Baucus Fiasco

[Crabcake Johnny]

It has the same chance of passing as me being crowned king of Norway.

 

[Winter_123]

Indeed. It takes us back a few months where people were saying that "whatever happens we have until 2013" to figure it out. As I commented then, not necessarily so. That is if a full public option is approved (not going to happen). Otherwise the dems are going to be chomping to show reform right off because all of the reform is just going to consist of subsidies and butchering insurance carriers which can start right off.
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Could be wrong here, but it was my understanding that Obama was essentially backing the Baucus bill. If not overtly, at least by inference. Of course, I got this from "reports", which given the state of journalism today don't count for much.

...

That is true but you have figure that Obama's way of backing or providing leadership is to have someone else run it up the flag pole and see who salutes and who gets shot. He definitely also backs/backed the public option in the House bills but is not going to do anything about it other than observe that it is not going to fly and see else someone comes up with. This week it is the Baucus plan. Obama will come out and offer support on some future version of that plan after he sees what is and is not going to fly. Such is the nature of leadership in the White House now. And then you have to go through the long phase where having the President back something just means that Ram is running around seeing if it will work before the President stands behind it. Sigh.

 

[bobson]

It has the same chance of passing as me being crowned king of Norway.

If you get crowned, can we call you King Flugendurgen?

 

[ins.dave]

"By 2010, each state would be required to establish an exchange, or marketplace, where insurance will be sold. Initially, only individuals and businesses with 50 or fewer employees would be eligible to shop in the exchanges, but by 2017, states would have to develop plans to phase in larger employers"

"By 2010" is in three months! And I do NOT like the sound of the exchange or marketplace.

Man, they don't die easy do they?
Unbelievable.
Again with the exchange nonsense.
I'm really trying to "phase out" my "occasional " fits of slang / edited profanity, but I've got to say, these cats take the cake.
They don't know when they are beaten.
Exchange for companies of less than 50 employees? What is that supposed to accomplish?
"Exchange" ... What?
Without a public plan what is an "exchange" going to provide?
Am I missing something?

So now what?
They are going to legislate and decide which carriers and which plans can be part of the "exchange menu?"
Perhaps offer a tasty tax break for people who utilize said exchange?
Well F me. O.K., but to my way of thinking, that shouldn't hurt us because carriers will have the final say on the prices and as discussed, to use Wintafresh's terminology "ad nauseum," if they insist on GI the carriers will out price those products.
So only the gimps will use it.
Bottom line, carriers are not going to lose money. They are calling the shot. Like it or Kenyan Kid.

 

[ABC]

Anyone have a copy of his bill or a link to it?

 

[Mr. Bill]

Usually the Huffington Post will post the link, just not quite there yet:

Health Care Bill: Baucus Senate Legislation Finally Unveiled

 

[Mac1958]

That is true but you have figure that Obama's way of backing or providing leadership is to have someone else run it up the flag pole and see who salutes and who gets shot. He definitely also backs/backed the public option in the House bills but is not going to do anything about it other than observe that it is not going to fly and see else someone comes up with. This week it is the Baucus plan. Obama will come out and offer support on some future version of that plan after he sees what is and is not going to fly. Such is the nature of leadership in the White House now. And then you have to go through the long phase where having the President back something just means that Ram is running around seeing if it will work before the President stands behind it. Sigh.

Yeah, agreed. Bottom line is he wants something with his name on it, the more bureaucracy the better....

 

[ins.dave]

A Primer on the Max Baucus Health-Care Bill's Contents - TIME

More well though out than the House bill but still a no-go.

O.K., read through that Time primer.
Underlined key points below.
Here is my question to everyone.
With all these extras in terms of treatment and ins. cos. not being able to rate up on pre ex., only on tobacco,etc. these plans in the "exchange" would have to be hella expensive no?
Part 2 of question.
Will the refundable tax credit lower the insured's cost to the point where a healthy person would do better to shop through said exchange? If so, we're all dead men ... sooner than later.
Or will it only help out broke gimps?
People on or below 300% of the poverty level who can't medically qualify for the underwritten plans that are current ly available?
What percentage of our market is going to de drawn into these exchanges? That's the question. Will it only possibly be of benefit to said gimps?
Thoughts?




"All plans must provide preventive and primary care, emergency services, hospitalization, physician services, outpatient services, day surgery and related anesthesia, diagnostic imaging and screenings (including X-rays), maternity and newborn care, pediatric services (including dental and vision), medical/surgical care, prescription drugs, radiation and chemotherapy, and mental health and substance abuse services ... In addition, plans could charge no cost-sharing (e.g., deductibles, copayments) ... for preventive care services ... Plans could also not include lifetime limits on coverage or annual limits on any benefits."
The exchange would also offer a high-deductible plan for adults under 25. This plan would be cheaper than the bronze plan and is referred to as a "young invincible" policy.
What new restrictions would be placed on the private health-insurance plans?
Insurers would no longer be able to exclude applicants based on pre-existing conditions or charge higher premiums for those with pre-existing conditions. Insurers would have to offer coverage to anyone who applies for it and would be allowed to adjust premium rates only based on tobacco use, age, family size and geographic location.
-------------------------

What kind of subsidies would the government offer to low-income Americans and small businesses to help them buy insurance?
Starting in 2013, the Federal Government would offer a refundable tax credit to low- and middle-income individuals and families who purchase certain policies through the state exchanges.

The credit would be available to individuals and families who earn up to 300% of the federal poverty level, which for a family of four would be about $66,000 in 2009. It would be provided on a sliding scale, with the level of credit "based on the percentage of income the cost of premiums [not including deductibles or copays] represents, rising from 3% of income for those at 100% of poverty to 13% of income for those at 300% of poverty." Individuals earning between 300% and 400% of the poverty level would be eligible for a credit after their share of the premium hits a maximum of 13% of income. The credits would be paid directly to insurers through the exchange, with policyholders paying the remaining amount.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Maternity alone will dramatically raise the rate for most.

 

[dgoldenz]

Not a single person has yet answered the question of why anyone would buy insurance when they're healthy if they could just buy it when they're sick with no penalties...no sense in wasting all that money, I could be going out to dinner every night!