David at Blue Mass Group references a column by David Frum which posits that the health care reform act which passed on Sunday will not be repealed regardless of the results of the November elections. Frum says;
No illusions please: This bill will not be repealed. Even if Republicans scored a 1994 style landslide in November, how many votes could we muster to re-open the "doughnut hole" and charge seniors more for prescription drugs? How many votes to re-allow insurers to rescind policies when they discover a pre-existing condition? How many votes to banish 25 year olds from their parents' insurance coverage?
I think that is correct. Despite the overheated rhetoric, this reform is long overdue and desperately needed.
The Republicans painted themselves into a corner on this with talk of killing grandma and babies. They have effectively removed themselves from the debate and cannot take any credit for any reform at all. Millions with pre-existing conditions will be able to get health insurance, tens of thousands ...
... with insurance will not go bankrupt when they reach caps, millions more will get help to buy health insurance for themselves and their families. Everyone I know has some story about a family member, friend, or neighbor who has struggled with health care costs against insurance companies. This reform will go a long way toward reducing that situation.
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6 comments:
Bill,
When will insurance for town employees start to go down (or at the very least stabilize for an extended period of time)? In a day and age when raises are obviously a thing of the past, why can't Dartmouth take alternative measures with items such as health insurance to give a little back to the employee(s)? Thanks.
The discussions with bargaining units are on going and I cannot comment on specifics. If there are savings to be had in health insurance by raising service and prescription co-pays or deductibles, then perhaps two sides can reach an agreement that benefits both. We will have to await the result of contract negotiations.
Who is going to pay for all this largesse?
Perhaps you have forgotten about the 3rd separate but equal branch of government. The SCOTUS has not weighed in on the constitutionality of the bill yet.
Health care reform is dead...move on!
HAAAA!
I am sure the health care industrial complex will find a way to screw the people and we will reform it again... and again...and again. Because even though Republican legislators find themselves unable to act. Those in the corporate offices are never cynical in their capacity for greed.
I have a sneaky suspicion that nothing is here to stay. There are many hurdles for healthcare in the next 5 yrs.
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