Ryan's Health Insurance Proposal

[dtotire]

His proposal has some merit.



http://www.roadmap.republicans.budget.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=8516

I feel that his proposal would be acceptable if, and only if, if the insurers were highly regulated, as they are in Switzerland, Austria, and a few other countries. These would be at least 95% of premiums be used to pay medical costs; there be no exclusions for pre-existing conditions; no cap on annual medical expenses; no exorbitant co-pays for office visits and prescription medications, etc. If the Administration could work with the Republicans on such a bill It could benefit the entire country. However, it would not be as cost-effective as a single-payer system. Give the Republicans partial credit for the legislation.

[4dsc]

1. The Republican Plan, I: People Will Die

http://baselinescenario.com/2010/02/03/the-republican-plan-i-people-will-die/

nuff said..

[Swede]

2. It's Fred Thompson's plan - tax cuts for the rich,tough luck everyone else.

However, the Ryan plan is remarkably similar to what then-presidential candidate Fred Thompson (R-TN) presented in 2007 before the GOP primary. That had the "biggest tax cut in American history," and was a "huge reveune loser," totaling between $5 trillion and $7 trillion, Horney said.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/02/ryan-roadmap-also-includes-sweeping-tax-changes---big-cuts-for-the-rich.php?ref=fpa

[sharesunited]

3. I don't mind this approach if done in COMBINATION with Medicare eligibility for all.

The touchstone of competitiveness is having a public plan available that is designed most favorably in every respect for the insured.

It is far less bureaucratic than trying to police the for-profit insurers for all their misbehaviors.

To be competitive, the private sector would always need to offer plans and deliver benefits at least as attractive as the public plan. If they can't compete and choose instead to exit the business, good riddance.

[hfojvt]

4. right at the top I see a problem

1. refundable tax credit of $2,300 for individuals or $5,700 for families.

Who is that supposed to help? It helps a lot of people who probably don't need help. Yep, there's a family making $180,000 who gets a $5,700 tax credit. Then there's a guy like me, making $18,000 a year who gets nothing. Why do I get nothing? Because I still cannot afford insurance. It's $500 a month. That's $6,000 a year. If I could not afford that before, then I probably cannot afford it now for $300 a month. Typical Republican plan - provide generous subsidies for people above the median income.

[dtotire]

7. The subsidy would have to be much larger

For families with incomes less than $80,000 annually or individuals making less than $40,000, the same as in the present House & Senate bills.

[subterranean]

5. Isn't this essentially what John McCain proposed?

It is aimed at shifting people from employer-sponsored group insurance to individual insurance, which is probably the LEAST efficient way of providing health coverage. I also don't understand how it deals with the problem of pre-existing condition exclusions, other than setting up state-based high risk pools, which already exist in many states and are very expensive.

But I do give Ryan credit for proposing an actual plan other than "sell insurance across state lines" and "tort reform."

[wilt the stilt]

6. Ryan has worked in government since he was 23

He has never bought insurance and has never worked in the private sector. He knows nothing about life