I've been reading some of the threads on this subject, but haven't contributed much to it:
1) it's about the US
2) Sounds complicated
However, the subject matter is interesting. Can somebody explain in simple terms what the hell it is all about?
What is the current system and what does Obama want to do with it.
Our system is relatively simple. Some people have health insurance and get treated quicker than those who don't. That's about it really. If you have public, you go on waiting lists for elective surgery, and if you have a heart attack or somesuch you go to the head of the queue and get treated straight away.
Your wish is my command.
Rep. Ryan was interviewed 2/28/10 on Fox News Sunday re: President Obama’s latest plan:
1. The plan will raise premiums 10-13%
a. Large group policies will see 0% to 3% decrease
b. Individual policies will see a 10-13% increase (but with more inclusive policies as federally mandated)
c. The individual buyers may receive subsidies which will reduce the costs to less than they pay now: This will increase deficits
2. But since there will be less competition, experience has shown that the premiums will increase. And more federal mandates in the bill will not only increase premiums, but will infringe on states rights in this area.
3. CBO “bill cuts deficit by $132 billion in first 10 years…”Rep, Ryan indicates that this is illusory:
a. The bill double counts Medicare savings
b. And double counts increased taxes for Social Security
c. And double counts increased premiums for the CLASS (Community Living Assistance Services and Supports) Act, in which workers are stipulated to send a monthly premium in order to purchase coverage, usually via their employer. They need to pay into the program for five years at the very least in order to qualify for the benefits for the disabled, poor, or elderly people -which is believed to be least fifty dollars per day and assumed by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office to reach up to seventy-five dollars per day.
d. Without the ‘double count’ aspect, the bill actually results in a $460 billion deficit in the first 10 years and a $1.4 trillion deficit in the second ten years.
4. The double count aspect is explained as follows:
a. The bill raises taxes $ ½ billion and cuts Medicare $ ½ trillion during the first 10 years, but provides only six years of ‘benefits.’
b. While the extra money derives from the premiums for the new CLASS Act entitlement, but then these premiums are then also counted as deficit reduction.
c. And, while additional money in Social Security taxes is supposedly reserved to pay for Social Security benefits, it is also claimed in the bill to be a form of deficit reduction. So, why is it tapped as both payment for benefits, and as reducing costs?
d. The administration claims that all the Medicare cuts are to increase the solvency of Medicare, as a reserve for the program, but if this is so then it is unethical to use the ‘saved’ funds to create another government program.
5. CBO: “[the bill] would not cause a net increase in deficits in excess of $5 billion in any year of the four 10-year periods beginning after 2019.”
a. In the original version of the bill, members of labor unions would not have to pay taxes on “Cadillac” healthcare plans, a pay-back by Democrats to the unions- but everyone else who had to pay increased taxes on these plans, and this would pay most of the costs of the new healthcare ‘reform.’ When this became public news, the administration changed the proposal to this: everyone would pay said taxes, but not until 2018! But, of course, logic suggests that the Congress in existence eight years from now would not impose a $1 trillion tax that this Congress had not the nerve to impose.
b. A new unelected bureaucratic Commission would be in charge of Medicare, to ration care and wring out even more cuts than the $1/2 billion in the bill. If unable or unwilling to do this, of course, the CBO estimates are invalid.
c. The Chief Actuary in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the Obama Health and Human Services department issued a memorandum stating that HR 3200, the basis for the President’s plan would increase healthcare costs by $ 234 billion over the first 10 years.
Obama on Health Care: Half Right | Cato @ Liberty
6. Malpractice and Defensive Medicine as drivers of increased healthcare costs.
a. CBO: “tort reform would reduce US healthcare spending by about 0.5% (about $11 billion in 2009)
b. But CBO are based on legal and liability payments, and are unable to measure defensive medical costs, i.e. the additional tests and procedures ordered by doctors to reduce liability. Tort reform would go far toward reducing these peripheral healthcare costs.
7. The President’s bill covers more Americans
a. Senators Coburn, Burr and Representatives Ryan, Nunes offer a bill that would do the same, without the onerous tax burdens, based on a refundable tax credit.
http://coburn.senate.gov/public/ind...Store_id=b8876db7-2be0-4c84-b833-3d77dc4afa83
I know you said simple terms, but...
