Utah, not D.C., points the way for Georgia on health reform
When a judge last month declared ObamaCare unconstitutional, many people in Georgia and the other states suing to overturn the law wondered if they had been freed from its onerous taxes and regulations.
Georgia could stand pat, gambling that the ruling will hold up on appeal. A more prudent tack is to copy a reform model that predates the federal law — and might satisfy it.
Utah created a health-insurance exchange in March 2009, around the time President Barack Obama began his health-reform push. A pilot version was in place later that year, and last fall the exchange went statewide. More companies in Utah offer health insurance to workers now. And they didn’t get subsidies to do it.
Utah’s exchange gives consumers information about plans and helps them enroll in one. Crucially, it allows them to pool health dollars, whether from their employer(s) or their own money, as never before.
“It’s the easiest idea in the world,” says Cheryl Smith, who helped launch Utah’s exchange and now works with other states that want to do the same. (Georgia is not a client, though state leaders are interested in starting an exchange.)
The ability to pool money is key. Smith says most of Utah’s uninsured were employed, but many of them worked multiple part-time jobs and didn’t qualify for health benefits.
For those individuals, Smith says, “if Employer A gave $300 and Employer B gave $200 … we could combine those contributions and help them get a plan.” Both employer and employee can do this with pre-tax money.
Pre-existing conditions aren’t a factor because the exchange helps insurers mimic the size, stability and randomness of large risk pools. In turn, the exchange adjusts the premiums insurers receive for the risk they take on with consumers who have, say, diabetes.
“This is really what most states need,” says Grace-Marie Turner of the Galen Institute, a think tank that promotes free-market solutions for health care. “It allows insurance to be portable because the insurance is owned by the individual.”
State exchanges are also a feature of ObamaCare. But while its requirements for those exchanges are still in the works, they’ll likely be more burdensome than what many states would design. Turner predicts low-premium, high-deductible plans — popular on Utah’s exchange — will be scarce.
The Obama administration’s concept of an exchange is closer to what Massachusetts has done, including the insurance mandate for individuals and subsidies, than Utah’s model.
The Massachusetts plan has attracted more participants than Utah’s — “When you’re giving it away free, it’s not hard to get people to join,” Smith says — but at a far greater cost. The budget for the Massachusetts Connector in Year 1 was $25 million, growing to $30 million. In Utah, the respective figures are $600,000 and $675,000.
But back to the lawsuits moving through the courts. If ObamaCare survives the legal challenges, a state that hasn’t planned its own exchange may not have time to catch up. The consequence: The feds would set up and run an exchange in that state as they see fit.
But if a state already has an exchange that “is getting good results, and they can see that people who are formerly uninsured are becoming insured,” Smith says, “I would hope [the federal government] would have the wisdom to let a state continue to do that.”
Wisdom from Washington? Sounds like a stretch, but it’s worth a try.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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137 comments Add your comment
MrLiberty
February 25th, 2011
7:10 pm
While there may be some success, the concept of anything the government has its hands on with respect to healthcare being a good thing is completely un-conservative.
There is plenty that government can do with respect to health care. They can begin by ending all professional licensure requirements and by eliminating the medical monopoly that the AMA has on delivery of care. Second, they can shut down the FDA, DEA, and every other agency that limits the access of individuals to substances that might serve medical uses. Third, they could use the “commerce clause” as it was intended to make regular the commerce between the states – in other words, eliminate the interstate sales barriers on insurance. Fourth, at a state level they could end all mandates on insurance coverage. Every policy should be able to be exactly what the customer wants, and not burdened with mandates for pregnancy coverage, alcohol rehab, drug rehab, fertility therapy, etc. coverage. If I can buy minimal liability coverage on my car, I should be able to buy high deductable coverage that is tailored to my individual needs, including accupuncture, homeopathy, health club membership, medical marijuana, or whatever the insurance company and I decide, not some jerk bureaucrat decides. And Fifth, all tax employer tax benefits for insurance coverage should be ended. Nobody should be tied to their employer because of their health insurance policy. We should own our own. Period. Until WE become the customer, there will never be positive change.
To that end, insurance MUST take on a different look. When our insurance company pays the doctor, THEY are the customer, not us. We should all be paying for our checkups, minor injuries, and the like. Every doctor must charge a lot more money to employ people in his/her office just to handle insurance paperwork. If we all paid cash, and if the market was opened up to real competition (and not the current protected monopoly), we might actually be able to benefit from a free market in medicine like we used to have back in the late 1800s. Yes, its been that long, but since the free market is making everything better and cheaper wherever the government ISN’T involved, it will surely do the same for medicine.
An even better approach would also be to end the income tax and end all tax benefits for medical expenses. Currently there are tax credits for expenses, but only those that the government approves. We should all decide for ourselves what is right for us, incur the costs accordingly, and finally be responsible for our own health. I shouldn’t be discouraged from going to the health club because I cannot deduct it. I shouldn’t be discouraged from taking vitamin supplements because they are not government “approved” but encouraged to take some crap pill from BigPharma because it is “approved”. That is exactly how we have gotten to the high costs and failed approach that western medicine now takes to promote sickness and perpetuate our problems.
Mr_B
February 25th, 2011
7:13 pm
Kyle, How about a comparison between the population of Utah with Mass? Also Utah is heavily Mormon, non-smokers, non_drinkers those folks, and probably more healthy. And why the assumption that a federally designed health exchange model would be any more burdensome than what an individual state would devise; other than the ever-repeated “the government can’t do anything right.”
lynnie gal
February 25th, 2011
7:15 pm
We have a real problem in this country when (mostly) elderly tea party folks who are obviously on Medicare, crash into public meetings to demonize health care reform for younger people. Health insurance needs to be reformed, and I don’t care what you call it–exchanges, obamacare, whatever. Something must be done to curb the greed of insurance companies so that people can receive affordable healthcare. And, after witnessing those old people who only care about themselves, I’d be in favor of making them go out and purchase their own health care on the open market. See how it feels.
killerj
February 25th, 2011
7:23 pm
Blah,Blah,Blah…….Hell No.
James West
February 25th, 2011
7:33 pm
Let’s be clear. Low premium, high deductible plans are for rich people. Rich people have no trouble meeting such deductibles when they get sick. But it’s a different story for the poor and middle class.
When the median income for a family of four is around $50,000 and falling in real dollars, then such plans aren’t practical for catastrophic illnesses, injuries or even relatively minor injuries that require an emergency room visit such a child falling off a bicycle. Under these plans, most families would have to go into debt to pay such medical bills.
Opinions obviously differ, but any system that forces most families to go into debt to cover it’s medical bills, even medical bills under a high deductible plan, should not be acceptable to any of us.
James West
February 25th, 2011
7:37 pm
I’m kicking myself for referring to those high-deductible plans as “low premium”, as Kyle did above. They might be less expensive under certain circumstances than other plans, but my most peoples’ standards, premiums for these plans are anything but low.
Mr_B
February 25th, 2011
7:37 pm
MrLiberty: I’ve seen thousands of posts claiming that there is no cross border insurance sales, but my carrier (UHC) does advertises and does business in multiple states. Blue Cross, Kaiser, Prudential are all multistate operations.
I’ll agree that the individual need to be personally responsible for most health care costs, but that can’t happen until those costs are drastically reduced, and the “free market” can’t do it because the consumer cannot realistically choose not to buy many medical proceedures. Other than that, what you’re proposing would take us back to the days of the patent medicine show, and the associated 45 year live expectancy.
Mr_B
February 25th, 2011
7:39 pm
James West; Amen. We already known how to do this right. Great Britain., France Germany, Japan already invented that wheel for us.
Utah, not DC, points the way for Georgia on health reform – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Health Insurance News
February 25th, 2011
7:54 pm
[...] Utah, not DC, points the way for Georgia on health reformAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)A more prudent tack is to copy a reform model that predates the federal law — and might satisfy it. Utah created a health-insurance exchange in March 2009, around the time President Barack Obama began his health-reform push. … [...]
Michael H. Smith
February 25th, 2011
8:14 pm
At least when the States’ take healthcare or health care insurance plans upon themselves Kyle it is Constitutional where it is not germane to the Federal Government. Personally I favor sticking to the Constitution and having the States come up with their own programs and needless to say once an insurance company sells insurance across a state line it then falls under Federal jurisdiction via the Commerce clause to regulate the sell of these policies. Which shoots down the socialist liberal straw-man argument of shoddy coverage, all the Federal government has to do is say (through regulation) no you can’t sell that type of healthcare insurance policy across another state’s line.
Whereas Utah does not subsidies and because we know the socialist liberals are going to cry about the poor who just can’t afford even the most affordable healthcare, I’d be supportive of expanding gaming here in Georgia (beyond and separate from the Lottery) to subsidize a healthcare savings account for every insured Georgia resident on a regressive scale to assure that the bare essential could be bought with little need of additional income to pay the premiums.
By the way, there are sure to be objections to this but do look at the State of Nevada and what gaming money provides to the budget of that State. The rest of the objections will come from socialist liberal that will fight to the very end before giving up on centralized Federal Power and the devil with the Constitution reserving to the States all powers not enumerated in Article 1 Section 8 as they see it. So I don’t give them any credibility.
BW
February 25th, 2011
9:48 pm
Kyle when were these people during the Bush years when we had the same damn health care problem? Let these people show themselves so we can have an honest assessment of the situation without the hysterics. Politics is an enterprise….someone makes money off inflaming like minded people but at days end we live in a country of 300 million and some sort of compromise is necessary. If conservatism or liberalism or libertarianism were a magic pill then it would have been done long around.
MrLiberty
February 25th, 2011
9:50 pm
The only reason some health care plans are sold in multiple states is because the companies have complied with the regulations and jumped through the hoops in multiple states. The reality is that the health care plan they are FORCED to sell in NJ is NOT the same plan they are FORCED to sell in GA. Every state demands different things from EVERY plan. Here in GA there are 46 different mandates.
I am sorry that you cannot think beyond today’s reality. I guess that is the result of such poor government education. What we have today is a market that has been so horribly influenced by government, industry, and medical monopoly manipulation that prices are through the roof. Yes, it does cost WAY too much just for a minor injury. In many cases that might be today’s high deductible. So let’s start by ending the monopoly on medical services. Why should the government decide who can and who cannot deliver a baby? Why should a super costly doctor be required for the 3rd kid when a midwife would be just fine? Well, state government do get to decide. Why should I have to see a doctor, pay his bill, waste my time, all just to get a prescription for a drug the pharmacist could easily suggest and give me for a whole lot less cost overall? You are missing the bigger reality of just WHY medicine costs so damn much money.
And please stop with the juvenile crap about patent medicine shows and the rest. If you knew all the great medicines the FDA prevents you from having, if you knew all the natural products that prevent and cure thousands of diseases (but which cannot be writting about by merchants or producers because the FDA bans such documentation or even linking to peer-reviewed scientific studies), if you knew all of the things the big pharmaceutical companies do behind everyone’s backs to perpetuate their stranglehold on the american system of medicine then you would know why, despite billions and billions in spending each year the quality of medicine is going down while the incidence of serious disease is increasing. I understand that all you know is western traditional “the doctor is god” medicine, but that doesn’t mean that there is not another alternative that everyone should have the free choice to investigate and use for their own care.
Before you criticise the free market, try actually understanding it first. We have not had a free market in medicine since the AMA took over medicine, did everything it could to destroy the wonderful system of homeopathic medicine that existed in this country around the turn of the 20th century, and assured its domination over both the delivery of medical services and the laws that prevented any competition from interfering with their control. It is their control that limits the numbers of doctors (keeping prices high), limits who can provide services (keeping prices high), and limits what information is available to individuals on alternatives to their methods of care (keeping prices high).
You are not the consumer of your doctor’s services – your insurance company is. You are not the consumer of your insurance companies services – your employer is (except if you purchase your own insurance). If you don’t understand how those relationships – with you completely out of the picture – are at the heart of why costs continue to rise and services continue to decline, then you will forever be unable to see any real solutions to the problem beyond just more of the same failed relationships and system that we have today.
MrLiberty
February 25th, 2011
10:04 pm
BW – Before you just shoot off your mouth with the same “where were these people during the Bush administration?” crap that so many liberals always seem to say, please realize that free market proposals have been around for well over a hundred years, and certainly since Johnson began socialized medicine with Medicare, and most certainly since HillaryCare was proposed under Clinton. The fact that you never bothered to find out any alternatives doesn’t mean that thousands of folks were not writing books about them and screaming these ideas at the top of their lungs hoping someone would hear. Your ignorance doesn’t mean that folks are only now bothering to do something just because our president is black. Get over the Obama thing already. Medicine has sucked for a long time. This has come to a head now in the way that HillaryCare brought it to a head back then. Only this time the horrible beast got passed despite overwhelming public opposition.
And as for ideas like libertarianism and others being clearly not workable since they haven’t been embraced, I think you are using failed logic.
Libertarianism will only catch on when people actually want their freedom and liberty back. Just look at these comments. People don’t want to “risk” liberty and freedom. They would rather believe the lies about history that the self-interested government text books have taught them then give the market an opportunity, without the protection of the govenrment manipulators and criminals. Liberty and freedom are scary things for people that have been coddled, brainwashed, and “protected” their entire lives. Almost nobody alive today knows of a country that functioned perfectly well without the horror of the income tax. Few are old enough to know of a country in which the value of money actually went up (before the Federal Reserve). Few know of a country in which money was taken from your paycheck by the government, spent to pay off special interst groups, and worthless credits were put into an account for you (Social Security). Few people are old enough to remember a time when going to the doctor was affordable, they made house calls, you could by pharmaceuticals without a prescription and its associated costs, and even having a baby cost only a couple hundred dollars. Few can remember a time in this country when both spouses didn’t have to work to afford the cost of living of the high taxation rates. These things were all possible because government was not involved in the market or the economy to the extent it is today.
vuduchld
February 25th, 2011
11:58 pm
Frankly, Jawjians don’t need health care insurance. I say let these dimwits continue to kill themselves by suicide, gun play, drink, ciggies and drugs. What all Teabeggers crave is chaos, death and destruction. Why should my hard earned tax dollars go towards saving a bunch of maggots who don’t want to be saved. Jawja and the South as a whole is one big cesspool of sub-humans who don’t want to be told what to do. I say fine, just don’t expect people like me to pick up the tab. I could caree less whether you idiots want Obamacare, go off and die so our nation can save some cash!!
BW
February 26th, 2011
12:15 am
MrLiberty
You think people have enough self control to be libertarians? Please…spare me. People want to be taken care of….they love their quid pro quos all day long….Marta is one of many examples…people who don’t pay for it in their counties use it just the same. Free market solutions….the result is the same….those with money are ok and those without it aren’t. Rationing exists right now through either high premiums or being disqualified due to preexisting conditions. The only way to fix Medicare and Medicaid is to further ration some type of care. The reason I brought up the Bush years was simply to say that all these people that now seem to think something is wrong and now have all the answers were eerily silent but out of partisanship…it’s funny you mentioned Obama being black….you definitely tickled me on that. Sorry buddy…America isn’t going back to 50’s….the sooner you deal with it the more at peace you will be. I think the free market is working quite well…he with the most dollars gets the most business…it’s all about profit not compassion or empathy….that’s why health care costs so much…the free market at work.
Voice of Reason
February 26th, 2011
5:56 am
Kyle:
Demographics and socioeconomic differences likely make the Utah model unworkable in a lot of other states. But anything that forestalls the full implementation of Obamacare is a good thing.
As for the medical “conspiracy theorists” on this comment board, I suggest they absolutely be allowed to take whatever homeopathic remedy they prefer to take, as long as they stay out of the ER when it doesn’t work or worsens their condition. And allow them to use whomever they want to deliver their babies–after they agree to waive their right to sue the unlicensed healthcare provider they use. Those who suggest it was better in the 1800’s surely weren’t alive back then. There’s a reason life expectancy is as high as It is in the US, and it is not because we are still using leeches.
Finally, you should make the point that one reason there is so much healthcare cost is that there is so much healthcare, period. Decades ago, many forms of cancer were incurable; now, increasing forms are curable and manageable. Chronic diseases like diabetes today can be tightly controlled by willing patients, but only with accurate readings and insulin calibrations. And medical conditions like ED or hormone deficiency were hardly registered years ago. Healthcare cost is so high is because we demand healthcare–we want it, we use it and we expect it. We want to lead longer, better lives and we consume healthcare to do so. That points to an easy fix to the healthcare cost dilemma–live shorter, less enjoyable lives with more discomfort, pain and disease. One could even say that is the underlying goal of Obamacare.
Bobbyb5257
February 26th, 2011
7:20 am
MrLiberty, could not have said it better!!!!!
jt
February 26th, 2011
7:37 am
Yes, Mr. Liberty is correct.
It is shameful the way people refuse or cannot think outside the box.
Taking away medical lincenses “requirements” doesn’t mean taking away lincenses.
It would just mean that the consumer has a choice to go to an un-certified doctor or not. It should be the consumer’s choice.
The same way with the FDA.
The FDA is responsible for more deaths each year than any other federal agency but your typical dumbed-down American would scream with fear IF he was only given a choice between FDA-approved or not.
Regardless of what silly plans are hatched, if the government is involved, the quality of medical care will diminish and the prices will constantly increase.
Ron Paul/Judge Napolitano 2012.
Cutty
February 26th, 2011
8:07 am
So Kyle already knows that any exchange the feds comes up with will be more burdensome than a state Exchange, when though states are allowed to be creative in tailoring their own. With all this talk about the Constitution, I seem to forget when a Declaration of War was issued by Congress for the wars we’re fighting today. I seem to remember repubs sayin back in 2001 and 2003 how outdated the Constitution was and how it hindered us from fighting ‘the new age war’. Seems what’s constitutional only matters when it suits repubs narrow free market interests.
Dave
February 26th, 2011
8:07 am
A lot of “ifs” in this plan. ” If the employer gives…” What if the employer of part timers refuses to contribute, like most I have worked for. Or, If the insurer has a pre-existing condition, premiums would be adjusted. What happens when the insurer can’t afford the adustment? And most of Utah’s participants were employed. How would that play out in GA with its 10 % plus unemployed? Again it’s health care for only those who can afford it and most critics of health care are just that. Always remember, everyone is just a day and pink slip away from no job and health insurance – There go I but for the grace of God.
Donna P.
February 26th, 2011
8:10 am
The problem with any insurance plan (ObamaCare or state care) is that most people want it to be FREE. They don’t want to pay premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. Under ObamaCare, some people won’t have to pay for anything while others will pay for themselves AND everyone else. That is the reason ObamaCare will fail.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
8:32 am
Voice of Reason
February 26th, 2011
5:56 am
I must disagree with a few points of your reasoning or arguments. At the heart of Obamacare is centralized federal government control, that is its’ objective. Otherwise the federal government or as the federal government was before the Obama, Reid and Pelosi regeime’, could have simply drawn up federal guidelines on healthcare and healthcare insurance reforms for the States to implement. However they didn’t because that would mean losing federal government power and authority in giving back to the States and the people power and authority in keeping with the Constitution.
Many reasons or causes drive the cost of healthcare: Government and the private sector have both contributed to driving medical costs higher, patients too, have contributed to driving these costs higher. Examples are legion in respects to the various parties as we know them.
Presently it is predicted that America can expect to see an explosion of sorts in the numbers of people developing Type 2 Diabetes, which for the most part is avoidable provided people make the necessary life changes to prevent it. Which they should do and government should not try to do for them through regulation and taxation of the fatty, salty, sugary, starchy foods Et al MamaBamaCare. However, facts remain that around 40% of our population will develop Type 2 Diabetes in the near future simply by reason of personal diets – bad diets. Not only is Type 2 Diabetes avoidable for the most part, many other human conditions are just as avoidable or very near to it but we the individual must be willing to rely on our own self-disciplines to manage our health and well being instead of, as has become the all to common practice, demand that some magic pill and medical miracle save us from ourselves or undo the damage we have done to our bodies.
The adage of an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure remains invaluably true with respects to disease and increasing the longevity of days. Unfortunately, our mouths are betrayed by our unhealthy behaviors and our bodies rightly have condemn us for this hypocrisy.
jconservative
February 26th, 2011
8:36 am
Enjoy the vacation Kyle.
Interesting discussion. There are a lot of “solutions” to the “problem”.
Lets look at the “problem” first. What problem? Everyone 65 & over is on Medicare. All people who meet an income test can be on Medicaid. All kids whose parents meet an income test can be on CHIP. Anyone who has an illness can go to an emergency room and get free health care (per State and Federal law). If there is a “problem” it is those people and businesses who are paying highway robbery costs for employer based health insurance. We basically have “universal health care” in the USA now.
Now lets look at “solutions”. The problem with solutions is that government will get involved. As many have pointed out there are 50 different “solutions” in the 50 states. That drives up costs.
“Solutions” number 2 – if government is involved there is always someone who wants to change the program. In 1965 President Johnson and Congress brought us Medicare. OK fine, nice simple little plan. But then the “fixes” started. In 1972 Nixon did a major overhaul and expansion of Medicare/Medicaid. In 1983, 1984 & 1986 Reagan did a major expansion of Medicare/Medicaid. Now everyone but the family pet is covered.
Then in 2003 Bush 43 decided we needed to “fix” it again. So he asked for, congress passed and he signed the “Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act”. $750 billion the first 10 years and $1.2 trillion the next 10 years and $2.0 trillion the following 10 years. That is about $4 trillion over the first 30 years of the programs. (But it is Republican program and no one wants to eliminate it but yours truly. The Republicans like it because it is a Republican plan & the Democrats like it because it is pure socialism.)
You see the trend here? Pass a bill and every few years it gets expanded.
The problem with Obamacare is not what it is, but what it will be in 10 years after it is “fixed”.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
8:39 am
Donna P.
February 26th, 2011
8:10 am
Free health care is a fatal flaw to any program or plan. People must have some skin in the game so to speak are it can never work, no the program or plan.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
8:48 am
jconservative
February 26th, 2011
8:36 am
Which is one of the reasons I’ve advocated for individual health savings accounts that can only be used to pay for health care. Coupled with the ability to create Healthcare Co-OP. This will take the money and onus out from under government control, leaving government, federal and state, with their rightful roles of oversight to fulfill and nothing else.
So healthcare it can be affordable, portable and best of all the individual has ownership and control.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
8:58 am
For Judge Napolitano, I hold a great deal of respect. However, Libertarians have only a few parts of the solution and laissez-faire is not one of them. Corporate manipulations in the marketplace are as evil as any Government interventions. There is a balance between these two titans that must be present in our Constitutionally prescribed “Regulated Capitalist Market”.
Sean Smith
February 26th, 2011
9:06 am
To all you people whining about not wanting to pay other peoples health insurance how christian of you. As a gay man with no children I really don’t want to pay to educate your sniveling obnoxious children but have no choice through property taxes (One of those government mandates). However we as a society have decided to better our country, we will collectively pay for Police protection, Fire Protection and Education. So why not collectively pay for health care. The real problem is that we are not requiring the aristocracy in this country to pay their fare share. Its more important for the Paris Hilton crowd to have more millions than it is for the rest of us to have health care.
retired early
February 26th, 2011
9:20 am
Mr liberty
What you propose reminds me of my son’s birth in 1973. Since we had no insurance, like most young people back then ; We had a pre pay plan with our Doctor, paying $1100 prior to his birth…this included the hospital expense, which our Dr separately contracted with them.
Now, we seldom look at a hospital bill since it is being paid by a “third party”…the insurance company. Medical cost have exceeded the rate of inflation for that one reason, more than any other…nobody challenges their medical bills…and the Dr’s know this. We are not paying the bill…the insurance company is….A recipe for abuse.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
9:22 am
The word “collective” has different meanings when it is applied to a government or a corporation or to a group of individuals. For the record we as a society already pay for other people’s healthcare in various forms and by means. You can forget the socialized medicine of Socialism no matter how this thing eventually ends, you’ll not get it.
Everybody will have to personally pay something to have healthcare and hopefully without the state using its police powers to provide mandated taxpayer assistance.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
9:35 am
retired early
February 26th, 2011
9:20 am
What if you were the insurance company or a owner/member of a mutual healthcare insurance Co Op company that paid the bills, would it then make a difference in how doctors and hospitals received payment and how much they could reasonably charge?
I seriously doubt that you or I would “rubber stamp” questionable charges or any costs that appear unreasonably out of line.
Personal ownership tends to make us get involved even when we don’t want to be responsible.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
9:44 am
Heads up Georgia Legislators: Where are you?
Montana could join health care compact as Obamacare alternative
Posted on February 25, 2011
By MICHAEL NOYES
HELENA – The state House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that would authorize a health care compact seen as an alternative to Obamacare in that it would take health care out of the hands of the federal government and give it to the states.
House Bill 526, sponsored by Rep. Champ Edmunds, R-Missoula, pictured at left, now heads to the Senate for action after a 62-36 vote in the House.
An official with the Health Care Compact Alliance said the action is an important step.
“The Health Care Compact gives the health care decision-making power back to the people instead of the bureaucrats in Washington. It allows greater citizen influence, more competition, and more options for health care for millions of Americans,” Eric O’Keefe, chairman of the Health Care Compact Alliance, said in a media release on Thursday. “This important legislation will provide the citizens of Montana with greater control over their government and, ultimately, over their health care.”
A spokesman for the Democratic Party in Montana referred a request for comment to Jackie Boyle, a policy adviser for the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance.
Boyle said she doesn’t disagree with the concept of introducing more competition into the market, but said she thinks the national exchange outlined in the recently passed national health care legislation is the way to accomplish that.
“We’re really focusing all of our efforts on the health insurance exchange,” Boyle said. “That’s going to do exactly what (they) are trying to do on this interstate compact. It’s going to make it where consumers can shop for policies and compare policies.”
Edmunds could not be reached for immediate comment.
http://watchdog.org/8387/montana-could-join-health-care-compact-as-obamacare-alternative/
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
9:55 am
What do the Wisconsin Democrats and George Jones have in common?
Both fail to show up when it is time to preform.
Will Georgia’s Republicans be “No Shows” on the healthcare issue, Kyle?
Did they too, all get out of town?
Where is our State Representation?
David
February 26th, 2011
9:56 am
Obamacare is not a word people.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
9:58 am
David
February 26th, 2011
9:56 am
It is if people choose to make it one.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
10:08 am
Vermont, Obamacare and the single-payer health care plan
Vermont has a history of going rogue, to use the popular parlance of the day. When it comes to health care, the Green Mountain State is also heading off the beaten path. As states like Florida, Virginia, Texas and 24 others, according to a list compiled by The Foundry, a conservative blog put out by The Heritage Foundation, are suing to challenge Obamacare on constitutional grounds, Vermont may be gearing up to ask for an exemption as well. Vermont, however, wants an exemption based on the fact that their own proposed single-payer health care system does everything that Obamacare does, and then some.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110223/tr_ac/7925366_vermont_obamacare_and_the_singlepayer_health_care_plan
While I don’t want single-payer healthcare, I do want independence from the Nationalized Healthcare imposed by the Federal Government. I love it when the States resume their rightful Constitutional roles of governance.
LET’S GO ROGUE GEORGIA !
Bushcare
February 26th, 2011
10:13 am
Yeah, “Bushcare” worked so well for America. The truth is, President Obama could find a cure for Cancer and Republicans and Tea Partyers would claim it would raise the deficit and kill jobs.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
10:20 am
GOP Governors Seem Too Eager To Set Up ObamaCare Exchanges
By JEFFREY H. ANDERSON
The governors also don’t demand that Obama-Care’s individual mandate be scrapped. This is all the more striking because 18 of the 21 are from states that signed onto the lawsuit — recently victorious at the federal district court level — claiming that the individual mandate runs afoul of the Constitution. Why would these governors be willing to implement legislation they think is unconstitutional?
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/562613/201102091827/GOP-Governors-Seem-Too-Eager-To-Set-Up-ObamaCare-Exchanges.aspx
Perhaps these Governor’s have read the Constitution and just happen to know that State governments have powers reserved exclusively to them that the Federal Government does not have and was never meant to have under the Constitution?
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
10:28 am
Bushcare
February 26th, 2011
10:13 am
That liberal Bush never did anything for health care. He only made matters worse by enacting a BIG GUB’MENT drug plan that does more for BIG PHARMA than people in need of drugs at lower costs. Thanks to the Democrats defeating the Dorgan amendment offered by a Democrat in the Senate that would have gutted BushCare this atrocity remains intact.
Down with ObamaCare, down with the Bush drug plan. Up with the re-importation of drugs and bulk purchasing of pharmaceuticals re-sold to the public for much lower prices than BIG PHARMA would like.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
10:44 am
Perhaps these Governor’s have read the Constitution and just happen to know that State governments have powers reserved exclusively to them that the Federal Government does not have and was never meant to have under the Constitution?
To carry this line of thinking to the very level that James Madison used in the Federalist Papers 41 and 45. If everything of governance is or can be Federalized, Nationalized, then what need would exist to have any States or State governments?
Obvious answer: Absolutely none!
J Reb
February 26th, 2011
10:44 am
More government take over is going to bring dire consequenses. Doesn’t
Hussein Obama realize that – or is that what he wants? VOTE HIM OUT. ANOTHER ONE TERM LOSER LIKE CARTER.
J Reb
February 26th, 2011
10:49 am
David. “Obamacare is not a word people.”
_____________________
Obamacare is very much a word. Not in your liberal Democratic Party dictionary perhaps but it is a word. This isn’t France (yet) and words do not have to go through Congress to be used.
Cutty
February 26th, 2011
11:18 am
J Reb- It’s not in Merriam-Webster’s so I don’t believe its a word. But of course you repugnants don’t like facts much.
Sam
February 26th, 2011
11:29 am
Sean Smith advocates forcefully taking that celebrity blonde’s money from her possession. Would it feel the same about Marylin’s loot? Or even Liza’s or Judie’s?
I knew homosexuals like a-holes, didn’t realize they were a-holes.
Edward
February 26th, 2011
11:30 am
As soon as you utter words like “obamacare” and make disparaging names for people you don’t like (such as liberals or Democrats or the POTUS), your opinion becomes worthless, no more reasoned than that of an elementary school playground bully, of which you’re emulating. If you speak like and adult and offer adult-like opinions, perhaps you could be taken more seriously.
Edward
February 26th, 2011
11:32 am
Thank you, Sam, for confirming yourself as one to be ignored. Your opinion is worthless. Let the adults continue this conversation without being interrupted by your childish rants.
DLink
February 26th, 2011
12:24 pm
Let’s just QUIT calling this thing Obamacare, and start calling it “taking care of one another.” If you’re in a burning car and I can pull you out to prevent your death, I’ll do that. If your house is on fire, I won’t sit on the curb holding my hand out for some money to turn the water on.
American Healthcare. I’ll pay for that. Hows about we take care of our own before donating billions overseas, hmmm? Capitalism shouldn’t get people killed. When it does, it’s broken.
Schrodinger's cat
February 26th, 2011
12:24 pm
Ed are you going to add meaningful thought to the conversation or just disparage those you disagree with?…very adult btw
Insurance agent
February 26th, 2011
12:53 pm
MrLiberty is right on several points. One thing that amazes me is how detached people are from what health insurance is really supposed to be about. It should be about protecting people in the event of unforeseen, catastrophic illnesses and accidents.
Yet people expect insur companies to pay for things such as routine doc visits. Why do people expect insurance to pay for routine, expected care?
You don’t expect your car insurance to pay for new tires, oil changes, etc. If the insurance co. is paying for routine stuff is there really any incentive for the consumer to shop for medical svcs to keep costs down. As an example if you get an MRI at a hospital it’ll cost $2000-$2500. If you shop and call around you can get the same procedure for $300-$500. But if the insurance is paying does a consumer really care?
Mr. Liberty is correct in stating that the insur co then becomes the custr since they are paying and not the patient who thinks “no need to look at the bill- the insurance is paying it”. He has no stake in it.
If we went back to the way insurance used to be where the consumer pays a doc outta pocket and the insurance covers the more expensive procedures such as surgeries and catastrophic events such as cancer treatment we would all be far better off.
And if people would shop for services the same way they shop for who has the best deals on flat screen tvs they would find they could save a substantial amount of money.
Insurance agent
February 26th, 2011
1:14 pm
“Something must be done to curb the greed of insurance companies so that people can receive affordable healthcare.”- lynnie gal @ 7:15
Lynnie gal,
On Medicare business the health insurance companies net profit margins are 2-3%. The average company’s profit margins tend to be 20-25%. As an example Coke’s profit margin last year I think was 28%. If you think 2-3% net profit margin is “greedy” then I just don’t know what to say.
United healthcare is the largest health insurer in the country insuring 77 million people or nearly 1 in 4 Americans. If you divide their net profits last year by the number of people they insure you will see that they averaged a net profit per insured of only $54 per year or basically $1.04 per week. So when someone writes a check for their health insurance premium per month of $4-$5 the net profit that United was making off that customer was equivalent to or less than a moccha at Starbucks or a big mac combo at McDonalds.
A lot of people have this mistaken notion that the insurance companies are making outrageous profits. The facts are otherwise.
The Original Get Real
February 26th, 2011
1:25 pm
Obamacare is a word, it became a word as soon as the totally partisan democratic bill was slammed through both houese of Congress and then signed by our community organizer in chief
poison pen
February 26th, 2011
1:36 pm
Sean Smith, did it ever occure to you that those people with “sniveling, obnoxious” children may not want to pay for AIDS CURE, DUH!
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
1:49 pm
A great number of words in the U.S. English language and dictionaries of today were at some time non-existent in our language including words not found in the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary until we in the American society chose to make these non-words part of our U.S. English vocabulary.
Merriam-Webster in fact includes on its’ Website a section of New Words & Slang.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/
Of course SOCIALIST LIBERALS never let FACTS get in their way of telling a lie. Especially when defying the use of a word, or words, like ObamaCare which are used to express a national rejection and disdain of their SOCIALIST healthcare agenda solely per se’.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
1:54 pm
DLink
February 26th, 2011
12:24 pm
No thank you. “ObamaCare” shall continue to be used and will now remain a word in the U.S. English language.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
2:01 pm
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act a.k.a OBAMACARE
The nickname “Obamacare” has been characterized as pejorative,[114][115][116] but continues to be widely used to refer to the legislation.[117] Because of the number of “Obamacare” search engine queries, the Department of Health and Human Services purchased Google advertisements, triggered by the term, to direct people to the official HHS site, which provides factual information about the law[117] while referring to it only by variants of its official name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act
carlosgvv
February 26th, 2011
2:21 pm
The government is in charge of our Military and they seem to do a pretty good job. What makes any of you think they can’t manage healthcare?
Linda
February 26th, 2011
2:21 pm
Here’s a new word I “invented” 2 days ago: killabillibuster.
The definition is the new ploy Wis. state senators use to delay a vote by going on the lam, running away, going into hiding & violating their oaths of office, by immigrating to a safe haven state, such as Illinois, whose businesses are, in turn, migrating back to the state of Wis. since Ill. just raised their taxes by 68% to avoid dealing responsibly with the same problem Wis. has.
poison pen
February 26th, 2011
2:41 pm
Carlosgvv, so you are happy with the Wars that we are in and the Billions that we spend on protecting other countries? are you also happy with the Hundreds of Millions in fraud against Medicare.
If you are truely happy with the job that our Govt. has done to protect our boarders and the job the DEA has done in stopping drugs from entering our country, than by all means support Obamacare, me, I think it sucks.
Austerity Kills Children
February 26th, 2011
3:02 pm
“Two children were killed in a fire in the city’s Olney section Tuesday, and now an official from the firefighters’ union is questioning if Philadelphia’s cost-cutting “brownouts” of fire companies played a role.”
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/02/23/firefighter-union-offical-questions-brownout-role-in-fatal-olney-fire/
Austerity Kills Jobs
February 26th, 2011
3:03 pm
“Spending cuts approved by House Republicans would act as a drag on the U.S. economy, according to a Wall Street analysis that put new pressure on the political debate in Washington.
The report by the investment firm Goldman Sachs said the cuts would reduce the growth in gross domestic product by up to 2 percentage points this year, essentially cutting in half the nation’s projected economic growth for 2011.”
Linda
February 26th, 2011
3:15 pm
carlosgvv@2:21, How old are you? Never mind.
At least it’s just our health the govt. wants to take over. Thank God it’s not the NFL. If it was, we might be able to begin the pre-season by maybe March, with some luck. With hundreds of new departments, commissions & czars to study how the lines on the field are to be drawn (& in what colors, to be politically correct), we could be in for some fascinating new rules & regulations.
The players & owners won’t be too happy with the 90% tax rates for those greedy millionaires, but a little more socialism injected into the economic might finally reach the social justice goal the progressives have been yearning for.
Green energy from the roof to the parking lot will be in order. Solar panels might cause the beer to become hot & the ice cream to melt, but who cares when we can finally rid ourselves of carbon dioxide. All the Chevy Volts in the parking lot will be charged by sixty generators discretely hidden in the end zones.
Coaches’ challenges will receive VIP treatment directly from the Justice Dept. Injuries will be handled on a cost plus, first come, first serve basis by unionized health care providers who, unfortunately, don’t work on weekends.
Linda
February 26th, 2011
3:21 pm
Austerity@3:03, Who do you trust the most: Goldman Sachs OR the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff OR the president’s debt commission?
Woa!
February 26th, 2011
3:34 pm
Wisdom from Washington? Have you lost your mind Mr. Wingfield? Somebody please hurry and call the paramedics and make sure they bring the cute white jacket for Mr. W.
larry.3333
February 26th, 2011
3:45 pm
utah leading the way.
SERVING, “2 MASTERS”.
THE “TROJAN HORSE” WHO IS COMMITTED TO CORRUPT MEXICO AND THE DRUG CARTELS IS MARCHING !!!
=================================
Utah Senator Robles holds simultaneous Utah and Mexican Government Offices
February 25, 2011 by randyedye
Mr. Martinez leaves out some other facts that by all accounts, were also unknown by voters during the election that pushed Senator Robles in the political arena. Indeed, Senator Robles is not a political newcomer at all. In fact the Senator is a seasoned veteran, having previously held elected as well as appointed offices, in the Mexican government.
It is important to note that Senator Robles is a naturalized United States citizen and part of that process entails taking an oath of allegance to the United States, the text of which is:
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws..
What has not previously been reported or disclosed is the following chronology of Senator Robles’ political career with the Mexican government:
* In September, 2005 Ms. Robles was elected through an electoral process conducted by the Consulate of Mexico to a three year term in the “Consejo Consultivo Del Instituto De Los Mexicanos En El Exterior” (CCIME). The CCIME was an advisory commission created by Mexican President Vincente Fox and placed in within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Mexican Government. source;
* Ms. Robles held her elected position from 2006 through 2008;
* During her tenure with the CCIME, Ms. Robles attended at least seven (7) conferences and served as the Coordinator for CCIME the Legal Affairs Commission for three (3) conferences and as a member on the Political Affairs Commission for three (3) conferences
* Ms. Robles attended her 6th conference after having won election to the Utah Senate and her 7th as an observer after being sworn into the Senate in Utah;
* Three of the conferences attened by Ms. Robles were held at the Presidential Residence in Mexico;
* During the November, 2007 CCIME conference, Ms. Robles was the featured speaker. speech
* At the November 10-11, 2008 CCIME conference, Ms. Robles was the moderator for the “Estados Emergentes” meeting, which was also attended by MALDEF
carlosgvv
February 26th, 2011
4:12 pm
poison pen, Linda
Are you saying the our Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard are inferior to other countries? If so, what do you base that on. If not, pay attention to what I said, namely, that our Govt. runs our military and if we have a very good military why would you think a Govt. run healthcare would be so inferior?
Linda
February 26th, 2011
4:33 pm
carlosgvv@4:12, If you want to join the military to get military health, go ahead & try. You might pass the entrance exam. Work on your punctuation.
@@
February 26th, 2011
5:02 pm
It just goes to show that in the absence of government, smart and innovative people will come up with their own solutions.
Catastrophic coverage is what my husband and I have. Low premiums, high deductibles.
Thing is, it’s wise to have the deductible on hand. Save it up if you must.
Government doesn’t think people should have to suffer catastrophes…they do though. Best be prepared.
carlosgvv
February 26th, 2011
5:24 pm
Linda
That is not what I asked you. Twice I have asked a question and twice you have dodged it. This tells me your objections to Obamacare are based on nothing more than Republican and Corporate propaganda and lies. Typical Tea Party mentality.
Jefferson
February 26th, 2011
5:58 pm
Let see how much planning the GOP leaders in GA have done to solve Atlanta’s water problem, then decide if they will plan for anything. How are they going to pay back the 630m they owe the feds for unemployment? They have no credibility.
Linda
February 26th, 2011
6:02 pm
carlosgvv@5:24, I am dodging your question. I don’t think I can help you, but let me try from a different perspective.
Half of the uninsured, about 15 M poor people will be placed on the Medicaid rolls. Even tho the fed. govt. pays about half & the states pay about half, the fact that rolls will increase means the overall costs for the states will increase.
#1 How much did both Gov. Purdue & Gov. Deal say that would cost the state of GA?
#2 (Simplified) Multiply that times 49. How much will it costs the states, 45 of which already have budget deficits & some of which are close to bankruptcy?
#3 If the states can’t pay their current bills, how do they plan to pay for new Medicaid expenditures?
There is a shortage of doctors who take Medicare & especially Medicaid patients, especially new Medicare & Medicaid patients.
#4 If these poor people, newly insured by Medicaid can’t find doctors, will they continue to go to the ER when they become ill?
#5 Will these continued trips to the ER bring down health care costs?
There are many people who do not have health care insurance because they choose to spend their money on other things.
#6 Since the cost of health insurance policies is more expensive than the cost of just paying the fines (per the new law), why would this group of people buy health insurance?
#7 Since insurers are required to cover pre-existing conditions, why would any healthy person buy health insurance before they become ill, such as on the way to the hospital/doctor?
You so your own research to answer these questions. You would never believe me if I answered them for you.
Jefferson
February 26th, 2011
6:07 pm
Linda, you get the money to pay for these programs from the folks who have money. You can’t sell a car to someone without a job, you sell them to the ones working. Lighten up, its only money.
Linda
February 26th, 2011
6:27 pm
Jefferson@6:07, The Democrats’ main solution to all money problems is just to raise taxes on people “who have money.” In a speech in ‘63, Pres. Kennedy said, “…the paradoxical truth is that tax rates are too high & revenues are too low, & the soundest way to raise revenues in the long run is to lower taxes now.” His statement only makes sense to business economists.
If you were a businessman looking to relocate your company, you would probably rule out a state represented by a governor who said, “Move to my state. We have the highest taxes in the South!”
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Credible, Compelling, Complete....Bwahahahaha, just sayin...
February 26th, 2011
6:40 pm
If the socialists win the court case, they will hook you up with the “public option,” no matter if you have an exchange or not.
They can maximize the damage to the economy that way.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Credible, Compelling, Complete....Bwahahahaha, just sayin...
February 26th, 2011
6:49 pm
Budget cuts set off alerts. Recovery could be stifled, economists say. Problems at state, local levels seen as sign of deeper reductions. The clearest sign to date was a report Friday on U.S. gross domestic product for the final three months of 2010. The government lowered its growth estimate, pointing to larger-than-expected cuts by state and local governments.-Urinal
The Tea Party wasn’t even in office in 2010 but when your whole entire world is a lie, are facts really a big issue?
carlosgvv
February 26th, 2011
7:08 pm
Linda
I can only assume you think our Govt. does a good job managing our huge and complex military but somehow is unable to manage a health care program. While I am working on my punctuation I suggest you go back to school and take some courses in logic and critical thinking as these are obviously as alien to you as the backside of the Moon. It goes without saying that this kind of profound ignorance makes you an ideal Republican voter.
MrLiberty
February 26th, 2011
7:25 pm
carlosgvv – The Pentagon spends outrageous sums of money on stuff they don’t need, can’t use, etc. There are literally billions of dollars that cannot be accounted for in Iraq and Afghanistan. The GAO has thousands and thousands of pages of data showing the corruption, abuse, and gross incompetence in the way the Pentagon manages the military, its money, and its personnel.
No, the government CANNOT effectively manage the military or defense (remember how great a job they did on 9-11), and they certainly cannot manage running the entire health care market. Central planning does not work. Americans are no better at being socialists than anyone else in the world. Socialism fundamentally does not and cannot work. It lacks a price structure, a value system, a cost-benefit mechanism and all the important things that allow the market to decide proper allocation of goods, services, and money. Its not about will, or committment, or anything else. The government cannot manage medical care (Medicare should already have proven that clearly) and it should not be allowed to try. In fact, it is their very presence in the market that has cause all of the problems.
And I am very happy for all the things I wrote about earlier. I appreciate all of the positive comments so many of you wrote.
The sad truth in all of this is that only the politicians and the state-run media are being able to get out the message of what is wrong and how to fix it. At the heart of all of their suggestions (except for true Free Market supporters like Ron Paul), is their underlying need for government in some for or another, or a belief that health insurance is the same as health care. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
poison pen
February 26th, 2011
9:00 pm
Carlosgvv, Having the best military has nothing to do with Obamacare, or the other departments that I cited. Our Generals run the military, not Obama, he may be the CIC, but it’s only a title.
You cite the military as an example but don’t want to touch all the other dept’s. Our soldiers are the best in the World, but the Pentagon still pisses away Billions of dollars every year.
You need to get a reality check.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
10:08 pm
Suggested reading for those who don’t understand Federalism (the distribution of power between the different levels of government) and need to ask why the Federal Government was entrusted with this nations military but not trusted with things like healthcare:
The Federalist Papers
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/histdox/fedpapers.html
Linda
February 26th, 2011
10:11 pm
carlosgvv@7:08, I admitted that I dodged your questions earlier today, because I didn’t think I could help you, but after you kept questioning me, I gave you some facts & asked you to do your own research to answer seven key questions that had to do with the health care bill. I challenged you to come up with your own conclusions. I spent a great deal of time formulating these facts & questions.
You set me up. You wasted my time. You should be ashamed. I should have known better.
You were too lazy, incompetent & partisan to answer even one question. All you did was attack my intelligence & education. You displayed to everyone who reads this blog that you are helpless & hopeless.
Liberals have a problem with the C’s: common sense, common decency & comprehension, to name a few.
I have a science degree, an economics degree from one of the largest universities in the southeastern US & courses in advanced studies. If anyone needs to go “back to school” to study “logic & critical thinking,” it might be you.
Outside the Perimeter
February 26th, 2011
10:23 pm
@Vuduchld, 11.58; it’s apparent your mental condition can use a new medicinal sedative/treatment for your paliperidone palmitate condition, AKA aute schizophrenia. It’s called Invega Sustenna. Not gonna guarantee it will do you any good given your abstract rant but you may want to try it and, when you are almost normal again, try another blog that makes sense. Phew! Not even LSD in its best days could have caused that!
Linda
February 26th, 2011
10:26 pm
Mr. Liberty@7:25, poison pen@9:00 & maybe Michael H. Smith@10:08, Thank you for going to bat for me this evening in my absence.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
10:37 pm
The “C” word with which the socialist liberals have the greatest difficulty is Capitalism as a result of their “zero-sum thinking” that says wealth is confined to a “zero-sum game”, wherein wealth can only be transferred by way of someone winning at the expense of someone else losing. Therefore, wealth is never Created, another “C” word that poses a Conundrum for socialist liberals .
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
10:57 pm
You are very welcome, even though IMHO you didn’t need any defense, Linda. However, those who often blog on this page do have a great need to at least read the following entirely and very slowly: The Declaration of Independence, The U.S. Constitution and the Federalist Papers.
Michael H. Smith
February 26th, 2011
11:06 pm
Oh and by the way, Linda… I doubt you need to re-read the suggested list for the umpteenth time, your comprehension is very good.
poison pen
February 26th, 2011
11:15 pm
Linda, you don’t need any help, you are better than everyone in explaining things to Liberals, the problem is that they have absolutely no comprehension skills.
Linda
February 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
Michael@10:37 & etal, I’ve added your “c” word to my list, & it should have been first.
I might not have needed a defense but we always need to support each other during attacks.
Liberals think everyone is helpless & need handouts, even farmers, corporations & countries.
Liberals think women could have never driven cars until automatic transmissions were “invented” by “progressives.” They are SO wrong. Women could have run them down on muddy roads in open cars, wearing high heels.
Liberals, never underestimate women. We can take care of ourselves, but need comrades to watch our backs.
I’m in the process of reading the Federalists papers again. I’m embarrassed to say how long it’s been.
Linda
February 26th, 2011
11:44 pm
poison@11:15, I do need help & appreciate yours.
Ralph
February 27th, 2011
1:53 am
This discussion is really amazing. Get rid of medical licensing? This sounds like Rep. Franklin’s crazy idea to get rid of drivers licenses and just let each 12 year old decide for himself when he is really to drive in traffic with the rest of us!
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Credible, Compelling, Complete....Bwahahahaha, just sayin...
February 27th, 2011
7:33 am
I did everything I could this morning to well up a tear on behalf of “oppressed” government employees, the angry incompetents at the Post Office who burn through tax money like it grows on trees, the DOT workers who block roads off for no reason while 15 of them watch 1 work, the long line creators at the DMV office, the marauding IRS agents who mail you threatening lien letters over a mistakenly incorrect social security number (you non income earning libs are going to have to take my word on dealing with the IRS, just sayin..) but I am unable to make it happen, for some odd reason-
Union backers rally at Ga. Capitol -Urinal
It’s about time somebody told these people no.
@@
February 27th, 2011
8:54 am
Andy:
How’s it goin’?
I see your posts here and there but not you-know-where. They still make me smile.
My brother had his own problems with the IRS years ago. My husband is presently dealing with an error THEY made but refuse to acknowledge. My money’s on him (my husband).
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2011
9:40 am
Rep. Bobby Franklin Looks to Criminalize Miscarriages
Now that the name has been brought to fore I can’t keep myself from commenting further. As many do know I’m very PRO LIFE. However, this Franklin fellow bugs me about as much as some of the “death squad Democrats”. Has this guy ever been personally close to a female that suffered the loss of a child because of a miscarriage?
No wonder the socialist liberals have a field day with the so-called “values voters” and can rip apart the sincere motives behind the PRO LIFE agenda. I truly hope the other Republican Legislators in this State put this guy in a closet somewhere in the basement under the gold dome. Surely you elected Republicans will not pass THIS… bill into law?!
Take a look at this portion of Franklin’s Bill
114 (2) ‘Prenatal murder’ means the intentional removal of a fetus from a woman with an
115 intention other than to produce a live birth or to remove a dead fetus; provided, however,
116 that if a physician makes a medically justified effort to save the lives of both the mother
117 and the fetus and the fetus does not survive, such action shall not be prenatal murder.
118 Such term does not include a naturally occurring expulsion of a fetus known medically
119 as a ’spontaneous abortion’ and popularly as a ‘miscarriage’ so long as there is no human
120 involvement whatsoever in the causation of such event.
http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display.aspx?Legislation=31965
~
A naturally occurring expulsion of a fetus has the natural human involvement of the female’s body.
Is it therefore now the onus of any female that suffers a miscarriage in this State to prove the natural intent of her own body was the sole causation of such event?
I’m sure Rep. Franklin has capture the vote of every woman in Georgia by offering this bill for passage into law. Run ladies, the radical Christian Taliban has emerged in Georgia.
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2011
10:12 am
Liberals think everyone is helpless & need handouts, even farmers, corporations & countries.
A result of their zero-sum thinking, Linda. Socialist liberals don’t believe wealth can be created, it can only be transferred in a zero-sum game. Obamacare is one good example of the zero-sum game.
Did you happen to notice that only recently, after two years, trillions of dollars wasted, and virtually no jobs created dear leader Obumer finally wises up to the fact that he doesn’t know how to create wealth, so he turns to the very people who actually do know how to create wealth over at the Chamber of Commerce meeting. Of course, dear leader Obumer was about as welcome in this group as a proverbial skunk in a overcrowded elevator stuck between floor during a power failure on a mid-July day. He barely managed to move that group slightly to his side only twice with his speech. As a result he failed to do what he should have done on day one after becoming President in reaching out to the very Capitalist that are known to produce Capital and create jobs.
Voice of Reason
February 27th, 2011
11:43 am
A question for all the champions of “taking care of each other”: precisely what do you mean? Do you include optional procedures in your healthcare plan (consider cosmetic surgery, in vitro, D&C, gastric banding) ? Do you cover all pharmaceuticals, or just some (e.g., contraceptives, experimental drugs, medical marijuana, ED drugs, cholesterol drugs, contraceptives)? What about medical care driven by lifestyle choices (Type 2 diabetes, addiction treatment and counseling, STDs, e.g.)? If we choose only “proven” remedies, who decides what is proven?
“Taking care of each other” sounds great if it is only vaccines, routine check-ups and screenings–but it quickly becomes a blank check for every conceivable need, remedy and ailment. If you think this all sounds cost-prohibitive, you are starting to catch on. If you think it sounds like a recipe for lobbyists and lawyers wrangling and special interest deals, you are getting the picture. And if you believe the same people who live inside the Beltway and the courts might not be the best ones to decide how well you get taken care of, then you are onto something.
Ultimately, my definition of taking care of you and how you want to be taken care of likely aren’t the same thing. What starts out as a nice notion becomes either an idea totally divorced from reality, or a phony cover for separating me from my money, or both.
Government Union Goon
February 27th, 2011
12:02 pm
Weren’t those union thugs at the state capitol lovely and peaceful.
Did you see the video of the guy in his red t-shirt walking by a group of folks waving his middle finger with some other dude laughing and encouraging him? That is certainly a positive example for others…
The best video was the one of that little twerp with his “stop the war” sign and his yellow flyer… What was on his yellow flyer? — “The Revolution we need…The leadership we have. A Message, And A Call, from The Revolutionary Communist Party, USA. And this is NOT the best of All Possible Worlds… And We Do NOT Have to Live This Way”
It’s real and it happened twice in Atlanta, at the state capitol, in the last week.
Why hasn’t AJC covered this? Why hasn’t WSB covered this?
You, the readers, are not being told the truth by the MSM.
Go down to one of the rallies… Take a look at the Nazi signs and thew Raised Up Fist posters and pix of Che or American flags hung upside down.
It would be funny except the socialists and communists are making a genuine play with the unions.
Wake up America. Wake up Atlanta.
Government Union Goon
February 27th, 2011
12:27 pm
did you see the video on local TV?
well gee whiz, it made youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nND6dLXwQco&NR=1
Government Union Goon
February 27th, 2011
12:35 pm
Class War? Not a real war? “I don’t know.” – That what the eff are you holding that sign for you nasty, oinking, troll?
Didn’t see this on TV either. Why?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gta3eKqk1Fk&NR=1
Jeremy Engdahl-Johnson
February 27th, 2011
1:29 pm
Employers ask: Keep providing health coverage to employees? Or drop coverage, let employees buy insurance throughd exchange? http://www.healthcaretownhall.com/?p=3649
Linda
February 27th, 2011
2:39 pm
Michael@10:12, No, O has NOT wised up to the fact that he doesn’t know how to create wealth. He doesn’t want wealth created. He only wants to redistribute what is existing. The only jobs he wants to create are “green” jobs, govt. jobs & union jobs.
What we need are red, white & blue jobs. We need jobs that pay taxes, not jobs paid for by taxes.
He is extremely intelligent, knows exactly what he wants & how to accomplish it & reaching his goals.
Linda
February 27th, 2011
3:07 pm
Does anyone know why the Obama adm. has granted waivers to Obamacare to:
the Teamsters Union for 17 locals
the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union for 28 affiliates
the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for 8 affiliates
the Communications Workers of America for 19,000 of its members
the Service Employees International Union affiliates including:
SEIU Local 2000 Health & Welfare Fund with 161 enrollees
SEIU 32BJ North Health Benefit Fund with 7000 enrollees
SEIU Local 300, Civil Service Forum Employees Welfare Fund with 2000 enrollees
SEIU Health & Welfare Fund with 11620 enrollees
SEIU Local 25 in Chicago with 31,000 enrollees
SEIU Local 1199, Greater New York Benefit Fund with 4544 enrollees
SEIU Local 1 Cleveland Welfare Fund with 520 enrollees
(about 45,000 workers represented by 7 SEIU locals)
?
Linda
February 27th, 2011
3:10 pm
correction: the SEIU Health & Welfare Fund has 1620 enrollees, not 11620
Linda
February 27th, 2011
5:27 pm
These are questions for liberals/Democrats only:
Should state workers have more or less competitive bargaining rights (for wages & benefits) than federal workers? Why?
Should state workers &/or federal workers be required to join a union? Why or why not?
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2011
5:29 pm
Hmm… let’s see: Uh, Um… Oh, maybe because the list contains Unions which first of all have better healthcare under their contracts already than Obamacare lawfully allows a person to have without penalties and then you don’t think just maybe $200 to $400 million in campaign contributions to the corrupt dear leader Obumer & his corrupt Democrat Company from Unions bought them any Qid Pro Quo influence do you?
Those wavier weren’t granted, they were bought and paid for in advance with union dues money.
Linda
February 27th, 2011
6:02 pm
Michael@5:29, You forgot another possibility. Maybe they could not AFFORD Obamacare. Hmm?
It was $2.4 M in ‘08 & $2.3 M in ‘10 by the Teamsters & $2.6 M in ‘08 & $1.7 M in ‘10 by SEIU to Democrats in campaign contributions, which do not include all the advertising & “field” work such as busing protesters to private homes to scare the living daylights of children hovering inside in closets.
That’s our tax dollars at work!
catlady
February 27th, 2011
6:34 pm
I would posit that one significant difference between Utah and almost everywhere else is that the majority of the businesspeople in Utah are devout Mormons. They feel an obligation to do for their employees (who make the business possible).
In Georgia and many other places, there is an ethos that “You are on your own. Don’t cut into MY profit.” And, “If you don’t have (fill in the blank) it is YOUR fault. I got mine.” Although the people of Georgia claim to be Christian, it doesn’t extend to their pockets. You have only to read the spittle that flies on this blog to see examples.
If I get to use Medicare, it will be 6 1/2 more years. I will have paid into Medicare for 45 fully working years. Yet I plan to be very thankful for it, in contrast to so many of those using in now who rail against “socialized medicine.”
I think there are things that all people should have: clean air, water, and food; an opportunity for obtaining an education, health care to a sensible degree, safe housing, work for those who will work hard.
Sensible health care does not mean “I can abuse my body and you have to patch me up,” but does mean there are basic opportunities for taking care of our health that should be available to all.
catlady
February 27th, 2011
6:49 pm
My neighbor, a rabid Tea Partier, rails against being forced to buy health insurance. He “doesn’t need it.” He is 55, weighs in at 325, and does no preventative health care, even dental work. He pays cash when he goes to the doctor (less than $50) and gets whatever medicine he needs by bugging the doctor for samples. When he gets very sick (happening more frequently now) he goes to the ER and has them write off his bill because he is “indigent.” Yes, I guess he “doesn’t need” health insurance.
Linda
February 27th, 2011
6:55 pm
Catlady@6:34, You are wrong. According to Forbes, the Georgia people were # 8 in charitable giving, after Utah, Maryland, NY, Conn., CA, Hawaii, & NJ. Try it on a population basis & it is even more stunning.
http://www.forbes.com/2005/11/23/most-charitable-states-cx_lh_1125home_ls.html
May God bless those who give, not to the govt., but to the needy.
Linda
February 27th, 2011
7:09 pm
Catlady@6:49, Since the new hc bill requires the purchase of a hc policy OR the payment of a fine, & since paying the fine is cheaper than buying the policy, what motivation will your neighbor have to buy a hc policy & change his current health care regime? If your overweight neighbor develops an attributable condition, such as diabetes, a stroke or a heart attack, since the new hc bill covers pre-existing conditions, what motivation will your neighbor have to buy a hc policy before his trip to the ER in the ambulance?
Gaming the system will continue with the new hc bill.
Linda
February 27th, 2011
7:10 pm
catlady, sorry I spelled your handle with a capital “c.”
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2011
7:15 pm
Aren’t you glad that Georgia is a “right-to-work” State, Linda?
GEORGIA
TITLE 34. LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
CHAPTER 6. LABOR ORGANIZATIONS AND LABOR RELATIONS
ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 34-6-6. Compelling persons to join, or refrain from joining, labor organization, or to strike or refrain from striking.
It shall be unlawful for any person, acting alone or in concert with one or more other persons, to compel or attempt to compel any person to join or refrain from joining any labor organization or to strike or refrain from striking against his will by any threatened or actual interference with his person, immediate family, or physical property or by any threatened or actual interference with the pursuit of lawful employment by such person or by his immediate family. (Enacted 1947.)
http://www.nrtw.org/c/gartwlaw.htm
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2011
7:26 pm
I would truly love to get involved with a few good Conservative lawmakers in this State to design a healthcare program that would do justice to real healthcare reform. The worst comments I read on this blog come from the zero-sum game, mostly the BIG GUB’MENT dependent, thoughtless left. Of course, that doesn’t leave out the other left side of the left, spelled with a very Big Business laissez-faire capital “L” Libertarians
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2011
7:50 pm
If you want abuse catlady, try standing in the check out line at some Kroger store behind a 300 lb. female that is purchasing a shopping cart full of nothing but ice cream and more ice cream on top of frozen sugary sweet Lil treats, when she whips out an EBT card and a handful of WIC vouchers to pay for all that darn junk food, at partly your expense, with the full knowledge that whereby you are also partly soon going to be paying for her Type 2 Diabetes or Heart Attack or Stroke through Medicaid. Thereafter, probably partly paying for her funeral expense too.
This is why people spew and fume to no damn end about your beloved BIG SOCIALIST GUB’MENT so-called safety net and/or entitlements.
If it were up to me, anybody that received one penny of State money for food would first see a doctor for an evaluation and if they are obese, have a eating disorder or any health issues that would require a life change in their diet, they would only be able to buy with taxpayer money the foods prescribe by the doctor based on the doctor’s examination of the applicant.
Yeah, 300 lbs and eating nothing but ice cream bought with taxpayer money !
Linda
February 27th, 2011
7:54 pm
This is a govt. website that lists unemployment rates by states as of 12/10. Of the 10 states with the lowest unemployment rates, 6 are “right-to-work” states. There are 22 right-to-work states, with the list growing in ‘11 & ‘12.
http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2011
8:07 pm
Zogby Interactive: Majorities Say States Can Cut Employee Salaries & Void Collective Bargaining Agreements
UTICA, New York – Two-thirds of likely voters agree that state legislatures have the authority to cut state employee salaries and 52% agree they can void collective bargaining agreements to reduce spending.
Voiding collective bargaining agreements is also seen as preferable to continuing to pay state employees at current levels or layoffs of state workers in order to reduce spending and control deficits.
These results come from a Zogby Interactive poll conducted from Feb. 18-21, 2011.
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1950
Linda
February 27th, 2011
8:11 pm
Michael@7:50, Hey! Either you & I shop at the same Kroger or there’s twin sister shoppers. The ice cream lady at my Kroger leaves in a black Lexus with a full trunk & back seat. What about yours?
I don’t get carded any more except when I buy ice cream for our son. Kroger tells me I’m too OLD to buy Death By Chocolate, etc. I have to sign an affidavit promising my husband & I won’t indulge. Wonder why Lexus/ice cream lady has more entitlements than I do.
The country has been in trouble since entitlements outnumbered rights.
Mr_B
February 27th, 2011
8:17 pm
Linda @ 7;09. Linda, you can pay for the insurance and get coverage. You can pay the fine and get, well, a fine. Not too tough a decision.
You are correct when you state that “gaming the system” will continue, unless human neture takes a sudden turn for the better, which is unlikely. That is no excuse to leave in place a system that produces poor outcomes at a cost of about one seventh of our GDP, far above what any of our international competitors pay.
I will agree that the current Affordable Health Care Act is deeply flawed. I also submit that it is much better than doing nothing, which evidently was the conservative approach.
What is really needed is a system that recognizes that health care ( at least at some minimal level such as maintaining life and mobility)is a right and not a commodity; and develops a method for all citizens to share equitably in its cost, the same way we share in the cost for providing a common defense
Linda
February 27th, 2011
8:24 pm
Michael@8:07, What is the difference between authority & audacity? Don’t go there.
I don’t plan to watch the Oscars tonight. I don’t care about trophies, stars, movies, designer dresses, expensive jewelry or red carpets. I do like shoes, however. Democrats will be watching it to see how their meal tickets/sugar Daddies are doing. Those darn millionaires & billionaires! Envy & jealousy! Tax their greedy souls!
Mr_B
February 27th, 2011
8:33 pm
Michael: are you suffering from ice-cream envy? Would you swap lives with the woman in your anecdote? You know nothing about the woman or her circumstances, but you are willing to condemn her based on a two minute interaction in a shopping line? What “abuse” did you suffer?How about the dairy farmers whom her purchase helps support? Are they not also the recipient of welfare?
Mr_B
February 27th, 2011
8:34 pm
And with that, this lazy overpaid public employee needs to go to work…..
Linda
February 27th, 2011
8:39 pm
Mr._B@*:17, It was part of the Dem. strategy to intermingle the term “health care” with the term “health care insurance.” They are not one in the same. Health care has not been denied to anyone for decades & is therefore recognized as a right.
Health care insurance is a commodity, not a right, just as auto insurance, life insurance, credit life insurance, hazard insurance, etc. They are all commodities.
Furthermore, health care insurance does NOT provide or guarantee health care. What the Dems. failed to do in the bill was to MANDATE doctors to accept/see new patients, especially the 15 M new Medicaid patients. With the shortage of doctors & their refusal to add new patients they cannot AFFORD to treat, patients will continue to visit the ER for routine care.
The hc bill solves NO problems but compounds debt problems at both the natl. & state levels.
Linda
February 27th, 2011
8:50 pm
It just came to me today. Is it possible that all liberals/Dems. on this blog are govt. employees & that all the unemployed (who hate entrepreneurs/companies/corporations) on this blog are also liberals/Dems.?
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2011
8:51 pm
Can’t say what my ice cream lady has for transportation, Linda. It is a given that whatever she has, it has to be bigger than mine. Since we taxpayers are buying what she eats for food her means of transportation is probably better and more costly. I buy real food with my own real money and because I’ve taken it upon myself to make the necessary “life changes” in my diet to have better health, which aren’t cheap by the way, I have less money to buy other things like luxury cars. What ever vices remain I pay for those at my expense and I don’t run to the doctor just because I have insurance and can do it, like so many that abuse a company co-sponsored privilege. My wife and I are very frugal, common practical sense people out of necessity and necessarily from being responsible self-reliant adults. That’s probably why you and yours, like me and mine don’t have EBT cards, WIC vouchers, Medicaid and live in a section 8 house. We grew up, out grew mommy and daddy while the children that just grew older in this society, who never out grew their need of a mommy and daddy remain under the care of the Nanny State.
Furious Styles
February 27th, 2011
8:55 pm
Utah?? There moronic alcohol laws are even worse than Georgia’s, and someone has an idea to follow their health care law. Maybe we”ll all have to buy a health license before we can go to the emergency room much like htey have to buy a license to purchase a beer. No Thanks!
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2011
9:06 pm
What abuse did I suffer?
Brucie is that you? Never mind, it’s you alright.
Hey Brucie, I helped pay for part of that darn ice cream and most likely have to pay for part of her Medicaid and section 8 housing too and you say I have envy and shouldn’t get pissed with this foolish person.
Only a life long GUB’MENT Union employee like you could defend a 300 lb obese leech, I’m sure out of professional courtesy. Always room at the old public trough, aye Brucie?
Linda
February 27th, 2011
9:21 pm
Michael@8:51, “Life changes” in your “diet to have better health” should not be costly. Without divulging info, let me just say that I’m “certified.” I hope you’re not talking about organic foods. The only difference between organic foods & regular stuff is that they are more expensive, are bad for the environment & tend to have more bugs. They are NOT more nutritious.
You have no idea what frugal means. I pay out lots of money to workers but live like a cat. I know tricks you have never heard of.
Edie
February 27th, 2011
9:36 pm
For a state that hasn’t given a damn about setting up a high risk pool ( to save lives), this would be a way for Georgia to demonstrate it truly cares for its own. About time!
Darwin
February 27th, 2011
9:54 pm
If you’re really serious about reforming our broken health care system and reducing the burden that the uninsured place on the insured and taxpayers, stop calling it Obamacare. You show your lack of objectivity and intelligence when you can’t simply debate an issue on its merits. When will the right stop using slurs and incitful words toward anything that doesn’t originate with them? Such a total lack of maturity, KYLE.
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2011
9:58 pm
Nope! No organics. Just a lot of fresh veggies, fruits, nuts, grains, very low saturated fats, low sodium (though my sodium is fine) higher levels of mono and polyunsaturated fat meats: Fish, Chicken and Turkey. NO RED MEAT, fewer eggs and now small amounts of very lean pork often mixed with lean Chicken or Turkey when I want flavor with less saturated fats.
Basically what is often referred to as the “Mediterranean Diet” .
Oh and since you’re certified Linda, you will probably agree with this tip I’ll pass along to the folks that want to get rid of belly fat. Try adding Kale to your diet. When chopped up very fine in a food processor (without the stems) it can be added to make a killer tasting Cole Slaw and it is easier to eat fresh uncooked that way. Kale is known as a super-food better than Broccoli or Spinach and it has proven cancer preventing/fighting benefits. It is said to be one of the few foods that make you lose belly fat. Well, it worked for me and my wife. We both had to buy new clothes, my waist dropped down two sizes and the skinny jeans fit just fine.
Sorry Jenny 20
Linda
February 27th, 2011
10:22 pm
Michael@9:58, I’m proud of you. When I was pregnant over 2 decades ago, I contracted Compulsive Obsessive Disorder, which my husband & I love. I’m compelled to cook my way thru cookbooks. I don’t cook anything without a recipe & I’ve never cooked the same recipe twice, except on Xmas Day. Did you know you could cook green beans over 2000 different ways? I make everything from scratch, even my own flour, from grains, in a $350 blender. Without saying, I bake my own breads. Dinner isn’t complete without a green, yellow & white plus a salad. I have 3 food processors on my counter because I refuse to wash them by hand.
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2011
10:28 pm
A high risk pool at a very high risk price?
That is were Rep. Dr. Price and I have have problems with his healthcare proposal. If you solely lump the high risk in a group there is no low risk group present to offset costs and bend the curve. Secondly, there has to be incentives to make those in high risk want to make life changes with means available that work to achieve the goals of healthier living, thereby lower their risk.
What I did notice about the Utah(care) plan was their PCN – The Primary Care Network. If Georgia were to create a mutual healthcare insurance CO-OP along this line and they gave ownership and control of the individual’s policy to the members and not the State with the ability to use the health department facilities, that with a few other items added, would bend the cost curve.
No matter, the State can do it better than the Federal Government and by Constitutional authority only the State should do it. Obama and the Democrats overstepped the Constitution, plain and simple.
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2011
10:46 pm
A very complete Italian meal would be green, white and red. Saute’ some Kale to a semi-tender wilt, add a can of white kidney beans and a can of Italian style tomatoes let it all simmer, cook until done(to your satisfaction). Use your favorite Italian spices or Sicilian spice which is what I use, sprinkle on a little Parmesan over the mixture. Served with Italian sausage, turkey or your choice, some good bread, salad on the side maybe a glass of wine…
Mamma Mia… Mwha
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2011
10:51 pm
Well, I tried to give you a very good Italian green, white and red recipe but the AJC didn’t allow it to be posted Linda.
michael szedon
February 28th, 2011
3:13 am
“Free-market” health care solutions are a big part of what has gotten us the hyper-expensive-yet-mediocre-in-care position we are in. The problem is that pre-existing conditions call for huge premiums, long-term waiting periods for coverage for those conditions, and large deductibles.
“Free-market” is code/slang for what the insurance companies can get away with, for how much will people REALLY pay, and for how many people can we deny coverage to because they will actually NEED it.
Anyone who believes that the free market will regulate it’s policies and prices to include people who actually NEED insurance has either never been sick or injured, or they can afford to pay exorbitant fees for mediocre care.
JF McNamara
February 28th, 2011
8:58 am
If this is such a good idea, the why didn’t the Republicans propose it as an alternative to begin with? Its obviously not something they were interested in as they presented no real healthcare plans during the the debate completely failing to do their jobs. Just sayin…
Peter
February 28th, 2011
9:21 am
Looks like Republicans want to tax all kinds of services…… Kyle the Republican’s are truly the taxing party !
Today’s AJC will tell the story.
Logical Dude
February 28th, 2011
12:22 pm
“The ability to pool money is key.”
So, a Single Payer system would be the most efficient, wouldn’t it?
Idle Remarks
February 28th, 2011
1:50 pm
Far too complicated for Georgia politicians. And yes, Obamacare is a word just a Reaganomics is a word. Idiots.
Tea Partiers are Suckers
February 28th, 2011
2:45 pm
A CEO, a tea party activist, and a union employee were sitting at table with a plate of a dozen cookies sitting in the middle of it … The CEO grabs 11 cookies and tells the tea partier “Watch out, that union guy wants a piece of your cookie.”
independent thinker
March 1st, 2011
8:00 am
The greed of doctors and big pharma needs to be curbed . Look at Israel- they have universal heathcare but it is not run by the government. They have competing HMOs and everyone must join one. The government subsidizes membership based on need. The HMOS must provide a certain level of minmal healthcare determined by the government. Anything else someone can pay a private doctor. The doctors who are part of the HMO have salaries set by the HMO and they are less than in the US. Their health care standards rank higher than in the US. The cost of membership is much lower than health insurance in the US. It is similar to the health care exchanges being proposed in the US but the key is the doctors have a direct employment relationship with the HMO.