Details, such as they are, are reported by the AP (with my emphasis added) as follows:
Under Obama's proposal, everyone would be able to obtain health insurance, and the Illinois senator would create a National Health Insurance Exchange to monitor insurance companies in offering the coverage. In essence, Obama's plan retains the private insurance system but injects additional money into the system to pay for the expanded coverage.
Those who can't afford coverage would get a subsidy on a sliding scale depending on their income, and virtually all businesses would have to share in the cost of coverage for their workers. The plan that would be offered would be similar to the one covering members of Congress.
His package would prohibit insurance companies from refusing coverage because of pre-existing conditions.
"My plan begins by covering every American. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is that the amount of money you will spend on premiums will be less," Obama said. "If you are one of 45 million Americans who don't have health insurance, you will after this plan becomes law."
In addition to broadening coverage, Obama called for a series of steps to overhaul the current health care system. He would spend more money boosting technology in the health industry such as electronic record-keeping, put in place better management for chronic diseases and create a reinsurance pool for catastrophic illnesses to take the burden of their costs off of other premium payers.
His plan also envisions savings from ending the expensive care for the uninsured when they get sick. That care now is often provided at emergency rooms. The plan also would put a heavy focus on preventing disease through lifestyle changes.
In all, Obama said, the typical consumer would save $2,500 a year.
Obama conceded that the overall cost of the program would be high, while not providing a specific number.
"To help pay for this, we will ask all but the smallest businesses who don't make a meaningful contribution to the health coverage of their workers to do so to support this plan," said Obama. "And we also will repeal the temporary Bush tax cut for the wealthiest taxpayers."
Sounds great, doesn't it? Hey, if you already have insurance, your rates as a consumer (never mind your rates as a taxpayer) will go down, and if you don't have it the government will pay for it. Where's the (yet uncalculated) extra money going to come from? Why, from rich and greedy businesses (don't worry, their prices and profits will magically remain the same) and the "wealthiest" taxpayers (everyone but the poor) and from everybody's lifestyle changes!
My only question is this: Who is the Hillary Clinton operative planted inside Obama's headquarters working to ensure his defeat?
1 comment:
I think the pony would be cheaper, not to mention less harmful.
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