Skin in the Game: Members of Congress Will Be Covered By "Obamacare"

babylonsister

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Mar-26-10 06:12 PM
Original message

Skin in the Game: Members of Congress Will Be Covered By "Obamacare"

Edited on Fri Mar-26-10 06:15 PM by babylonsister

I had read that the President would be covered, but didn't know everyone would.

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/03/26/skin-in-the-game-members-of-congress-will-be-covered-by-obamacare/

Skin in the Game: Members of Congress Will Be Covered By "Obamacare"
Posted by Karen Tumulty Friday, March 26, 2010 at 11:33 am

You're hearing it over and over again: If this new health insurance system is so great, why aren't members of Congress enrolling themselves, their staffs and their families in it? Jonathan Cohn points to the legislative language that shows they are :

(D) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN THE EXCHANGE

(i) REQUIREMENT- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, after the effective date of this subtitle, the only health plans that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or congressional staff shall be health plans that are--

(I) created under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act); or

(II) offered through an Exchange established under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act)

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Proud Liberal Dem

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Mar-26-10 06:18 PM
Response to Original message

1. That smells like

Democracy and equality

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Oregone

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Mar-26-10 10:50 PM
Response to Reply #1

6. Equality?

Edited on Fri Mar-26-10 10:54 PM by Oregone

You do realize that the bill legislates multi-tiers in the exchange, with the bottom tier plan having an actuarial value of 60%? Thats what most of the poor will have. Rest assured, these Congressmen will not have "bronze" plans (although their amassed wealth would make such out-of-pocket expenses negligable).

The "bronze" tier plans will not expand actual access to care for many at all, and could actually encourage an overall downgrade of the national average actuarial value when employers start opting into the exchange.

Equality would be a single tier, and one that promotes access equaly despite the wealth of the policy holders

(d) Levels of Coverage-

(1) LEVELS OF COVERAGE DEFINED- The levels of coverage described in this subsection are as follows:

(A) BRONZE LEVEL- A plan in the bronze level shall provide a level of coverage that is designed to provide benefits that are actuarially equivalent to 60 percent of the full actuarial value of the benefits provided under the plan.

(B) SILVER LEVEL- A plan in the silver level shall provide a level of coverage that is designed to provide benefits that are actuarially equivalent to 70 percent of the full actuarial value of the benefits provided under the plan.

(C) GOLD LEVEL- A plan in the gold level shall provide a level of coverage that is designed to provide benefits that are actuarially equivalent to 80 percent of the full actuarial value of the benefits provided under the plan.

(D) PLATINUM LEVEL- A plan in the platinum level shall provide a level of coverage that is designed to provide benefits that are actuarially equivalent to 90 percent of the full actuarial value of the benefits provided under the plan.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Proud Liberal Dem

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Mar-27-10 11:48 AM
Response to Reply #6

8. Sorry

My ignorance was showing. Still, at least they will still be participating in the same overall HC system instead of a separately run specially reserved system. That's more what I was getting at.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Oregone

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Mar-27-10 01:48 PM
Response to Reply #8

9. I understand where you are coming from

I just am not pleased with multiple actuarial values, which legislates a direct contradiction to the notion of equality. Most people want to ignore this. Honestly, having a 60% actuarial valued plan is as good as not having insurance at all. :(

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

xultar

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Mar-26-10 06:20 PM
Response to Original message

2. There you go. That is why the thugs hate the bill so much. ROFL.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

FLyellowdog

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Mar-26-10 06:22 PM
Response to Original message

3. Is that only if they choose to change from what they already have?nt

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

vaberella

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Mar-26-10 06:28 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. Well they're already in the exchange--now with a wider pool cheaper prices.

The Dems will take advantage of it and Obama said he would.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Hekate

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Mar-26-10 06:28 PM
Response to Original message

4. Yesssss.

:fistbump:

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

proud2BlibKansan

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Mar-26-10 11:38 PM
Response to Original message

7. excellent find

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Mon Apr 29th 2024, 01:53 PM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.