Does anyone know about Obama's health plan

[holiday]

My mom I can tell wants to vote for McCain because of Palin but one thing that is her achilles' heel is insurance. She watched the debate and heard Obama about his health plan but she did want to know if it was tax based? Because they are out of work (my dad's job screwed over the union) and she didn't know if they would have insurance under his plan since they aren't currently paying taxes since they haven't found a job yet (we are in Ohio, hardly any jobs).

Does anyone know or can direct me? I may be able to get her to vote for Obama based on this alone and that makes me happy. If she votes for Obama my dad likely will too

[SunsetDreams]

1. Here ya go :)

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

I hope this helps.

[Ashy Larry]

2. From the FAQ on Obama's site:

Q. How will I be able to sign up?

A. Signing up for the plan will be easy. You will be able do it on your tax return, on the
Internet, on forms you can get from your employer, in churches, libraries, motor vehicle
bureaus and all sorts of places.

[saracat]

3. I was under the impression that Obama has large numbers of adults that don't get insured but

Children or covered. You might google Elizabeth Edwards as she had some concerns about Obama's Plan but bear in mind Mccain offers NOTHING! But there is no question we need a better health plan. However with the economey the way it is, it is doubtful we will get anything. Obama is at least a "chance".I believe Obama's plan had some basis with tax credits. You can find it at his website I am sure!

[Ashy Larry]

4. That is not correct.

Elizabeth's argument was that we should force people to buy in. Obama makes it optional but everyone who wants health care will get it under his plan.

[saracat]

5. But there is still a gap between who will get covered. And it doesn't matter really either way

as optional doesn't help it no one can afford it and all the proffered health plans(except McCain's AFAIK) just make health insurance minutely more affordable. I think they have a 2 or 3 K tax credit. Big whoop. How does that help when you aren't making enough to either get a tax credit or haven't got a job or health insurance to begin with? My insurance is over 1K a month and we have a large deductibles.We really need universal health care in this country.Nothing less is going to help. I will go re rread Obama's again. As I said , at least he does somethingMcCain offers NOTHING! But neither go far enough.

[holiday]

6. I agree univeral health care is something i strongly believe in

[Ashy Larry]

8. People who can't afford it will be subsidized.

If you already have insurance, Obama's plan will lower your premiums. The argument over mandates was purely political.

[saracat]

10. There is still a gap. Many will not be able to get this insurnace.

I will have to look this up and quote it for you.Lowering my premiums won't help when I run out of money, which will likely be soon.And the amount it is lowered by is nelgigable. The fact is NO candidate had a fabulous plan.Universal healthcare is what we need.

[holiday]

7. I still can't find what happens if you don't have a job hmmmm

[4lbs]

9. If you don't have a job, then obviously, you likely wouldn't have health insurance.

http://origin.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/


"My plan begins by covering every American. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums. That will be less. If you are one of the 45 million Americans who don't have health insurance, you will have it after this plan becomes law. No one will be turned away because of a preexisting condition or illness.”

-- Barack Obama, May 29, 2007

[saracat]

12. We don't have jobs but we are buying our own private health care as we don't have a choice.

When our money runs out, we will be done but likely, because we have assets, we would not be subsidized. Yet we didn't even get the Bush $600. We wouldn't get the Insurance Subsidy either. And we aren't alone.There are millions of us. We fall through a "gap".Not rich enough or technically "poor' enough to be considered, and not old enough for medicare or young enough for other programs.And we won't have enough money to continue the insurance even if the premiums come down.

[crazy_vanilla]

11. no, but I know this ...

If McTurd had my health plan and income level during his bouts with cancer, he'd be living on the street right now.

[fiorello]

13. A source: NPR Fresh Air interview + article in NE Journal of Medicine...

This is a 45-minute interview with a non-partisan expert - so it may do better than the Obama site.

NPR Fresh Air:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93975730
The interview-ee wrote an article in the New England Journal of Medicine:
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/359/8/781

Also, two old articles by Paul Krugman give a great summary of the Edwards and Obama plans, and why:

"Edwards Gets it Right" - Feb 9, 2007
http://select.nytimes.com/2007/02/09/opinion/09krugman.html?scp=1&sq=&st=nyt

"Obama in Second Place" -
http://select.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/opinion/04krugman.html?scp=1&sq=&st=nyt

In brief: Obama planned to use his tax increase on the rich (>$250,000 incomes, he said on the debate last night) to provide support for people to buy health insurance, with support based on income. (Not just a tax reduction - a direct support.) Plus - even more important - Obama would require health insurance companies to everyone based on "group" rates; they could no longer deny health insurance (or charge exhorbitantly) based on "pre-existing conditions", bad genes, or any way they use to screen out people likely to have health needs. He also would let people buy into an expanded Medicare as an option - forcing private companies to compete with Medicare, which has been better and more efficient so far.

By contrast: McCain would tax employer-provided health care as income - basically, to discourage employers from providing health care. So people with employer-provided health care may lose theirs. He would use the extra money to give everyone a tax credit to buy health insurance - in contrast to Obama, this is identical for everyone, not based on income, and probably inadequate to buy decent coverage - and (MOST IMPORTANT) would force everyone to buy as individuals. This means that MORE PEOPLE WILL BE DENIED BENEFITS (or charged exhorbitantly) based on pre-existing conditions. To hammer the point home, McCain would also effectively circumvent individual state regulations designed to provide near-universal coverage.