I am completely convinced that health care reform will finally pass

[StevieM]

Jim Cooper and Mike Ross in the House are willing to do a public option. Even Ben Nelson is willing to consider it. So it is going to happen.

The Blue Dog compromise bill included an employer mandate. If we can get those people from Energy and Commerce to vote for it, then we can get most Democrats.

There is going to be a health care reform bill. It is going to include a public option, a co-op exchange and some kind of employer and individual mandate. And the government will start negotiating the price of drugs for Medicare.

It probably won't cover everyone, or deal with the under-insured (a huge, and often ignored, part of the problem). It probably won't allow for the re-importation of prescription drugs. And I doubt it will deal with the donut hole for Medicare's drug plans.

But it will be a major step forward and there will be tangible benefits. And it will lay the groundwork for the next bill, 10 years from now, when we do get universal coverage and further protections from the insurance and pharmaceutical companies.

In short....the bill might not be as important as LBJ establishing Medicare and Medicaid. But it will be as significant as Eisenhower establishing the inter-state highway system. This will be a new roadway for the health care delivery system in the United States.

Steve

[Teaser]

1. co-op != exchanges

I've seen this several times today, and I'm confused by it.

[frazzled]

2. It WILL have prohibition on excluding those with pre-existing conditions

That alone is going to be huge. I cannot tell you how many people I know who were turned down from purchasing insurance (at any price). And not for serious conditions: one for minorly high blood pressure, one for beginning osteoporosis (I defy you to find more than 1 in 10 women over 55 who do not have that on a bone density test), and one, amazingly, for having hurt her finger! Forget it if you have ever been treated for depression or have a more serious illness.