IOWA DEMOCRATS UNVEIL IOWA PUBLIC OPTION HEALTHCARE PLAN

[Skidmore]

https://iowastartingline.com/2017/06/23/iowa-democrats-unveil-iowa-public-option-healthcare-plan/

This week State Senator Matt McCoy, Representative John Forbes and former Senator Jack Hatch presented a “Public Option” to replace Iowa’s Obamacare Exchange. Earlier this year, the three major insurance carriers that sell coverage on the Iowa Exchange – Wellmark, Medica and Aetna – announced they wouldn’t participate in 2018. The withdrawal of these three insurance carriers leaves 72,000 Iowans without any insurance options for next year. With this looming insurance crisis these three Democrats decided they weren’t going to allow vulnerable Iowans to lose their coverage without a fight.

Compare that to the near silence from Iowa Republicans, including then-Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds. In a May 4th article in the Des Moines Register, all the Iowa Republicans quoted including Governor Branstad, Senator Grassley and Senator Ernst said it was up to the U. S. House and Senate to fix the Iowa problem. They totally refused to address the specific Iowa Insurance Exchange crisis.

The initial reaction from Iowa’s Insurance Commissioner, Doug Ommen, was similar. He said his hands were tied unless Congress acts. “This is a federally created situation, and we need a federally created solution,” he said.

McCoy, Forbes and Hatch decided that they couldn’t wait for the feds to make a decision. This Iowa Healthcare crisis required an Iowa solution, and they began to research options. They called for a public forum on May 22nd and invited Iowa Insurance Commissioner Ommen. That pubic meeting generated a number of suggestions and possible solutions from Ommen, the Democrats and the public. It’s important to note that these three Democrats called for a bipartisan meeting with the Branstad-appointed Insurance Commissioner in an effort to seek common ground with Republicans. Compare the Iowa Democrats bipartisan public approach to the U.S. Senate Republicans’ secret healthcare meetings. The Senate Republicans have excluded not only Democrats but all the healthcare stakeholders involved.....more

[SharonClark]

1. I'm proud to call Matt McCoy my Senator

McCoy, Forbes and Hatch are trying to find people-friendly solutions to the messes the gop create.

[Cha]

2. Good Luck to Iowa..

Mahalo, Skidmore

[DefenseLawyer]

3. Does this have any chance of becoming law?

Or is this just good political theater?

[brooklynite]

4. If Democrats couldn't get it passed in VT or CO, they won't do it here.

[Skidmore]

5. If nothing else, it is a platform

for getting ideas ou there and an oppotunity to encouage support for them.

[msongs]

6. first you think about, then talk about, then do it. plant the seed and all those cliches nt

[Skidmore]

7. People need to hear the ideas above the rabble of lies

from the right.