Is this the answer to Bamacare?
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
August 17, 2009 4:33am CST
Is this what we want or is it just a smoke screen to get what he wants and declare his plan a victory. Or it is a step in the right direction. Your Opinion?
Obama backs away from public health insurance plan
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is willing to embrace insurance cooperatives over a government-run plan as the White House faces mounting opposition to its broad overhaul of the nation's health care system.
Bowing to Republican pressure and offering political cover to fiscally conservative Democrats, Obama's administration signaled on Sunday that it is ready to abandon the idea of giving Americans the option of government-run insurance. The shift leaves open a chance for compromise with Republicans that probably would enrage Obama's liberal supporters but could deliver a much-needed victory on a top domestic priority.
Officials from both political parties are looking for concessions while Congress is on an August recess. Facing tough audiences, lawmakers and the White House are looking for a way to cover the nation's almost 50 million uninsured while maintaining political standing.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that a government alternative to private health insurance is "not the essential element" of the administration's health care overhaul. The White House would be open to co-ops, she said, a sign that Democrats want a compromise so they can declare a victory.
With $3 billion to $4 billion in initial support from the government, the co-ops would operate under a national structure with state affiliates, but independent of the government. They would be required to maintain the type of financial reserves that private companies are required to keep in case of unexpectedly high claims.
Obama's spokesman refused to say a public option was a make-or-break choice.
"What I am saying is the bottom line for this for the president is, what we have to have is choice and competition in the insurance market," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Sunday.
A day before, Obama appeared to hedge his bets.
Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said Obama's team is making a political calculation and embracing the co-op alternative as "a step away from the government takeover of the health care system" that the GOP has pummeled.
"I don't know if it will do everything people want, but we ought to look at it. I think it's a far cry from the original proposals," he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090817/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_health_care_overhaul
2 people like this
6 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
17 Aug 09
SOrt of think of it as a smoke screen.
AS I think we already have this kinds of ins. now!
THe poor has welfare.
The workers have ins. at work that they help payfor off thier checks.
And SS has thier ins. and they take almost $100 out of my SS check for it
also if ya read your property tax bill you will see where we are taxed for insurgents?!
Looks to me like we have it all covered now with out going any farther. What Ya think!?
1 person likes this
@Koriana (302)
• United States
17 Aug 09
I don't think we have it all covered.
Many workers aren't offered the insurance benefit, and others aren't paid enough to be able to afford to take the offer. And, well, even with the insurance, the cost of actually getting treatment might be rather too steep for your budget.
And, what about those stay at home moms that some say there should be more of. Personally, my family could get by with me staying at home, if you left the healthcare out of the equation. I suspose those moms who really need to stay home and address the family needs can just kick their husband's out, and well, then there is medicaid?
Na, we don't have it all covered!
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
17 Aug 09
It scares me, there is too much they are not telling. I really think the elderly and special needs are going to get the shaft.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
17 Aug 09
I totally agree. According to Obama's plans I am elderly, retired and therefore of no further use in his "world".
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
17 Aug 09
This is a much more palatable source of health care for the uninsured. I definitely do not want the government controlling my insurance and my private health choices. Co-ops would provide competition as well as coverage and the franchises would maintain the control out of the federal level. I certainly favor that idea. The closer the programs stay to the people and away from the federal government, the more efficiently they will run.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120625)
• United States
20 Aug 09
I'm just grateful more people, especially in positions of authority, are looking at the long term effects of his plan. Our country can't be run by hopes, dreams, and good intentions. What we've got now is not good, but what Obama wants is not feasible. I pray that everyone will actually come together and think of what we actually can and most importantly, should do about our healthcare.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
17 Aug 09
I think Spall got it right. There will be other suggestions and versions before we ever get to the final product, IF we ever get to a final product. I don't think it's a "smoke screen", I think it's a work in progress and the President and some in both houses of Congress are sincerely trying to come up with a bill that will pass and will satisfy the most people. My question is whether that's possible without gutting the bill so badly it won't solve our problems. I'm not sure if co-ops will work or not. I heard Blue Cross and Blue Shield started out that way but quickly became just another for-profit insurance company. Is that what we really want? I do think it should be looked at and discussed.
Annie
@grammasnook (1871)
• United States
18 Aug 09
Talking about blue cross blue shield, my husbands uncle ended up having pancratic cancer even got a second, third opinion, Blue cross would not cover the bills and made his uncle see one of "their" doctors. Since the doctor was paid for by the insurance company the doctor said he did not have it. The next step was court, which he never made it to the date he passed away from the cancer. They held this up for 2 freakin years, his wife lost the home, all the savings, and ended up on welfare with how ill he was he was not able to stay home alone. I think there is room to compremise with this bill. I dont think that certain services shouls be involved. "health and lifesaving" is all that should be involved in the bill. Just put it in plain english so it can not be misinterpeted by anyone.
this is what we cover
this is not what we cover.
I know in the Mass health plan they have invetro in it May I ask you why? They have hair stransplants may i ask you why? These are not life saving or health issues these are cosmetic. This is wasteful spending something that insurance companies wanted and got. Meanwhile many people can not afford the cost of the insurance because of this. I would also like to know how a vicoden that I pay 1.25 for is billed to the insurance company for 32.98 talk about markups and bs.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
17 Aug 09
I watched an interview with a representative of an existing healthcare Co-Operative in some state...I didn't catch which one. I have my doubts about this being a viable option after listening to this woman unless the final product for us as a nation is vastly different from what she described. Of course there is the cost so some folks would still be without healthcare and this particular one did not accept everyone.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
17 Aug 09
It's not a smoke screen, it's an idea, and we can expect more of them to come to light as these bills (and there are several variations of it) make their way through the process. The Co-Op might end up being a workable solution, or it might not. I expect to see more proposed changes as time goes on.
