If they discuss a trigger, it might as well be for Medicare for All

[andym]

If the idea of a trigger for a "public option" gains ground, then the trigger should not be for a "strong public option," but for Medicare for All.

By the time a trigger kicks in (say 3-5 years), health care costs will be damaging the economy even more than today. More people will need affordable coverage. By that time, a competitive Public option will probably not be enough. Perhaps, the only way to keep the USA solvent and to ensure reasonably priced universal health care is to create Medicare for All.

Politically feasible?

In fact, the best approach would be to implement the Strong Public Option now, and still include a trigger-- for Medicare for All, in case the strong public option is not enough.

I will write up a letter to send to Congress right now to make this point.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Spending last Friday negotiating a 'trigger' with Ollie Snowe was stupid. nt

[pinto]

2. Interesting idea. They'd have to include funding stream to support it,

though, and there seems little political will right now to tackle the Medicare funding issues. Interesting approach, though. Maybe a trigger for incremental buy in to Medicare over time, by 10 year age groups, i.e first 55 - 65, then 45 - 55, and so on.

[andym]

4. Incremental buy in-interesting idea

I would prefer a do it all at once approach, but an incremental approach could work

[nightrain]

3. yes. if Congress/Obama go down that road, more will suffer needlessly, we might

as well shoot for a single payer. As if healthcare isn't in horrible-enough shape now!


And let's see about getting some real election reform going.

What I don't understand is--If corporations are treated legally as an individual, then why don't the individual election contributions apply as well?...

[DinahMoeHum]

5. Sure, why re-invent the wheel when we already have a model for single-payer

in Medicare. Just expand it to include everybody.

:think:

[damntexdem]

6. Just wait, their trigger for Medicare for all would likely be ...

it kicks in when you turn 65.

;-)

[inna]

7. if we're lucky, actually. Medicare is going to be bankrupt in several years, acc. to official estim

ates.

[trueblue2007]

8. I WANT Medicare for all. My insurance is awful.

I HATE United Healthcare.

I want a PUBLIC OPTION NOW!!

[GrantDem]

9. They could make the trigger for a $10,000,000 check to every American.

The point is the "trigger" will never be "triggered". The purpose is to kill healthcare reform. The healthcare industry lawyers will find loophole after loophole to wiggle out of "triggering" anything.

If it is broke why wait to fix it, especially when you are leaving the fixing up to the people that broke it.

[Justitia]

10. Yeah, the "trigger" we got for Medicare Part D - 6 YEARS AGO - is working out so great!

The trigger will never be pulled (just like Part D), it will end up being repealed by law, and Democrats will never get elected again after TAXING the entire population of the United States for mandated premiums for SHIT COVERAGE.

I can see already, this is going to work out just great for everybody! :sarcasm:

[quantass]

11. A trigger is too damning

Medicare Part D is a terrible indicaton of this. One would need to shorten the trigger time period (not this 3-5 years scam) and would have to be extremely strict and set goals that must be met each month the legislation passed...so in effect the trigger would kick in as early as a month but say no later than 2 years (assuming each month's goal was met by the industry). Also the trigger should be nothig short of "Single Payer" (a more well-formed Medicare program) to scare the bejesus of the insurance industry for them to shape up or be put out of business...no compromises....The funny thing is you will hear the repubs (and blue dog democrats) throw their arms in the air and scream socialism for such a trigger and totally forget that it wont take affect unless the industry conitnues to screw families....it is like they are saying in this case: We know the industry will screw familes and continue to do so making incredible profits and we dont care.....why else would they be upset...if the industry is willing to play flair now then they have nothig to worry about but sure enough Washington will cmoe out screaming.

[andym]

12. The idea of Medicare for All would definitely scare the wits out of the insurers

Since their business model would be destroyed. A trigger should just be based on average premiums per year, if they continue at 5% or greater for 1-2 years.

[andym]

13. Another benefit of this idea is that the insurers will be begging for a public option now

to avoid Medicare for all,