Here Is An Objective Look At Just What's In The Plan Outlined By The President Last Night!

[DaLittle Kitty]

So put the "KoolAid" back in the refrigerator and get a grip on The FACTS!


http://www.apj.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2594&Itemid=2

What Obama Actually Said About Health Reform Print E-mail
Written by Michael Collins
Thursday, 10 September 2009
"Even if everything worked perfectly for the uninsured, the president said, "This exchange will take effect in four years, which will give us time to do it right." If that's the criterion, do it right, it will take a lot longer than four more years before the uninsured benefit."

Michael Collins takes a look at President Obama's high-voltage health insurance reform speech last night.
1965 - President Lyndon Johnson signs Medicare bill while President Harry Truman looks on. Truman signed up for Medicare right away.
1965: President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Medicare bill while President Harry S. Truman looks on. Truman signed up for Medicare right away. Image credit

September 10, 2009 – Washington, DC (The Money Party) – President Obama closed his address to the joint session of Congress by scolding those who have raised the absurd charges regarding his health care initiative. It was well timed and diverted attention from fundamental flaws in his proposal.

This article examines the Obama plan as outlined in his speech. His goals were clear and the speech was well structured. The heart of the address provides the type of information necessary to judge the merits of the plan as presented.

Obama got serious when he said, "The plan I'm announcing tonight would meet three basic goals:

"It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance.

"It will provide insurance to those who don't.

"And it will slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government." Pres. Barack Obama, Sept. 9

Cost and availability are the core issues in health care today. They subsume all others. What's missing here? Instead of universal coverage, the uninsured get "insurance," most likely private insurance, if they can afford it. Instead of beating back prices or bold initiatives to reduce them, we're hearing "slow the growth." Health care costs are unaffordable to many already. The promise here seems to be that they'll still be unaffordable, just less so.

"Bending the curve" may happen but it fails to address the key problem -- people can't afford insurance rates and medical bills. As a result they get sick more, suffer more, and die before their time.

"Here are the details that every American needs to know about this plan"

Obama detailed the impact of his plan on two distinct groups, those currently with insurance and those without. This is a key distinction since the public option, for example, is available to only those without insurance.



...The health care "exchange" that was part of Obama's campaign proposal is not available to those with insurance: :think:

"But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange. Let me be clear – it would only be an option for those who don't have insurance." Sept. 9

We're left to assume that "keeping the "insurance companies honest" is only a benefit saved for those citizens who are uninsured.



...What if you don't have a job? What if you have a job but can't afford the prices on the "exchange?" This was not addressed. :think:

The president elaborated his argument for the "exchange:"

"Insurance companies will have an incentive to participate in this exchange because it lets them compete for millions of new customers." Sept. 9

Who are the members of this group that the insurance companies will so desire? They're the uninsured, the people who get sicker more frequently and have great medical needs because they're uninsured. Is that an appealing market for companies who are in the business of excluding sick people? Is there some major group of very healthy uninsured ready to balance out the generally poor, low income uninsured?

To further bolster the insurance "exchange," Obama offered this argument: :think:

"As one big group, these customers will have greater leverage to bargain with the insurance companies for better prices and quality coverage. This is how large companies and government employees get affordable insurance." Sept. 9

No it isn't. The largest companies have "self funded" health insurance plans. They don't buy insurance coverage from the Blue Crosses of the world. They set up a fund for benefits that pays for employee health care. They hire out the administration of benefits to private insurance companies who issue checks and reimbursements but that money is from large companies. The entire "exchange" argument is based on a factual error. Since the assumption of competition underlies the "exchange," the plan crumbles for those without insurance.