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after 10 years, the plan cuts the number of uninsured by only 1 million, out of 45.7 million now. Barack Obama's $1.6 trillion plan would take 34 million off the rolls of the uninsured.
McCain's healthcare plan is a handout to the big HMOs and insurance companies. They'll basically get tons of new customers whose premiums will be subsidized by the government. I expect that if that happens, the healthcare system as we know it will go the same way as the financial industry and banks are right now. Here's why:
I don't know exactly when it happened, but health insurance today is MUCH different from how it was in say, the 70's or 80's. Way back then, insurers pretty much met the goal of providing the money to pay for the doctors, drugs, and hospital stays that people needed if they ever get sick. Now, things are different. Insurers and HMOs have become much more skillful in making their business profitable, by methods such as redlining (not covering anyone who is likely to get sick or had a precondition) or outright denying all claims initially on various technicalities, so that a claim payment only ever comes about after dizzying amounts of repeat submissions, paperwork, complaining, and possibly threats of legal action. With healthcare today, getting them to pay is similar to getting one of those rebates at an electronic store. If you are lucky and incredibly over-the-top vigilant, you might get paid 12 weeks later. But like those rebates, the insurers and HMOs know that only 25% or so of the people will actually go to the effort required to redeem. So the other 75% don't get the claim paid, and since they can't afford any serious medical bills, go into bankruptcy. Knowing that they can't even afford their premiums now, they either quit their job to get onto medicare, or they are so sick they can't work, and also get onto medicare. In the end, medicare pays for their treatment, just like if they were deadbeats who never even bothered to get health insurance. Except that to add insult to injury -- unlike the deadbeats who never bothered to pay for insurance, these stand-up people are out all the money they diligently paid as premiums. And still on medicare. Forever, because no one will ever insure them again.
That's why McCain's plan will never work; nor will anything like our current healthcare system. It's got to be reworked completely, to where techniques like redlining are eliminated, preconditions must still be insured (as in Obama's plan), and there should be proper regulation on the process of claims -- so it's not like a rebate coupon, but actual insurance like it is supposed to be.
Now, before you say this is socialized medicine... I think it can work, requiring insurers to meet the goal of providing actual health insurance, and still make a profit. I believe they did it fine back in the 70's and 80's, perhaps because of additional regulation back then. And even now, if heavy regulation to ensure people could get insurance and get their claims paid was in place, HMOs and insurance companies could still be profitable -- rather than denying the basics, they should be "upselling" to customers who can afford it. They should provide special, high-profit margin plans, with a variety of flavors to appeal to those who can afford them. Kinda like how different car models make a basic platform affordable. Like how you can buy an air filter for your A/C unit for 99 cents, but if you want a special HEPA filtering one it's $10 bux. There are examples everywhere where businesses have been profitable like this, we need to quit enabling HMOs and insurers NOW, just like we should have quit enabling the subprime mortgage market.
People should go back and read about Nixon's role in setting up HMOs. Then you can get an idea of how the whole system ended up so out of whack. It was always intended to make the insurance companies a lot of money and nothing else.
This is the second thread with the exact same message by this individual. He or she simply put different thread titles on it. Not to mention that there is another thread on this subject by someone else, started earlier, where the issue is being discussed.
I thought you wanted "answers"?
Your own words:
"Since you people are intent on saddling us with this moron, you had BEST be getting us answers."
But, as usual, when someone attempts to share actual specifics, you find a way to ignore them.
Few have any health care insurance now, on McCain's plan all will have health care that is affordable whether working full time, part time or not working at all it will be free in the private sector of physicians.
Some 60% get their HI from employers. Many employers would simply discontinue their insurance and let employees take advantage of this plan. There is certainly no guarnatee that this scheme will lower costs, and I don't get what you mean about "the private sector of physicians". They're not going to work for free.
Quote:
The tax is offset with credit, and the insurance left for each year is put into a health care account for each person to carry over when needed. Only cadillac insurance for things like plastic surgery and hair transplants will cost more
If you believe that, I have some oceanfront property in Colorado to sell you. Plus a mountain-top lot in Illiniois. If the average family cost now is $12,000, the $5K credit will fund less than half the cost!
John will allow you a $5,000 tax deduction to "offset" that. However, many families making $30,000 a year don't PAY $5,000 in taxes so that deduction will be of no use to them. AND, even if you do pay more than $5,000 in taxes, your deduction won't even pay for HALF of what it will cost you to purchase the insurance.
Its a $5K CREDIT. It will be of use to them. You obviously did not read the plan fully, and have no understanding of it.
An analysis of the two plans indicates the McCain plan is better. This includes analysis by leading LIBERAL economists.
I suggest you don't comment on something until you fully understand it.
Peace.
Last edited by GOPATTA2D; 10-10-2008 at 11:49 PM..
If your having trouble paying your house payment, putting food on the table for your family etc etc...and someone gives your $5000.00...would you go get yourself some health insurance? or would you suck it up for one more year, go with out and get ahead on some bills? Is this plan really going to insure people or is going to give 5 grand to people in hopes of getting insurance...
Oh and that 5000.00 is taxable too...
Just how much insurance will 5 grand get a family anyway? I know some people pay about 500.00 a month for a family...
First, I suggest you read the plan. Its obvious you have not even read the abstract. In short, the credit is paid directly by the govt. to the provider. You cannot use it to catch up on bills. Secondly, any excess goes into a HSA.
Finally, $500 x 12 = $6000. Pretty darn close to $5000. If affordable insurance is not worth $1K a year to your fictional family, nothing short of a 100% govt sponsored plan will ever satisfy you.
Maybe you should research the payroll taxes (eg "premiums") paid by the Canadians or Germans for their "free" health insurance. My guess is the Left would whine that it is regressive.
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