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National access to insurance alone isn’t enough
Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 | 2:02 a.m.
It was recently reported that the Senate health care bill does not contain legislation that controls health care costs. Of course not — that was the purpose of the now-missing-in-action public option. However, the proposed legislation would allow consumers to purchase their insurance across state lines, effectively nationalizing access to private health care.
So the public does have an option. Although increased plan access is a step in the right direction, one thing is still missing — real competition. In the absence of a public plan, full disclosure becomes the key. The way to do this is to follow the lead of what many states have done with auto insurance, and that is to give consumers access to a set of common-cost comparisons.
For health insurance, the federal government should require full disclosure by all insurers, including Medicare and Medicaid. They would provide a list of industry-standard coverage such as hospital stays, doctor visits, CT scans etc. This detailed list would disclose the type and amount of coverage provided for both groups and individuals along with the insured’s total monthly or annual premium charges for all available plans.
This information would be compiled, compared, and then be published monthly and made available nationally. Then, in our “highly competitive” insurance marketplace, the consumer could begin to get a fair shake when opting into a health insurance plan.
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It would be better to do nothing than to make things even worse, which this Congress appears that it just might do, if it forces people to buy coverage, but doesn't make sure coverage and costs are not a free-market free-for-all.
Everything I've read guesses that if this type of coverage that you're talking about is passed, insurance companies will just move to the state where they can get away with the shoddiest coverage, and that's what we'll get.
hey richard...
excellent letter...
however...
it won't work...
want an analogy...
the phone companies...
hell i can't even begin to understand my phone bill...
just imagine trying to understand your insurance bill...
problem is...
the greedy pig insurance companies and the money grubbing whore docotors make too much damn money...
and money buys power...
and over time all of the good will be squeezed back out...
we must cut off the head of these beasts...
or our country will go bankrupt...
we must have the public option...
even if it takes reconciliation to get there!!!
Birdie - So here we go again on Monday with the rant that someone makes more money than you and its not fair. It says a lot that you cannot understand your phone bill and you try and make the rest of us believe you are the authority on health care and all other things democratic. You just lost any credibility, what little you had with a whole bunch of people. Just like all the other dems, given enough time, you put your foot in your mouth and the truth comes out.
hey brownie...
you crack me up skippy...
first of all...
why do you stupid pathetic lying republicans always fall back on arrogance...
hmmm...
clearly it is nothing but a defense mechanism...
sad...
truly sad...
second of all...
you have no idea who i am or what i do for a living...
but suffice it to say...
you are way off base...
birdie is brilliant...
of that there can be no dispute...
period...
end of story...
third of all...
birdie is at least honest enought to say that he doesn't understand his phone bill...
no one does...
it's pure fiction...
one thing i do know...
it is designed to go up over time...
why you ask...
because it is an oligopoloy...
and make no mistake skipster...
oligopolies have deep pockets...
and deep pockets buy power...
and that is why your phone bill keeps going up and up...
just like it will with any form of health care reform that doesn't include a public option...
but there is one difference...
the phone companies will not bankrupt the country...
the greedy pig insurance companies and the money grubbing whore doctors will...
period...
end of story!!!
Hey birdie- did I touch a nerve? You sound just like the dem talking points - name calling, everybody is wrong unless your a dem and we need to take from the rich and give to everybody else, right?? When someone makes more money than you, you want it because its not fair - get off the gravy train and make your own way and quit trying to have everyone else pay your way. And no arrogance, just reading what you wrote. I understand my phone bill and I understand the dem health care of when you do not buy in its a mis-demeanor punshisable by up to 12 months in jail and /or a fine, did you know that oh wise one? And back to your phone bill - do you just make payments on things you do not understand, like health care?? Oh thats right, everyone else will pay for health care, not you.
Bring back Bush! Obama is the stupidist man in the world. Did I say man? The stupidist thing in the world. Sorry for the error.
hey brownie...
you crack me up skippy...
it really is funny how you stupid pathetic republican liars try to paint yourselves as successful and rich...
guess what skipster...
we all know it is a crock...
you see skip...
those who really have money don't have to constantly tell others that they have it...
and they don't have to put others down to make themselves feel better...
like you...
like virtually all stupid pathetic republican liars...
so...
grow up son...
we are wise to your silly games!!!
jlb101:
Sorry, your hero Bush is not coming back.
Luckey for us, we now have one of the
smartest men in the country as our president.
If you Democrats really want health care for all, why doesn't the Obama administration IMMEDIATELY through a Presidential Proclamation make Medicaid available to all who can't afford health insurance and have preexisting conditions and can not obtain health insurance?
Obama is using it as another crisis to get a complete government takeover of the health care system.
You see, a government takeover of the health care system advances his socialist agenda.
"If it's such a important issue, why doesn't the Obama administration IMMEDIATELY through a Presidential Proclamation make Medicaid available to all who can't afford health insurance and have preexisting conditions and can not obtain health insurance?"
Because covering people is only a part of the equation, Larry. Obviously, you haven't been paying attention.
Just extending Medicaid will not accomplish Obama's ultimate goal: to bring down the cost of health care.
Really, this isn't that complicated if you'll tone down the conspiracy theories maybe you'll understand.
Birdie, you are a piece of work. You who call any republican every name in the book, you are the one who needs to get a life. In all my posts I have never indicated that I was rich, your the one who assumed that I might be. And its really none of your business, but I'm sick and tired of all you dems that think they can just take and take and take. If anyone has one dollar more than you dems, you want to take it away and we are sick and tired of your ways. You contradict yourself in the same sentence above by saying " they don't have to put others down to make themselves feel better...
like you...
like virtually all stupid pathetic republican liars...
So, please tell me what I'm lying about, I would love to hear it. You got all over Joe Wilson for his remark, and your just like him - calling people liars - you are really a sad case. Maybe you should try to grow up and have an adult conversation instead of trying to belittle every person that does not see things how you do.
A pubic plan or option will never work. Medicare and Medicaid are both riddled with crime and corruption and any option the lunatics propose would be riddled with the same crime and corruption.
Look at the Crazy Horse 3; it is owned by the feds, they can't even manage this place. They tried it with the Mustang Ranch, a thriving business before being taken over by the feds and it took them less than 12 months and they had to close the doors because they went broke.
Stop and smell the roses, any public involvement and the system will be flawed for life and will never work. The regulations for private insurers need to be changed and updated to reflect the grievances the public has voiced their concerns over. When they enact new laws and regulate the insurance companies and doctor billing practices then insurance will become affordable for all.
Please Birdie, for your parents' sake, have an adult proofread your comments before you post. You could look around for a site that suits you better, this is mainly for grown-ups here.
For those of you who have insurance think about the doctors and how they bill for their services. When you read our insurance statement you will note that the doctors charge a $1,000.00 for a service and the insurance company allows $100.00, the doctor has to write off the balance. If you don't have insurance then you're stuck paying the $1,000.00.
This is where the system is flawed and how the system is ripping off consumers without insurance. It starts with the allowable amount charged and how the doctors have developed a dual tier billing system. Fix the system and everybody can afford healthcare.
The latest poll by Scott Rasmussen not only shows national opposition to Obamacare rising -- now it is 41% for 56% against -- but also shows the elderly moving against it even more strongly by 33% for 59% or almost 2:1 against it...