Just remember that saying (your mother was right!) when you hear conservative and Republican pundits hailing the GOP’s health care plan (released Nov. 4) as the greatest thing since sliced bread.
As I was reading GOP-friendly Web sites discussing the health care plan, I noticed that they were leaving out some very pertinent points concerning the plan. While the GOP is lauding itself over the plan and how it is less expensive than the Democrat’s plan, they were leaving out a crucial piece of information—how many people won’t be covered under their plan. Once again, they’ve put price above people. They’re very proud of themselves for keeping the cost of their plan much lower than the Democrat’s, but, under their plan, 52 million Americans will have no health care coverage by 2019 for the 9-year plan. That’s more Americans than it is estimated are without insurance now.
While the Republicans are patting themselves on the back, the Congressional Budget Office and others are not singing the plan’s praises, and with good reason. Some of the provisions would actually make it more expensive for people who are less healthy, while reducing the cost for healthy people. This means that people in ill health are bearing the brunt of the cost. They are actually paying more so healthy people get to pay less. Also, the GOP plan had no provisions for companies to provide insurance. It does not prohibit insurance companies from excluding people with preexisting conditions. It does not have provisions for increasing access to quality health care for people. Michael Steele, GOP Chairman, even stated that their purpose was to control costs. Again, putting money before the people.
The problem with the GOP stating that it cuts costs is that, in the long run, it won’t. This is according to the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation. While the GOP plan purports to save our grandchildren, from the apocalypse that is the federal deficit, by cutting the deficit by $68 billion with its plan, the Democrat’s plan is estimated to cut $104 billion overall while still covering many millions more than the GOP’s plan would.
It basically looks as if the GOP tried to put something on the table, no matter how ill-devised the plan. In an article in the Los Angeles Times, it stated that the GOP bill is lacking in areas that the Democrat’s bill covers. The GOP plan has no provisions for “expansion of Medicaid, no requirement that individuals buy insurance, no penalties for employers that do not offer coverage, and no subsidies to help the needy pay premiums.” http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washintgondc/la-na-health-gop5-2009nov05,0,2750338.story
As I was reading GOP-friendly Web sites discussing the health care plan, I noticed that they were leaving out some very pertinent points concerning the plan. While the GOP is lauding itself over the plan and how it is less expensive than the Democrat’s plan, they were leaving out a crucial piece of information—how many people won’t be covered under their plan. Once again, they’ve put price above people. They’re very proud of themselves for keeping the cost of their plan much lower than the Democrat’s, but, under their plan, 52 million Americans will have no health care coverage by 2019 for the 9-year plan. That’s more Americans than it is estimated are without insurance now.
While the Republicans are patting themselves on the back, the Congressional Budget Office and others are not singing the plan’s praises, and with good reason. Some of the provisions would actually make it more expensive for people who are less healthy, while reducing the cost for healthy people. This means that people in ill health are bearing the brunt of the cost. They are actually paying more so healthy people get to pay less. Also, the GOP plan had no provisions for companies to provide insurance. It does not prohibit insurance companies from excluding people with preexisting conditions. It does not have provisions for increasing access to quality health care for people. Michael Steele, GOP Chairman, even stated that their purpose was to control costs. Again, putting money before the people.
The problem with the GOP stating that it cuts costs is that, in the long run, it won’t. This is according to the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation. While the GOP plan purports to save our grandchildren, from the apocalypse that is the federal deficit, by cutting the deficit by $68 billion with its plan, the Democrat’s plan is estimated to cut $104 billion overall while still covering many millions more than the GOP’s plan would.
It basically looks as if the GOP tried to put something on the table, no matter how ill-devised the plan. In an article in the Los Angeles Times, it stated that the GOP bill is lacking in areas that the Democrat’s bill covers. The GOP plan has no provisions for “expansion of Medicaid, no requirement that individuals buy insurance, no penalties for employers that do not offer coverage, and no subsidies to help the needy pay premiums.” http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washintgondc/la-na-health-gop5-2009nov05,0,2750338.story
What some Republicans are even saying is that the GOP had to come up with something, anything, to try to stave off the perception that it is the party of “just say no.” You know what, that didn’t work with drugs either!
Check out these Web sites: http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/11/05/beyond-just-say-no-gop-lawmakers-launch-their-healthcare-plan/, http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/11/congressional_budget_office_th.html, http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-treatment/gop-plan-even-worse-you-are-hearing, http://spectator.org/blog/2009/11/05/cbo-scores-gop-health-care-pla
great post- great information!!
ReplyDeleteI was unaware that the Republicans had launched their little healthcare plan, and it's nice to know that it's cheaper. However, the bigger picture does need to be looked at...what's better for us? The American people! And especially those of us that are struggling so badly right now!