Senate Dems Take Aim at Individual Mandate

[The Northerner]

Harry Reid could have a real headache soon.

A group of Senate Democrats is discussing ways to take aim at the heart of the new health care – the individual mandate.

“We’re looking at everything humanly possible. I’ve always had a concern and a problem with the mandate, that we were forcing it, basically saying by the law of the land you have to buy the product,” Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV, told ABC News today. “But on the other hand, I know that’s been the lynchpin. I’m looking for flexibility any way I can.”

Manchin is one of the moderate Democrats trying to figure out how to repeal the individual mandate. While talks are still in the early stages, Manchin hopes the push will take shape sooner rather than later.

Joining him in these efforts could be a handful of other Democrats who are also up for re-election in 2012: Nebraska’s Ben Nelson, Missouri’s Claire McCaskill, and Montana’s Jon Tester.

Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2011/02/senate-democrats-take-aim-at-individual-mandate.html

[gratuitous]

1. The flipside is the return of denials for pre-existing conditions

Which will it be?

The alternative to health care insurance administered solely through private companies is single payer, and we all know that's off the table. So what'll it be?

[Bandit]

2. Simple..repeal it and put single payer in place instead

otherwise stfu...

[MadHound]

3. Good, the individual mandate is unethical and unconstitutional.

Especially when you combine it with the lack of a public option and meaningful price controls put on the insurance industry.

Hopefully they will go back and fix some of these issues, better yet, hopefully they'll simply pass single payer UHC.