House Dems to release Health Care Agenda/outline - Medicare buy in @ 55

[ibid]

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-democrats-health,0,6769126.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

House Dems Proposing Health Care Agenda

repost of DUer Rose Siding's LBN post

WASHINGTON -- House Democrats intend to outline a health care agenda Wednesday that would bring millions of low-income working parents under an existing government program while giving uninsured Americans age 55 and older the ability to buy coverage through Medicare.

Democrats also want to permit the importation of lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada and elsewhere, subject to safety regulations, and give Medicare authority to negotiate lower prices with drug manufacturers in this country.

According to a fact sheet prepared for distribution, Democrats also intend to offer a 50 percent tax credit to help small businesses and the self-employed afford insurance.

"Democrats are putting forward specific steps to promote fairness by improving health care," says the material, prepared by the office of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California. Included are steps "expanding access to affordable health care coverage ... cutting health care costs, increasing biomedical research and reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health care."

[Nite Owl]

1. This is a good start in setting an agenda

for '06 on our terms. Even though this doesn't have a chance of passing it shows the differences between the parties. It should be a popular proposal. I just hope the msm gives it a little time, that I am doubtful of.

[KoKo]

2. This needs to pass. With so many folks being laid off and not able to

get health insurance except at exhorbitant rates and the self-employed in the same boat it would be a big help for the "insurance gap folks" to be able to sign on to something they can afford. And the small business owner and self employed often can't get insurance because their business isn't large enough to pool into an insurance plan and the self imployed often don't make enough to cover themselves or families in a plan at all. And if anyone has a health problem they are almost excluded from coverage it's so high. We have a small business and had to form an LLC to be able to get coverage we could afford.

I'm sure there are some problems with this in that Medicare is being cut back and it would mean Private Insurers get off the hook once again but there's a huge problem with folks who were merged and downsized out not being able to find any jobs in that age gap between when you are no longer employable and can file for Medicare.

I doubt this will pass, though. With the Repugs trying to get the government out of working for "the people." But, it's a good try.

[HardWorkingDem]

3. How about this for the Dems...

how come no one in the party ever pushes for health care premimum tax deductions?

This seems like a sure winner for me, but I don't know if it could legally be done...

[Warpy]

5. It's there if you itemize

You can deduct health insurance premiums but you can't deduct out of pocket medical expenses up to 7.5% of your income.

It means that if you can't get insurance, you're fucked every which way from Sunday.

[HardWorkingDem]

6. Can you help me out....

where is that allowed...thanks

[Warpy]

4. That'll only work if those of us over 55

haven't been offshored or pink slipped (yer makin' the place look shabby) out of work and been forced to take a below subsitence job just to keep eating enough to keep living.

This country needs enforcement of labor laws, punitive tariffs on offshoring, living wages, and national health.

I think I'll be dead before we see any of it.

[Lefty48197]

7. All excellent proposals, and one medium step towards our goal

of full health care coverage for all Americans.

[Sugarbleus]

8. Hmmm, well at least they are trying to do something...but

there are untold numbers of people who can't afford to buy into anything. Medicare does NOT cover medications--you have to buy into their drug program for that so that's more money one has to lay out. What if a person is penniless?

My daughter was just released from prison. Her teeth are literally cracking and falling out of her mouth in bits and pieces. There is NO program around here to help her. ZIP, ZERO. She is enrolled in College and has applied for help but it's been months since anything has come up for her. She is partially disabled too.

My sister is not allowed to file for bankruptcy under a certain clause and her deceased husbands MEDICARE/hospital bills are threatening to take her house away--medicare would only allow a certain number of hospitalizations per patient, per year. Her husband came down with Leukemia and needed constant care in and out of hospital; not to mention the enormous cost of his medicines outside of the hospital. She isn't working either. Her knees are blown out, her teeth are falling out of her head, and she has NO health care coverage.

She's trying to sell her house now and get enough to pay off the bills while still having enough left over to find another place to live. None of this will address the issue of HER medical needs. It's OUTRAGEOUS. :grr: