G.O.P. Plans to Replace Health Care Law With Universal Access

[TomCADem]

Source: MSN/NY Times

WASHINGTON House Republicans, responding to criticism that repealing the Affordable Care Act would leave millions without health insurance, said on Thursday that their goal in replacing President Obamas health law was to guarantee universal access to health care and coverage, not necessarily to ensure that everyone actually has insurance.

In defending the Affordable Care Act, the Obama administration, congressional Democrats and advocacy groups have focused on the 20 million people covered by the law, which has pushed the percentage of Americans without health insurance to record lows. The American Medical Association recently said that any new reform proposal should not cause individuals currently covered to become uninsured.

But House Republicans, preparing for a rapid legislative strike on the law next month, emphasize a different measure of success.

Our goal here is to make sure that everybody can buy coverage or find coverage if they choose to, a House leadership aide told journalists on the condition of anonymity at a health care briefing organized by Republican leaders.


Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gop-plans-to-replace-health-care-law-with-%e2%80%98universal-access%e2%80%99/ar-AAlCyvr

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Um, didn't we have "universal access" to health coverage before Obamacare in that if you had enough money, you could buy healthcare? Or, you could define "access" as being able to buy catastrophic coverage, which is cheap, but only offers coverage after you spend $10,000 out of pocket.

[elleng]

1. Good. 'Universal Access means Medicare, right?

FERGIT 'insurance!'

[TomCADem]

6. Nope, universal means anyone can buy healthcare...if they have enough money...

...sort of like there is universal access to a Tiffany diamond. It does not mean you automatically get it. Just that anyone can buy it. If you can't afford it, that's your fault.

[Reece2076]

34. Exactly! We already have universal access.

[vanlassie]

55. Good Meme! Let's get that: "Everyone has access to a Tiffany Diamond" out there.

[toddwv]

7. No, it means everyone has access but probably won't be able to afford it.

[Hortensis]

32. Nope. Basic libertarianism. The worthy survive,

the unworthy (defined by lack of adequate prosperity) would be culled. Unfortunately it'd be after most of the latter have reproduced, but some young people would be taken out also.

Charles Koch likes this. Market-driven. Clean and simple: You can have healthcare if you have the money to take care of yourself at the points you need it. No more epidemics of kidney disease, regardless of what's in our food and environment, and end to dialysis clinics springing up all over.

[lastlib]

35. Nope, it's back to GOPeeDon'tCare.

If you can't afford insurance, don't get sick. If you get sick, die quickly, so you don't burden the insurance companies with paying your claims; that cut into profits.

[awoke_in_2003]

54. Screw Medicare

Last edited Fri Dec 16, 2016, 07:58 PM - Edit history (1)

I have a 92 year old mother in law in a nursing home. She has never owned a house and has no wealth. The only income she has is Social Security. Twice a year my wife has to jump through hoops by filling out a shit ton of documents (and god no, do not make an error or you're fucked) and provide bank statement to continually prove that she isn't secretly wealthy. From what I have seen of Medicare, I will be working until I die.

on edit: I may be an idiot. I think I am confusing medicare and Medicaid.

[elleng]

56. Sorry about your difficulties.

I do understand something about bureaucracies, as I'm a retired bureaucrat.

Since I retired, Medicare has been my primary health care payer, and they've done well by me. I hope your experience with them is similar to mine, when the time comes.

[awoke_in_2003]

58. I am glad it has worked well for you...

I think being in the nursing home (she requires 24 hour supervision) mucks everything up. Either that, or they have latched onto her for some inconceivable reason.

on edit: justgamma may have a point- I could be confusing Medicare and Medicaid. If it is Medicaid, and the fact that I live in Texass, that would explain a lot. I am going to edit my post to indicate that I may be an idiot.

[justgamma]

57. Sounds like she should be on Medicaid.

That is the one one run by states for low income people. They make you jump through hoops to be qualified.

[awoke_in_2003]

59. You know what? You may be right...

I haven't taken part in any of it, just hearing the wife complain about it. I mix up Medicaid and Medicare all the time. We live in Texas, so it is probably the state that is making her jump through hoops. This state is run by regular bastards.

[wordpix]

60. These guys are deliberately trying to confuse the American people with their BS

case in point on edit

[wordpix]

61. let's break it down with this quote in light of the USSA we are fast approaching

a.k.a. the slow motion seizure of the US gov. with Pooty pout's puppet and R's in Congress falling in line as the smell of oil burning makes them drool with carcinogenic pa$$ion.

snip: "their goal in replacing President Obamas health law was to guarantee universal access to health care and coverage, not necessarily to ensure that everyone actually has insurance."

OK, so how are they giving everyone "universal access" while not insuring everyone? Is Vlad Trump going to just take over the insurance industry for the good ol' USSA? More likely, this is R doublespeak as they discuss ways to repeal Ocare without the public's knowledge. Then they can take their time to develop the plan they don't have yet.

[Kablooie]

71. That's what they want you to think. It means universal crappy insurance.

[HassleCat]

2. And a Rolls Royce in every driveway.

Everyone has the "opportunity" to do anything they want.

[The Wielding Truth]

3. What? True Universal or what they said, that it will be available to find and buy?

"Our goal here is to make sure that everybody can buy coverage or find coverage if they choose to, a House leadership aide told journalists on the condition of anonymity at a health care briefing organized by Republican leaders."

[Merlot]

16. It means they want to allow interstate sales of coverage

[baldguy]

25. So, individual states couldn't require actual doctors to decide what is & isn't medically necessary.

[greymattermom]

38. So does that mean

that any woman can get an abortion in, maybe, California?

[haele]

53. Nor can states regulate insurance companies to ensure policies are compliant with laws.

If you're in California, and decide that Patriot Health North Dakota is cheaper, and you maybe didn't look at the fine print on the benefits list just before you click "okay" that state "We have the right to deny any claim for any reason" - or maybe Patriot Health North Dakota will just send you "coupons" for health care for specific providers, services, and pharmacy for the value of how much you've paid on your premiums that year to that point - there's nothing the state of California can do to protect your rights. You have to apply to North Dakota, and maybe their regulations consist of "Cavet Emptor".

Don't laugh. I was employed part time for a year back in the late 1990s, and went without health care that year because the only care I could afford on the market was either a "only covers one doctor's visit with lab-work and x-rays a year and pays 20% on ER visits if you don't have any other insurance coverage" type catastrophic policy - with no dental, or a "Low Cost Health Care" plan where you paid for access to coupons and/or vouchers for a list of services and pharmacy.
Everything else on the market that could be affordable - as in, under $50 a month for a single person in 1998 - was some form of Medi-gap coverage or a bare bones HMO for people that did not have pre-existing conditions that only covered basic doctor visits. I was waiting for a VA appointment to see if I could get VA care while I was still a drilling Reservist when I finally got a new employer and employer provided health care. And that was in California - under Republican control (Pretty Pete Wilson, the developer's best friend...). They were cutting regulations left and right...

Yeah, we had "Universal Access" in the 1990's. So long as you could pay for it, that is. It was pretty much the wild-wild west when it came to health coverage.

Haele

[wordpix]

64. so, the R health care plan is to return to the 1990's Wild West system

Just summarizing for some enterprising journalist to find out more.

"Universal Access," my ass. Just like the "Clear Skies" initiative, it's BS.

[wordpix]

63. "everybody can buy coverage or find coverage" ---is that for poor people, too?

are you covering them according to what they can afford? BTW, Drumpfingers hasn't paid taxes in 20 years and is in bed with Russia, which is shown in his tax docs perhaps.

[Matthew28]

4. If you're rich

WEll, you can live...If you're poor = you're screwed.

[Feeling the Bern]

5. Pardon my cursing, but universal access means fucking what? Something GOP Trumpers assholes

will eat up. . .full of sound and fury and signifying nothing!

American conservatives love smoke and mirrors.

[wordpix]

68. Grand Oligarchy Party is $eizing control with Drumpty a$ their front man

and some "moderate" R's like a relative of mine are then are shocked that Trumpty becomes the R candidate and is now pres. trying to defend Putin from hacking in our election.

Pooty pout needs his wings trimmed and so does the Don.

[elmac]

8. Universal Access means

if you can't afford $10,000 a month for insurance we will see that you get a pass for free access to Universal Studios before you die.

[Fast Walker 52]

51. LOL

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. "everybody can buy coverage or find coverage" Where do you find coverage?

Under a rock? What kind of shit is this?

[Solly Mack]

11. Universal access is a meaningless term meant to sound like it does something it doesn't do.

Universal means applicable to all - health insurance was already open to everyone. (If you could afford it)

Access means, in this case, to obtain - people could already obtain health insurance (If you could afford it)

The GOP is trying to make as if they are offering something new. They're offering up the pre-ACA days and hoping idiots will see it has something new, different, and better.

"If you choose to"

- means if you can't afford it and don't buy it then you obviously don't choose to have health insurance. It's a dig at the mandatory coverage penalty, as well. Government shouldn't force you to have insurance, so we're making it so it is your choice. The GOP is bringing you the freedom to die from otherwise curable illnesses.

I really hate Republicans and conservatives and whatever else they want to call themselves.

[Deuce]

52. That's about it, something to fool the ill-informed...they are just "evil".

[SunSeeker]

12. People already have "universal access." Anyone can buy any coverage if they have the money.

But of course, without the ACA's premium subsidies, access is meaningless.

Without the ACA, there will be no premium support, so if a a basic insurance plan is unaffordable, the working poor will go back to using the ER as your healthcare...and dying.

[subterranean]

13. I'm sure everyone will be able to find coverage.

Doesn't mean they'll be able to buy it, but they can find it if they look for it.

[C Moon]

14. They can't help but lie. Lie and coverup.

It's the only way they can win, because they have nothing to offer the lower and middle (what's left of it) classes.
Yet somehow, many believe them.

[Backwoodsrider]

15. I am afraid "if you had enough money" must be said before about anything in Trumps world

Including luxuries like health, food, water, air.....

[LongTomH]

43. "If you have to ask, you can't afford it!!!"

[Hekate]

17. Reminds me of the old quote about the Law, in its majestic equality, forbidding both the rich & poor

.....from sleeping under bridges.

Universal access. Sure. Majestic equality.

[busterbrown]

18. Fuck Me! I have access to BMW Dealership..

Now what..? On a fixed income living in So.Ca.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

19. The Republican Party is the Ultimate Death Panel n/t

[Crash2Parties]

20. Can they EVER just be honest for one minute???

[moonscape]

21. No n/t

[wordpix]

65. not until they want to change but so far, that change is Don the Con

[still_one]

22. How about single payer?

[resistance2016]

23. I already have "access," just like I have "access" to the planet Mars!!

F'ing USELESS republicans!
If they want me dead so very badly, come to my home and just kill me already! WORTHLESS, SPINELESS COWARDS!!

[DFW]

24. Every American has "universal access" to a 4 week luxury cruise in the Mediterranean, too

All we need is access to that $25000 tax-free bonus the Republicans are going to put in each and every one of our bank accounts.....

[bucolic_frolic]

26. Universal Acce$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Pay as you go

No money? Cash, check, or credit card? Then you're not sick! Move along.

[wordpix]

66. we need to get this message out b/c the lyin stinkin R coup backed by Pooty

needs to go! Universal Acce$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ is right. Everything about these Trumpian R's is fake. Fake names for things, fake credentials (Trump a prime example), and Putin behind it all. Wow.

Personally I would like to stop this now before these R's gain/grab more power. But I am only one person living in the boondocks. However, considering how people like Hitler grabbed power in the past, and it was little by little usually, we really need to find more about Trump's relationship with Russia, the still-not-settled conflicts of interest, and more.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

27. IOW

Get ready to go back to health care coverage being a privilege exclusively for the wealthy. If you're not, you're SOL.

[Chasstev365]

28. The Media will Let the GOP Get Away with the Phrase "Universal"

And dumbasses everywhere will believe it.

[mdbl]

29. using the word "Universal" is just Repuglican double speak

they've been doing it since, um , forever!

[Bear Creek]

40. Con game

The Democrats need to be for Universal Health care and nothing less and make sure that the republicans can not say universal access. The republicans can not control the narratives. If news wont do it run it run advertisements and go on every news and talk show.

[Baitball Blogger]

30. Another play on words, like "No Child left Behind" or "Right to work"

[tanyev]

31. Why, that sounds doubleplusgood.

[hatrack]

33. "Universal Access" - see also: "Compassionate Conservatism", "Affirmative Access"

See also: "bullshit"; "obfuscate"; "lie".

[NBachers]

36. Like everything they do, it'll be a Frankenstein of lies, punishment, and atrocities,

designed to funnel money to their masters. If you ain't got the money, tough, sucker!

[mexit]

37. Republican's Universal Access :

Emergency Rooms for All

[salin]

39. Exactly. And many are on the record saying just that.

[YOHABLO]

41. They think they're so savvy with the play on words: "access" well we had access to health insurance

IF WE COULD G'DMN PAY FOR IT YOU F'ING DUMB ASSES. I HAVE ACCESS TO A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR MANSION.
I HAVE ACCESS TO A NEW CAR. REPUBLICANS JUST DON'T GET IT. WE ARE GOING TO REJECT THEIR PROPOSAL.

[Thor_MN]

42. Universal Access means anybody can co to the Emergecy Room...

These idiots don't have a clue and just want to deny Obama the credit of passing the ACA.

[briv1016]

44. What do you expect from a man who's gone bankrupt 4 times?

Untreated heart condition causes a heart attack. Go to the ER. If you live, you get stuck with a $100,000+ bill. Declare bankruptcy. If you die, the bill goes to spouse or against your estate/life insurance. Your love ones declare bankruptcy.

What's the problem?

[Wounded Bear]

45. It's the usual 'tough love' bullshit....

Can't afford it? Get a better job. See? Problem solved.

[xor]

49. Lost your job 'cause you got sick? You should have thought twice before becoming ill....

or saved up hundred of thousands of dollars to pay for your care out-of-pocket.

[wordpix]

67. My surgery, 12 rounds of chemo, tests, doc visits billed @ $3/4 million inflated med care dollars

now if I get sick again I'm sure I'll get to over $1 million. Of course, this the inflated fantasy land dollar number of med care. Actual cost is much MUCH less but don't ask the gov. or insurance, pharma or providers for real numbers b/c "it's complicated." Seriously, they do contract deals with each other that may have nothing to do with the billed figures.

At least, this is what I've learned about the billing so far. For certain: it's very opaque.

[xor]

74. Wow, that is crazy insane how much they charge for that.

I noticed something similar, but definitely not on that scale. I went to see my doctor for a quick 10-minute visit, and the insurance company was billed $280 or something along those lines. I wasn't a new patient either.

Not sure how long ago you went through all that, but I hope you're doing well now.

[ananda]

46. Well, I guess it is universal access for the only lives that matter.

Meaning the rich and corporate.

The rest of us are not represented here.

[lindysalsagal]

47. Just another GOP weasel: Sounds nice, but deadly.

That's their specialty.

[Fast Walker 52]

50. yep-- great phrase, sounds so positive! Who wouldn't want "universal access"?

Motherfuckers.

[wordpix]

69. great meme: univer$al acce$$$$$$$

from someone above

[yurbud]

48. another GOP success at framing but failure at policy

[wordpix]

72. it plays like a movie: GOP, backed by insurance bullies, arrive in a Wild West town...

will the townspeople get taken over by the thieves and cons, or will they fight back?

[kskiska]

62. My doctor tweeted about this.

We've ALWAYS had "universal access" - here's how it works: 1) you are free to apply for insurance; 2) insurance companies are free to say NO.

[Kablooie]

70. It's exactly what we had before but with a new spiffy name that will fool the fools.

You'll be able to buy health insurance for only 25$ a month!
Wonderful deal.
They won't tell you that it only covers care if you contract smallpox and then only for the first 3 days.
Anything else and you're on your own.

[wordpix]

73. so true. Trump cannot be

sworn in! R's grab for power in every branch of gov. needs to stop. We need to push back; otherwise he and Putin will be quite a team and not in a good way.

[DeminPennswoods]

75. Here's the thing

The ACA has a provision for regional healthcare markets. Any state or states can join another state or states to form a regional market. The states don't even have to be adjoining. Calif could form a market with Georgia if the two states wanted. In fact, all 50 states could form 1 big regional market and voila! universal access and premium subsidies and all the other goodies that go with the ACA.