Jul 05 2009
Health Care Under discussion
I’m reading this web site (thanks to Cescan Matt Osbourne on FB for the link): http://www.kff.org/healthreform/sidebyside.cfm
I wanted to give a careful look at one of the Republican options, because I want to be sure that I’m really looking at what’s being offered for solutions, rather than going along with partisan posturing. So here’s the plan I looked at: Senators Tom Coburn & Richard Burr & Representatives Paul Ryan & Devin Nunes Patients’ Choice Act of 2009 (S. 1099 and H.R. 2520)
The plan offers to provide a tax credit to Americans – about 2500 – 5100K. (For poor people at less than 200% of the poverty line, this money will be provided on a debit card.) In exchange – they will eliminate the employer incentive to insure people, reduce medicaid coverage for most people. They will allow and encourage states to set up exchanges so that people can buy private insurance, and expand health care savings accounts – especially for people with chronic illness.
There’s more (check out the link) but these were alarming enough to make me say – this is a non-starter. Some people (middle class, over the 200% poverty line mark, and yet, not well off) will not be able to save up enough for effective chronic illness care. I’m stunned that this proposal even was offered. And of course – tax credits only work if you don’t typically owe taxes at the end of the year.
I’ll look at another proposal tomorrow.. .this one gave me a headache.
QT
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