Senators and Congresspersons who vote against single payer LOSE their own single payer healthcare

If you're against it, you're against it. Go buy your own damn health insurance.

don't have single payer health care.

And here's me thinking they're all filling their snouts at the trough and refusing to let anyone else in. OK, I stand corrected, so let's make it apply to Senators then. Vote against single-payer, lose yours. The Congresscritters can lose their Medicare... if they're old enough to have it to lose.

House or Senate, has single payer healthcare. They all are able to buy into the same insurance plans that any other government employee can.

Just like any other employee.

They obtain their insurance just like any other federal employee, and I don't believe those benefits are retained after employment ends.

for a Federal pension (which is based on your number of years of Federal employment plus your age), then you can continue to stay in the FEHBP (Federal Employee Health Benefits Program) after you retire, but once you retire the government pays a smaller share of your premium.

The above is true whether you are a grade 2 clerk or a member of congress. There is a huge misconception that congress has a gold-plated health insurance system and that is NOT true. They choose from among a number of private sector plans, they pay premiums just like the rest of us do, and depending on which insurance company they choose and which level of coverage they choose, the premiums can be hefty.

OPM (Office of Personnel Management) administers the FEHBP for all Federal employees. One way it is superior to some privately available plans is that insurance companies that participate in the FEHBP must cover pre-existing conditions. But all Feds get this benefit, not just members of congress.

we should insist they and their familes have the same crummy coverage we do. Something with really high deductibles and copay so they have to think twice before seeking care. We also make sure they get a plan that requires their doctors have to call and get permission, I mean "pre-approval" before anything can be done.

And, we take away the taxpayer subsidized care they can receive at Walter Reed or Bethesda. Anything not covered by their insurance is paid for by us at these hospitals. This is not a perk other federal employess receive.

They DO have to get pre-approval. Their plans are the same as any other federal employee's plan.

As for their care at Bethesda, where do you get the idea that anything not covered by insurance is covered by the hospital (i.e., taxpayers)?

offering several different plans, or should I say OPTIONS, and the employee decides which one s/he wants.

Are their premiums paid, though, do you know?

I'm getting an education here. I'm wondering why the FUCK would they vote AGAINST their own self-interests... is the graft THAT good?

I want to say that the employee (member of Congress) pays about a quarter of the cost, on average, but I'm not positive about that.

...and Bethesda bills their insurance, just like they do with anyone else that uses the hospital and has other insurance.

not nearly as good, considering the size of their 'employer' compared to other businesses... :shrug: