Kent Conrad admits that co-ops won't bring down health care costs

phantom power

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Tue Aug-18-09 11:32 AM
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Kent Conrad admits that co-ops won't bring down health care costs

Here's some more good news: Kent Conrad, the brainchild of this idea, admitted today that co-ops won't bring down the cost of premiums for individuals, unlike the public option. Which would be the point.

ROBERTS: What would they do to reduce costs? Because that is one of the central issues of health care reform.

CONRAD: Well, the important thing is they�d provide more competition. � Beyond that, I think it�s very important not to over-promise here. <...>

ROBERTS: So nothing really in driving down the costs of service then?

CONRAD: Uhhh, no. If you believe competition helps drive down costs, then they would certainly contribute to holding down costs.

A note on how these would affect "competition" - in Conrad's home state of North Dakota, Blue Cross Blue Shield emcompasses almost 90% of the health insurance market. And they're a non-profit that thinks they can qualify as a co-op, under Conrad's rules, making them eligible for some of the $6 billion in seed money, I presume. Amazing that Conrad's plan and the dominant insurer in his state match up almost perfectly, ain't it?

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/co-opd-by-dday-if-youre-going-to-create.html

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valerief

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Tue Aug-18-09 11:36 AM
Response to Original message

1. Co-ops: just another sweetheart deal. nt

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phantom power

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Tue Aug-18-09 11:42 AM
Response to Reply #1

3. I admit that even I have been surprised by the blatant....

disregard for actually solving this problem for the good of the people. They'll consider any solution under the sun, as long as it's engineered to benefit the status quo.

"hold down costs" my ass. That's like the insurance companies' somber promise to "keep cost increases down to a just a couple trillion over the next ten years."

Wow. Thanks guys...
:eyes:

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valerief

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Tue Aug-18-09 11:46 AM
Response to Reply #3

5. I guess with their incredible propaganda machine in place (Fox News, Rush, network teevee, etc.)

they don't have to worrying about the rabble uprising. That's their only fear. So they can do and say whatever they want. They're the 800-lb gorilla and only a 900-lb gorilla can stop them. America is a lab rhesus monkey.

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annabanana

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Tue Aug-18-09 11:40 AM
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2. Then co-ops are CLEARLY not an acceptable substitute.

The only question is how much hot air can the media pump into this bankrupt idea before Congress reconvenes?

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phantom power

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Tue Aug-18-09 11:43 AM
Response to Reply #2

4. Initial results suggest "plenty."

NPR was interviewing some co-op pimp yesterday.

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Canuckistanian

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Tue Aug-18-09 11:47 AM
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6. A caller on Ed's show just said he was in a Minneapolis Co-op

Edited on Tue Aug-18-09 11:47 AM by Canuckistanian

He still pays over $13k per year.

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phantom power

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Tue Aug-18-09 12:02 PM
Response to Reply #6

8. Ridiculous

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LaPera

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Tue Aug-18-09 11:55 AM
Response to Original message

7. Paid-off republican pig (D-ND) Sen. Kent Conrad from a tiny populace state making decisions for

Edited on Tue Aug-18-09 11:56 AM by LaPera

all the tens of millions around the country for no public option, while masquerading as a democrat....trying to shove the ineffective bullshit co-op plan down our collective throats!

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