run exchange. Guess what? Quite a few states have elected to go with the Federal option, red states all. Weird.

Oh and the act also allows for states to form interstate compacts, so states can team up to offer a single exchange if they feel that is appropriate.

Sounds like Socialism.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Maybe YOUR state needs that. I think you also need permission to carry a concealed handgun. We just need the FEDs to go away and leave us alone. we are not interested in "minimum" standards.

FL most certainly does need minimum standards. VT apparently doesn't since it exceeds the requirements already - no harm done as far as I can see.

[Pooky 3,825]

Sounds like Socialism.

Sounds like the States sorting out the pile of poo that Washington handed them, making something that works in spite of the legislation passed by Federal government, not because of it.

[DEDixon 39]

Yes it is. The single payer program is what is proposed. Here is why...

When the law was implemented employers had the option of either providing insurance for their employees (the usual method common aorund the country) OR they could opt out and pay the state "per employee" along with a monthly premium charged to the employee based on income.

The idea was to cover unemployed people, pepople working part time or for small business which does not offer insurance. However what has happened is that many employers who formerly had private insurance are opting to pay the state as the fees are lower and the coverage is better. My employer did that last year about this time. MY monthly premium went from more than $600 per month (for a family plan) to $149 per month and my coverage is incredible! I am diabetic and had a heart attack/bypass surgery. All of my meds, test supplies etc. cost me about $20 per month on co-pays. Formerly I paid more than $100 JUST FOR INSULIN. AND they covered my family despite my medical history.

Not to mention that the Hospital system here has its own fund (private charitable donations) that covers ANY other expense for ANY other non-elective service for residents of Vermont. So whatever the insurance does not pay, the hospital will waive and this applies to ANY of their facilities throughout the state and they are HUGE. It covers all in-hospital care plus any care at any of their branch offices for nearly every type of health care imaginable.

As more and more employers drop out of the usual healthcare method, the subject of "single payer" has become more of a topic in local politics.

Anyone living in Vermont has this great coverage, they just need to sign up for it and/or contact the hospital regarding their plan. Hopefully we will not allow the FEDs to mess it all up!

i stand corrected. nice program. since i work from home, i just might move to VT and since i work from home, i just might spend 3 winter months in FL. other than the 3 winter months, VT would be a nice place to live. add in the health care and VT is super nice.

[slim 1,530]

Don't worry guys, all this is going to go away once we get a Republican President in 2013.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Don't worry guys, all this is going to go away once we get a Republican President in 2013.

I understand you are a bit tongue in cheek Slim, but it was implemented when Bush was President and signed into law by our four term Republican Governor. BOTH candidates for the recent election supported making it a single payer program. FWIW Vermont was the only state Bush never visted as President.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

i stand corrected. nice program. since i work from home, i just might move to VT and since i work from home, i just might spend 3 winter months in FL. other than the 3 winter months, VT would be a nice place to live. add in the health care and VT is super nice.

Vermont is an awesome place to live. Winter sucks unless you like to ski and snowmobile. The summers are "to die for" and you can actually forget there is a winter. We were reminded today with a blinding snowstorm. It will melt soon...maybe around April.

The single payer plan is yet to be worked out. As a self employed you would qualify for "CatamountBlue" or another one, I forget the name of that program but they were very similar. The amount you pay is based on your family size and income. Minimum is $7 per month (!!!) for a family of four. Maximum is something like $230. We pay $149.

There are those that say that the single payer plan was always the goal. Others say it is just how the cards were dealt. I do not think the state anticipated the number of employers that would find it cheaper just to pay their share to the state. Larger businesses are required to either offer insurance OR pay into the state plan. The other problem has been getting the word out to people that we actually have this benefit. A lot of uninsured people simply don't know about it.

Sounds like the States sorting out the pile of poo that Washington handed them, making something that works in spite of the legislation passed by Federal government, not because of it.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Sounds like the States sorting out the pile of poo that Washington handed them, making something that works in spite of the legislation passed by Federal government, not because of it.

What kept the states from coming up with health insurance schemes that worked for the citizenry prior to the passage of the health care reform legislation? What keeps them from doing so after it passed? The answer to both questions is: Nothing.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

What kept the states from coming up with health insurance schemes that worked for the citizenry prior to the passage of the health care reform legislation? What keeps them from doing so after it passed? The answer to both questions is: Nothing.

And considering that Vermont, Massachusetts and Hawaii did so I might say you are correct. The whole answer would be "the people of those states" If your state does not have a health plan it is the jurisdiction of the legislature and you can contact them, arguably with more affect than in Washington. The states can also have much better control of what happens within the state and can adjust things as needed. For many years companies have used benefits, including medical benefits to attract and hold employees. It is a valuable tool in a competitive market, why couldn't it work for states?

Maybe some employers will move to Vermont instead of New York because they can save money on their healthcare here and offer better benefits for their employees. Good jobs for Vermont! If Michigan did it, maybe they could re-populate.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What kept the states from coming up with health insurance schemes that worked for the citizenry prior to the passage of the health care reform legislation? What keeps them from doing so after it passed? The answer to both questions is: Nothing.

I blame Obama. It helps me to sleep at night.

[Pooky 3,825]

I blame Obama. It helps me to sleep at night.

I blame Obama for not going far enough, for selling out on his headline legislative program and settling for a mishmash that does little to get this country the healthcare system it needs and deserves.

The reason that States are going out and getting it done now is so that they don't have to deal with the white elephant that this administration is about to land them with if they don't.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I blame Obama for not going far enough, for selling out on his headline legislative program and settling for a mishmash that does little to get this country the healthcare system it needs and deserves.

The reason that States are going out and getting it done now is so that they don't have to deal with the white elephant that this administration is about to land them with if they don't.

Exactly. Damn him for not having the votes in Congress to have given us single payer health coverage.

[Pooky 3,825]

Exactly. Damn him for not having the votes in Congress to have given us single payer health coverage.

Not having the votes? Are you serious?

He didn't have the balls to make the Democrat super-majority work for him.