Quote:
Originally Posted by dippin
There is no public option in this bill, so everyone will still have "private insurance."
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A small percentage of those 30+ million currently uninsured would become eligible for Medicaid.
But the vast majority, most of those working for small businesses would be able to purchase affordable insurance through the Insurance Exchange that would be created.....from the same private insurance companies that serve the large group (employer-based) market.
Pan....I really dont understand at all your point that this
"bill WILL widen the gap between classes and the lower classes will receive medical treatment less than what they can today."
How does providing affordable, accessible private insurance TO 30+ million working people widen the gap?
---------- Post added at 05:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:17 PM ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by robot_parade
So what's so bad about this bill, exactly? It isn't nearly what I wanted, or what progressives wanted, but it's still way better than the status quo. As far as I can tell, the Republican party has no alternative at all - their entire strategy and goal is to obstruct.
Here's the good stuff in the current bill:
o Subsidies to buy health insurance for lower income people
o Insurance exchanges which *may* lubricate the market a little bit.
o No more recission, exclusion for pre-existing conditions, or lifetime limits.
o Insurance must cover preventative care.
o No more medicare 'donut hole'
o Medicaid for 'pretty much' all of the poor.
Some stuff I'm not comfortable with:
o Individual mandate
o No employer mandate
I'd have preferred single payer, or at least 'public option' - although I have serious doubts about the viability of the public option idea.
Failing that, I think we should just get rid of the employer-based system (or rather, the incentives for it), and let people shop for their own insurance. If we're going to be all 'free market', have an actual market.
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IMO, the "good stuff" is very good stuff and represents significant reform that, over time, will impact most Americans in a positive way by providing more extensive coverage and financial security (no more going bankrupt over a medical crisis).
The conundrum is that you cant get this good stuff w/o the bad stuff.....increasing the size of the pool through individual mandates.
I too would prefer a single payer system and dumping the employer-based system....but pragmatism prevails.