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Daylife/Reuters Pictures used by permission
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| Obama addresses a meeting of millionaires |
Americans overwhelmingly support substantial changes to the health care system and are strongly behind one of the most contentious proposals Congress is considering, a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.
The poll found that most Americans would be willing to pay higher taxes so everyone could have health insurance and that they said the government could do a better job of holding down health-care costs than the private sector.
Across a number of questions, the poll detected substantial support for a greater government role in health care, a position generally identified with the Democratic Party. When asked which party was more likely to improve health care, only 18 percent of respondents said the Republicans, compared with 57 percent who picked the Democrats. Even one of four Republicans said the Democrats would do better…
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Daylife/Getty Images used by permission
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| Congressional Republicans say “NO” |
Republicans in Congress have fiercely criticized the proposal as an unneeded expansion of government that might evolve into a system of nationalized health coverage and lead to the rationing of care.
But in the poll, the proposal received broad bipartisan backing, with half of those who call themselves Republicans saying they would support a public plan, along with nearly three-fourths of independents and almost nine in 10 Democrats…
They clearly indicate growing confidence in the government’s ability to manage health care. Half of those questioned said they thought government would be better at providing medical coverage than private insurers, up from 30 percent in polls conducted in 2007. Nearly 60 percent said Washington would have more success in holding down costs, up from 47 percent.
Why should anyone have confidence in insurance companies? Is there anyone left who hasn’t been screwed by their automobile insurance, homeowners coverage, medical insurance company? We all know these slimeballs would steal their mother’s purse if they could skive another 5% from a settlement.
#100, BTW . . . how did the Kool Aid session go with your buddies?
They gonna pay their back taxes and pay the correct taxes from here on out?
#93, Obama is not socialized health care. He is the President of the United States. Just in case you forgot that.
But, if he’s a liar, how can I trust what he is preaching is truth?
#100, No plan of their own, just more NO !!!
Here’s a plan. One I’ve shown you twice already.
How typical of those who like Obama. It doesn’t matter what the issue is, just because it is a Democrat / Obama idea, it must be good. No plan of their own, just more YES, MY LORD !!!
• Create a tax credit for health insurance: Instead of encouraging people to participate in the government health insurance program, individuals and families could receive a refundable tax credit to purchase health insurance. This would give them the freedom to choose a plan that makes the most sense for their individual needs.
• Reform the tax treatment of health insurance: Currently our tax code is biased in favor of employer-provided health insurance and against those who purchase healthcare from the individual market. Congress should extend the tax treatment of employer-provided health insurance to individual health insurance. This would make individual insurance more affordable.
• Enable individuals to purchase health insurance from any state: State regulations can greatly raise the cost of health insurance. Instead of being limited to policies issued in their state, individuals should be able to purchase insurance from anywhere in the country.
Quit talkin’ about “healthcare.” That word doesn’t exist & it’s not the issue.
What we have here in Amerika is a health INSURANCE problem. The people that need it don’t have it, and they ain’t never gonna get it until we collectively realize that private health insurance simply does not work.
You want “supplemental” health insurance, you can have all you want—but buy it on your own damn dime.
#106, You want “supplemental” health insurance, you can have all you want—but buy it on your own damn dime.
And whose dime will the other insurance be on?
PatDick,
So, no one has argued against my basic premise as posted earlier. Thanks.
You missed my post #87.
105,
Too flawed…
Create a tax credit for health insurance: Instead of encouraging people to participate in the government health insurance program, individuals and families could receive a refundable tax credit to purchase health insurance. This would give them the freedom to choose a plan that makes the most sense for their individual needs. – You’ve just created another immense “program” that needs administration and funding. Say nothing of the fact that some people don’t have enough credits to get the break. And that is the situation you currently have.
Reform the tax treatment of health insurance: Currently our tax code is biased in favor of employer-provided health insurance and against those who purchase healthcare from the individual market. Congress should extend the tax treatment of employer-provided health insurance to individual health insurance. This would make individual insurance more affordable. The reason why employer insurance is cheaper is because it’s a POOL, just like a tax base. The average of 1000 employees taking out a claim is much smaller than a family of 4. And that is why individual rates are higher. And always will be. The risk of paying out to 4 is practically 100%.
Enable individuals to purchase health insurance from any state: State regulations can greatly raise the cost of health insurance. Instead of being limited to policies issued in their state, individuals should be able to purchase insurance from anywhere in the country. – States have certain rights, and they protect those rights. And this is why health insurance regulation is different. If state A insures against smokers issues and state B doesn’t because it’s banned smoking, how does your solution reconcile it?
And lastly, there is no mechanism in your “solution” to GUARANTEE insurance to ALL Americans regardless of current, past or even genetic defects.
“And whose dime will the other insurance be on?”
Everybody’s dime. Out of one big pot. No, I don’t know how to run that. Only know private (greed) health insurance doesn’t work. You figure it out. I’m not an actuary.
🙂
#108, You’ll have to excuse him for being confused. I was, too.
I thought you were in the group wanting to take money out of other people’s wallets. I guess “free choice” was the wrong words to describe that.
#110, tollybong, lol. So the difference between “your own damn dime” and “everybody’s dime” is that it was your dime until everybody else decided they have a better use for it than you did.
You know what I mean. One big pool of insurance dough which is the single payer. Which is what I meant by “socialized health insurance.” Cut out private sector health insurance altogether, since they obviously suck.
& probably cheaper in the long run for The Big Insurance Pool to pay your premiums when you can’t, for whatever reason.
& no, Mexican interlopers should not be included in The Big Insurance Pool.
#99 jacksmith said– you do know there are many decaffinated brands on the market today that taste and smell just like the real thing?
We already have had an experimental healthcare program running for 60+ years, the VA, and as any yet can tell you– you don’t want the government to run your healthcare.
#114 Pulling at Strings.. Using the VA..is a Lame Excuse….
#113, We know what you meant but I don’t think you know what YOU meant?
Where does the money in this big pot come from?
You know I understand this argument for government health care. But my question is. With Social Security and Medicare having difficulties how is health care not going to end up in the boat? Why all of a sudden do many think the government can run health care any better? Certainly the ideal of reduced costs for everyone is good right? Just ask Canadian’s how government run health care is? You go ahead, bet you will get mixed results. See, I understand the argument for it. I just think many have no ideal how much it may costs us. I think the other concern is that this will leave the possibility of smaller companies dropping insurance and expecting the government plan to kick in. I think their are many questions and details that need to be talked about and I do not see this being settled by this fall or even next year as Obama wants it. I remember Clinton trying to win over everyone on this and our budget was in much better shape and we were not in a severe recession.
#109
Create a tax credit for health insurance: Instead of encouraging people to participate in the government health insurance program, individuals and families could receive a refundable tax credit to purchase health insurance. This would give them the freedom to choose a plan that makes the most sense for their individual needs.
You’ve just created another immense “program” that needs administration and funding. Say nothing of the fact that some people don’t have enough credits to get the break. And that is the situation you currently have.
There is no program needed. You send in your receipt and the government gives you your money back.
Reform the tax treatment of health insurance: Currently our tax code is biased in favor of employer-provided health insurance and against those who purchase healthcare from the individual market. Congress should extend the tax treatment of employer-provided health insurance to individual health insurance. This would make individual insurance more affordable.
The reason why employer insurance is cheaper is because it’s a POOL, just like a tax base. The average of 1000 employees taking out a claim is much smaller than a family of 4. And that is why individual rates are higher. And always will be. The risk of paying out to 4 is practically 100%.
I am not arguing the costs of group vs individual. I am saying treat the individual the same way you treat the group. Currently, the government gives good tax credits to employer-provided insurance. Why can’t individuals get the same response?
Enable individuals to purchase health insurance from any state: State regulations can greatly raise the cost of health insurance. Instead of being limited to policies issued in their state, individuals should be able to purchase insurance from anywhere in the country.
States have certain rights, and they protect those rights. And this is why health insurance regulation is different. If state A insures against smokers issues and state B doesn’t because it’s banned smoking, how does your solution reconcile it?
The state shouldn’t be doing the insuring. The insurance companies should be ensuring they are following each state’s regulations if they plan to sell insurance in that state. How simple can that be?
And lastly, there is no mechanism in your “solution” to GUARANTEE insurance to ALL Americans regardless of current, past or even genetic defects.
And neither does the government’s.
111 – LL
“Free Choice” sounds great until its “Pay up or die you worthless poor person”
#111 – Liberty,
I don’t have to excuse anyone. It is incorrect to assume that one must be in one camp or the other.
There is a camp that recognizes that the money is being taken out of our pockets now and is simply not producing useful results.
There is a camp that recognizes the trap we are in now with respect to being stuck working in jobs we may hate or working at all because no one can afford to retire.
There is a camp that recognizes that our corporations footing the bill is one of the many things crushing our economy.
You and he, if you are not the same person, are under a fatally flawed assumption.
Read The Tyranny of Dead Ideas for more information.
#119, Don’t give me any that bleeding heart crap. Quit thinking with your emotions. Emotions don’t pay the bills.
People get care now.
Yes, the insurance companies are paying the bill.
Yes, I am paying the insurance companies.
I still haven’t seen the answer as to if we are already paying for it, why make it worse buy letting the government run it? The government couldn’t pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were on the heel. They damned sure can’t run an agency of that size.
I’ll tell you why I don’t want that — I want free choice.
#120, I’ve read parts of it. I find his ideas intriguing. However, I find his predictions off base. The government could very well ensure catastrophe doesn’t happen by following #105 above.
Think about it. If the government could easily afford to pay for your insurance for you (as everybody claims), why can’t they just not take as much from you and let you pay for it yourself? And it would be cheaper, too, because you don’t have to pay some bureaucrat to write the check! Where is the logical fallacy in that?
Its only bleeding heart crap when its not your heart that’s bleeding.
I do not believe that the problem with health care in this country is that too many people have insurance. I believe the problem is that too many people have it and use it to pay for everything. If people had to pay for the lion share of their health care from savings there would be true competiton in the marketplace and prices would drop like a rock. Insurance has made it so that people don’t care about the price.
#124, eaglescout, it has been suggested by others that health “insurance” shouldn’t be used to pay for routine doctor visits, just as you don’t file an auto insurance claim to pay for an oil change. I don’t know how much it really matters.
#124, I should do a better job at proof-reading. The first sentence should read: “I do not believe that the problem with health care in this country is that too many people LACK insurance.”
#123, My apologies. I didn’t know you were speaking literally.
I thought you meant this:
Definition of Bleeding Heart:
“A person who is considered excessively sympathetic toward those who claim to be underprivileged or exploited.”
“Public option” sounds nice but will never work.
When they get back in power, the conservatives will defund any program for the working poor.
The only reason they can’t kill social security is because everybody has invested in it.
Mandatory single-payer is the only workable model.
Liberty lover,
But all people DO NOT get care now.
Under the conservative health insurance thousands and thousand of people die each year for lack of health insurance.
http://tinyurl.com/47evf
Under the conservative system, we pay more and get less… and thousands of people needlessly die.
Your system is a disaster.
Let’s see how the numbers look when people realize that Obama plans to save money by turning off your too-old mom’s oxygen machine.
Hey, all those 30+ yr old people we didn’t trust years ago are now taking all the health benefits, might as well turn them off and take a government paid vacation with the savings.
After all, we all know it will never be our turn to have the government decide we aren’t worth fixing.
“Mandatory single-payer is the only workable model.”
And then the government can dictate to health service providers the most they can charge, since it will be the only purchaser. What a great system of incentives you’ve got there.
Alfred1. Health care need not necessarily be about profitability. It can be about health care, you know. All it needs to do is break even.