Baucus Lays Out Health Care Overhaul Details

[babylonsister]

Baucus Lays Out Health Care Overhaul Details
By Drew Armstrong, CQ Staff


Sen. Max Baucus , D-Mont., said Friday that while he has not written off the idea of a government-run insurance plan for his health care overhaul proposal, it probably won’t be his first line of attack, preferring to focus instead on the system for self-insured companies.

At a breakfast with reporters hosted by the journal Health Affairs, Baucus laid out details of his health care overhaul plans, many of which he will share in greater depth in a closed-door session April 29 with Finance Committee members.

While a government-run insurance plan was still on the table, Baucus said “it might be a bit on the side of the table.” Instead, he said, he would focus on preserving the insurance system for self-insured companies while expanding private insurance and public programs such as Medicaid, the insurance program for the poor. “We’ll end up with more private insurance and more public insurance,” he said.

He later backed off that statement slightly, saying he might return to the government-run idea later on. Baucus has previously backed the idea of a government-run plan to compete with private insurers and drive down costs, but the political difficulty of the idea has put pressure on him to drop it. Many Republicans vehemently oppose any idea of a government-run insurance plan, while many of the left are demanding its inclusion.

His vision would make substantial changes to the insurance market, but with the goal of letting those who have insurance that they like keep it.

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000003102689

[OHdem10]

1. How much more expensive will Insurance be for those who have

Medicare Advantage ?? We know that keeping the Insurance System
does nothing to lower prices.

[babylonsister]

2. I have no answers and don't know if they do yet either. But

they're talking about the vote for October 15, so we should be finding out soon while they fight it out.

[lefthandedlefty]

7. Most likely no one will agree with me,,,,,,,,but

In my opinion the only way health care will even think about being fixed is to do away with health insurance altogether.As long as they still exist things will never get any better.They have too much control over the government and even our lives.

[Wapsie B]

3. repugs vehemently oppose a government-run insurance plan. So what?

Let them all suffer meltdown over it. They lost. Time for them to shut up and sit down.

[antigop]

4. What bullshit -- "preserving the insurance system for self-insured companies"

Most, if not all, large companies are self-insured and coverage is VOLUNTARY. We don't need anything VOLUNTARY that a corporation provides out of the goodness of its heart. We've seen where this has gone--companies have eliminated or cut the 401(K) match, taken away defined benefit pensions, taken away retiree medical programs, taken away all sorts of things because they are VOLUNTARY.

The hell with this noise. Baucus, stop listening to the American Benefits Council, ERIC, or whatever employer lobbying group you are listening to. This won't work. But as long as you keep your golden plan, Max, you can say I GOT MINE and the hell with everyone else.

SINGLE-PAYER, MEDICARE FOR ALL, MAX. SINGLE-PAYER MEDICARE FOR ALL.

[antigop]

5. well, well, well, Max, are these the people you are listening to?

http://americanbenefitscouncil.org/

Council urges house subcommittee to reform health care by preserving and strengthening voluntary employer system
April 23, 2009: "The best health care reform options are those that preserve and strengthen the voluntary role employers play as the largest source of health coverage for more than 160 million Americans. By keeping employers engaged as sponsors of health coverage, we also keep the expertise and innovation in health benefits that employers bring to the table," said Michael Langan during his testimony today before the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee. A principal with Towers Perrin, he spoke on behalf of the American Benefits Council during today’s hearing on Ways to Reduce the Cost of Health Insurance for Employers, Employees and their Families.

Here is the membership list for the American Benefits Council:
http://americanbenefitscouncil.org/about/memberlist.cfm

Look at all of those large corporations, probably which are self-insured.


Is this the group Baucus is listening to?

[stuckinlodi]

6. This is horrible.

I prayed there would be some way I could see a doctor before I'm 65 (I'm 56). I am a full-time caregiver for my father. Lot of good "hope" and "change" is gonna do me now.