GOP’s sad, pathetic “replace Obamacare” plan may finally be coming

[DonViejo]

After shouting for years about replacing Obamacare, here's what their new plan is likely to include: Old, bad ideas

BRIAN BEUTLER

One of the most consistent raps against Republicans over their four years of fevered anti-Obamacare advocacy is that for all the symbolic efforts they’ve undertaken to repeal the law, they haven’t been able to muster a consensus over how to replace it.

It’s the one thing about the party’s Affordable Care Act campaign that the traditional media feels comfortable criticizing Republicans for, and something like a running joke in national politics.

Well, now that millions of previously uninsured people are actually covered and getting lifesaving, non-bankrupting healthcare, the repeal-but-no-replace position has finally become unstable enough that House Speaker John Boehner is publicly predicting that Republicans will unveil an official alternative in the next few weeks.

“Republican House members will be having our retreat about a week and a half from now,” Boehner told reporters last week at his regular Capitol briefing. “It’s one of the big issues for conversation in terms of our agenda for this year. And I think you’ll see Republicans come forward with a plan to replace Obamacare. A plan that will actually reduce costs for the American people and make health care more accessible.”

more
http://www.salon.com/2014/01/21/gops_sad_pathetic_replace_obamacare_plan_may_finally_be_coming/

[Auggie]

1. "Reduces costs … more accessible?" Is it ... SINGLE PAYER???

[Cleita]

2. Oh, the irony. Republicans replace the Heritage Foundation Plan with one dreamed

up by *gasp* the socialists.

[Myrina]

4. Would be farking hilarious

Think of the "keep yer soshlist hands awf mah medicare" heads exploding ...

[Doctor_J]

8. This is the problem with Dems adopting Republican plans like ACA

is opens the door for Repukes to do what actually should be done, and claim credit.

[livetohike]

3. LOL n/t

[babylonsister]

5. Haha! What's their hurry?! nt

[Kablooie]

6. Hey, I've got an idea!

How about allowing insurance companies to sell across state borders and tort reform!
Damn that's a hell of an idea!
Blows Obamacare out of the water!

Anyone can see that this is a much, much better plan than allowing everyone to have affordable, lifetime healthcare!

[Wounded Bear]

7. Their problem, of course....

is that they don't want to replace Obamacare. They never wanted to. They want to return to the previous status quo, in which their big insurance donors could continue to fleece the American public and government coffers without any limits.

It was pretty obvious from the beginning, when they wanted to "repeal and replace." But, of course, they only talked about the repeal part of it. When asked "Replace it with what?" their pat answer was, "We'll get back to you on that."

[CTyankee]

9. right! we have to press them on their "replace" plans, which are nil...except to status quo ante...

[NCLefty]

10. Did Heritage cook up something new for them to push?

[mainer]

11. Have a Dutch relative visiting us. I'm pissed.

She pays 140 Euros a month, has a $500 deductible, and all her health care is covered. She never sees a doctor's bill. She's over 60.

She says everyone in the Netherlands pays about that much monthly.

Why the hell can't we do that?!!

[Orangepeel]

12. I thought the ACA is pretty similar to the Dutch system

I had the idea that the ACA was similar to the Dutch system, so I googled it. It seems so (below). I have an employer based policy so I don't know how a $200 a month premium and a $500 deductible compares with the typical plan on the exchange.

Personally, if I were going to ask, "why the hell can't we do what they do?" I'd be talking about Canada.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/health/july-dec09/insurance_10-06.html


All Netherlands residents are required to purchase health insurance, which is provided by private health insurers that compete for business. The insurers can be either for-profit or non-profit, but are tightly regulated by the federal government, and are required to accept every resident in their coverage area, regardless of preexisting conditions.


The government provides larger subsidies to insurers for participants who are sicker, elderly or have preexisting conditions. Tax credits are given to low income patients to help them purchase insurance. People under age 18 are insured at no cost.

Patients can choose among the available insurers, but often get their insurance through group plans administered by their employer. The Netherlands has a separate universal national social insurance program for long-term care, known as the AWBZ, or Exceptional Medical Expenses Act.

Coverage:

Legally required standard benefits for insurance in the Nethlands include general practitioners, hospitals, maternity care, lab tests and medicines. Insurers offer a choice of policies at a range of costs. In some of the plans, the insurer negotiates and contracts with the health provider, while more costly plans allow patients to choose their health provider, and be reimbursed by the insurer.

Most people also purchase additional private health insurance for services not covered, often from the insurer providing the basic coverage.

Financing:

Government expenditure on health in the Nethlands made up 80 percent of health spending there in 2006, according to the World Health Organization. The required standard insurance is financed by a mixture of income-related contributions and flat premiums. The individual contribution is set at 6.5 percent of income, which is contributed by employers if the patient is enrolled through their job or by the patient if they are self-employed or unemployed.

The insured also pay a flat-rate premium to their insurer for a policy. Everyone with the same policy pays the same premium, and lower-income residents receive a healthcare allowance from the government to help make payments.

[mainer]

13. I think ACA is a first attempt to reproduce the Dutch system

but we can't make it work while we're still struggling to get government-hating libertarians to enroll. Universal enrollment is key.