Barack Obama's health plan takes shape

If Congress were to take a vote on a health reform bill today, Democrats and Republicans would find a surprising level of agreement — so much so that the broad outlines of a consensus plan already are taking shape.

Sick or healthy, rich or poor, all Americans would be guaranteed access to health insurance.

In fact, they’d probably be required to purchase it — perhaps through mandates in the law that would include stiff tax penalties for anyone who tried to opt out.

Newly created insurance marketplaces would make finding a plan as easy as shopping for cheap airfare. People could keep their coverage, even if they switched jobs. And they might be able to choose between private insurers and a government-backed plan.
more...
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/23162.html

.
.
.

Probably forever

The USA has a history of "having to be the best"

Ponder this - -

Canada developed the fastest airplane in the World in the 50's . . ,

but our government scrapped it upon pressure from the USA because a little ole country like Canada could not be superior

Yes, our government has been kissing USA ass for a long time

OH

the Airplane?

The The Avro Arrow




Imagine where us Canadians could be in the World power scenario if we hadn't quit developing our Airplane/Air Force industry 60 years ago . . .

another thing to ponder . . .

...otherwise known as "the biggest political gift to Republicans ever." :-(

I want access to CARE! Fuck insurance marketplaces! Those assholes will still charge sick people 10 times as much and continue to deny care.

As someone on another thread said, this is shaping up to be the mother of all sellouts...

to buy expensive health insurance? Make them pay huge fines for living without insurance, just like driving without insurance. And has anyone really seen any decrease in the cost of their car insurance? If it weren't for car insurance, I could buy another car.

So our gubermint, in it's infinite wisdom, is going to force a perfectly healthy person, who may visit the doctor twice a year, to buy expensive insurance THEN TURN AROUND AND TAX THAT INSURANCE? What a bunch of morons. Forcing people to buy crappy health insurance does not give people access to health care. It merely makes the insurance companies rich. Hasn't AIG gotten enough of our money?

From what I understand: the administration wants is to place a tax on the portion of medical insurance paid for by employer's. They claim this is a taxable benefit, i.e. undeclared income.

So folks who are fortunate enough to have a portion of their medical insurance paid for by their employer's are the one's paying this tax.

The administration intends to use this tax to offset the costs to those who are not insured. If poor, then there's medicaid; if over 65, medicare. The socialized medical insurance,we the taxpayers provide. The people the big private insures don't want to touch.

For those without medical insurance for what ever reason, who don't fit in to Medicaid-Medicare, mandated pools backed by a tax policy of credits is what the insurance companies want. The insurance companies get paid up front.

While many Americans will get medical insurance provided by the insurance industry, the possibility they will actually receive health care remains open to question.

Single payer is the way to go.

it will fix nothing, and the taxpayer will pay for it.