ObamaCare's Phony Medicaid 'Deal'

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Since we already have so many people already dependant on medicare and medicaid dropping it isn't going to happen.

We're talking about the expansion of medicaid, not medicare. The states can come up with their own innovation making medicaid obsolete. Truth is that they can't and won't. The way I see it, this is the pickle we're in: It's either covering those that have been priced out of private insurance through medicaid or continue to watch the amount of uninsured and hence the amount of uncompensated care grow ever more - a cost that those that actually still carry insurance have to shoulder. Which, of course, would price ever more people out of PHI incrasing the cost of uncompensated care further. There are no easy answers here.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

We're talking about the expansion of medicaid, not medicare. The states can come up with their own innovation making medicaid obsolete. Truth is that they can't and won't. The way I see it, this is the pickle we're in: It's either covering those that have been priced out of private insurance through medicaid or continue to watch the amount of uninsured and hence the amount of uncompensated care grow ever more - a cost that those that actually still carry insurance have to shoulder. Which, of course, would price ever more people out of PHI incrasing the cost of uncompensated care further. There are no easy answers here.

There is yet another major problem here. A lot of companies have already said they will drop their company provided insurance and just pay the fine. We were promised that if we liked our insurance we would get to keep it. With the way this bill is written it gives the companies an easy out. This will expand the medicaid ranks even more and put a huge burden on the states.

[mawilson 2,133]

Interesting but considering the type of work they do, I can kind of understand. Personally, I'd rather they pay them more while on the job and for the job they are doing. However, unions are not interested in performance pay.

Don't you think it has more to do with the other unions? Like workshop bla bla bla. It seems that those bastards are milking the city dry. Obviously not too good at their jobs either.

Yep, the NYPD was just one example of ridiculous benefits given to public/union employees.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

I just don't understand. The dems had solid majorities in both houses and had the WH. Why didn't they just pass single payer and get it over with? This bill will get us there eventually because companies will drop private insurance and force people into medicaid and the "exchanges". But doing it this way is insanely expensive. As I said before, I voted for Obama and a dem for senator so we could get some sanity in our health care system. All we got was more insanity. I have this very bad feeling that no matter who is in charge we will never get anything done right.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

There is yet another major problem here. A lot of companies have already said they will drop their company provided insurance and just pay the fine. We were promised that if we liked our insurance we would get to keep it. With the way this bill is written it gives the companies an easy out.

That's a BS argument you're making here. W/o the bill, companies didn't even have to pay a fine - they just drop coverage and that's that. If anything, the health care bill makes employers contribute towards the cost of coverage if they choose not to offer it.

That said, the fine isn't what will make a significantly stronger case for employers to provide coverage - it's too small an amount compared to what actual coverage costs. Competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent is what has kept and continues to keep your employer motivated to offer coverage. That's the case pre- and post the health care reform bill.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

That's a BS argument you're making here. W/o the bill, companies didn't even have to pay a fine - they just drop coverage and that's that. If anything, the health care bill makes employers contribute towards the cost of coverage if they choose not to offer it.

That said, the fine isn't what will make a significantly stronger case for employers to provide coverage - it's too small an amount compared to what actual coverage costs. Competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent is what has kept and continues to keep your employer motivated to offer coverage. That's the case pre- and post the health care reform bill.

Before the bill companies could offer whatever they wanted without interference. Now they must pass muster with the government on the level of coverage. This is what will drive the private insurance out of the workplace. Plus it gives them the ability to say, "we don't need to cover you anymore. Let the government do it". Don't get me wrong, I want single payer. This is just the wrong way to go about it.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Before the bill companies could offer whatever they wanted without interference. Now they must pass muster with the government on the level of coverage. This is what will drive the private insurance out of the workplace. Plus it gives them the ability to say, "we don't need to cover you anymore. Let the government do it". Don't get me wrong, I want single payer. This is just the wrong way to go about it.

Good, so we agree on the single payer. I just don't see that setting basic standards for the quality of coverage will lead to a mass exodus of employers out of the current system. The fact of the matter is that w/o any health care reform over the last decade or so, the choices in terms of coverage have decreased significantly for me while the cost of coverage has gone through the roof. I remember having a couple plans available (90/10/0) at no cost to me when I first started in the industry I still work in - those included decent prescription coverage, too. Then there were about a dozen different plans that would have varying amounts of premiums, co-pays and whatnot. Today, there are essentially three plans: 90/10 (this is split in regards to deductibles - 100/200 or 500/1000), high deductible 80/20 or nothing at all.

It's somewhat dishonest to sit there and pretend that reduced choices and rising costs are somehow a result of the health care bill that passed earlier this year. We were on a bad trajectory as it was and I, for one, ain't buying into the insurance lobby's scaremongering on this. I trust them less than I trust politicians, lawyers or used car salesmen. The PHI industry fcuked us all for decades and about the only thing I regret about the health care reform bill is that it'll allow them to continue fcuking us. Well, that and the lack of serious cost control mechanisms.