Sometimes it’s hard to separate the facts from the hype. Switching from a public health care option to a not for profit co-op plan can be tricky. How well it gets big government out of our lives is debatable. The truth is that the devil is in the details. Specifically, what kind of control does government get for putting up the seed capital needed to fund these not for profit co op plans. Do they just put up the initial funding and then walk away? Or does government funding come with a whole bunch of rules and regulations and mandates that make it just the same as a public plan?
1. Do the not-for profits carry with them mandates that people must join them if they lose their existing insurance or if their employers cancel their policies?
2. Do they carry restrictions on who is covered and for how much?
3. Do they detail what procedures are covered for what age groups and who makes these decisions?
4. Can these co-ops pay for abortions, and is this government subsidized?
5. Are voluntary or involuntary end of life consultations required for members of the co-ops?
6. Will the co-ops have to be self-sustaining and self funded after initial government capital injections?
7. Will there be a level playing field with private insurers?
8. Must all people and prior conditions be covered and will the government subsidize their insurance payments.
9. Will these co-ops be cost neutral to the taxpayer?
10. Will the taxpayer have to fund the co-ops and for how much and will some people lose existing benefits?
In other words is the idea of a co-op insurance plan just a pig dressed up as Cinderella and wearing silver slippers on its hooves.
Is the floating of the idea to switch from a public insurance plan to a co-op insurance plan just a way to pacify an angry public, scared of too much government intervention in their lives?
The key to what happens next lies in how well the congress is listening to their constituents, or are they just determined to exercise their will as apposed to the will of the people?
Hi this is Arthur Levine author of the novel Johnny Oops. To read more about Johnny Oops and or health care reform plans please g to http://johnnyoops.blogspot.com.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
End of Life Consulting Committee
How about letting all members of congress and their parents serve as a test sample on how the new committee to be formed to consult on end of life decisions functions in helping the elderly decide on the health care they should get?
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