House GOP health plan would cover relatively few

[TomCADem]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Congressional budget umpires say the House Republican health plan would only make a small dent in the number of uninsured Americans.

In an analysis released late Wednesday, the Congressional Budget Office said the GOP plan would reduce the number of uninsured by 3 million. The Democratic bill, by comparison, would reduce the number of uninsured by 36 million. Both estimates are for the year 2019.

While the Democrats' bill would cover 96 percent of eligible Americans, the Republican alternative would cover 83 percent — roughly comparable to current levels.

The budget office says the Republican plan would reduce federal deficits by $68 billion over the 10 year period, and push down premiums for privately insured people.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i8usM...

[LynnTheDem]

1. So the republican plan only allows 44,745 Americans to die every year.

Instead of the current average of 44,789 Americans who die every year.

From lack of health coverage.



Well done, republics.

[flyarm]

2. I hope all the sick people can wait until 2019 for either party's plan! eom

[Pirate Smile]

3. CBO says GOP plan covers 3 million of the uninsured, leaving 52 million to continue to be uninsured.

God, they suck.

[Beartracks]

4. Cost is only one factor of rating a new healthcare system...

... and it's not necessarily the most important. What is, is whether or not health goals for your citizens are being met.

Maybe I haven't been looking, but are there any hard and fast quantitative analyses for the bottom-dollar folks (those for whom cost is everything) regarding the economic impacts of a healthier population a) being more productive and taking less sick time; b) spending their money all over various segments of the economy rather than on healthcare; and c) not experiencing medical-related bankruptcies, which are good for NO ONE?

[merwin]

5. I've given up on hope at this point. We are literally broke because my employer

doesn't have a health plan, we had to switch to a plan with a 3k deductible because Regence has raised rates 50% in the last 3 years, and my wife is 4 months pregnant. On a side note, did you know that an ultrasound is upwards of $500+? Each blood test they do runs $150+. At this rate, we'll hit our 3k deductible for the year right about the time it rolls over into the new year.

And to top it all off, even though we would qualify for the public option under the Dem's health plan, it's not going to take effect until 2013, which really helps a lot for those of us who are barely squeaking by.

On the bright side, I could just ask my employer for a $3k pay cut so we would qualify for WIC and possibly the WA state sponsored health plan, although there's a waiting list for that now.