When does the individual mandate kick in?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

I am conflicted about the Public Option (politically)

Single-payer: great. Medicare available to all: great. Robust Public Option that changes how business is done for real: very good.

I am, however, conflicted about the weaker PO we get in the scenarios where we get any PO at all.

I don't like the politics of going into 2012 without a single American actually being part of the Public Option yet, which seems to be the case with even the strongest House plan. (it is said that the earliest enrolees would be 2013)

This question is primarily one of politics, not policy. As a matter of policy I support even a weak ***NATIONAL*** PO as a foot in the door. (State-by-State POs probably forestall an efficient national PO down the road so I don't like that idea.)

Question: When does the individual mandate kick in?

I support a mandate as one part of a comprehensive approach, but the politics of a mandate becoming effective without a government option being available to fulfill the mandate seems like a loser.

(If nothing else, perhaps the Federal Govt. can bargain for a few million private policies to resell at cost so at least you have the option of writing your check to the govt. if push comes to shove)

While I am asking questions... when do the pre-existing condition and recission reforms take effect?

[dionysus]

1. a mandate with no public option is a loser. my question to you is,

there is no bill final yet, how do you know it will even be in there and in what form?

[Davis_X_Machina]

4. A purchase mandate with no public option, and fines for non-compliance...

...preferred 2-1 over status quo ante in the only state with a mandate. Repeal -- a whopping 11%.

Mandates aren't automatically political dioxin.

[dionysus]

5. i know, my point is, why are people bitching about shit that doesn't yet, and may not ever, exist?

[Davis_X_Machina]

6. You missed the calls on here for civil disobedience...

...and the predictions of widespread rioting when the mandate passes.

People love a good wind-up. It's why they come here rather than, say Booman Tribune.

[emulatorloo]

2. 4 of the 5 bill have the public option. One of the bills is extremely punitive about mandates, the

others aren't

Baucus = no public options, punitive about mandates

So that is 4 to one. I wish the media would report on the other bills and not act like Baucus Fiasco is going to be the final bill as is.

[Clio the Leo]

3. That makes two of us. NT

[grantcart]

7. When it gets out of conference committee I will let you know.

There is another advantage of a "less than perfect" PO.

1)It establishes Health Care for all as a matter of policy of the federal government.

2)HC reform is forcing the government to take a 'global' perspective in terms of handling total health care costs as a percent of GNP and measured by health care outcomes.


These two changes in the way the American people think about health care, have in fact already been won by the President. Over the long term they will have a huge impact on health care in America.



(CNN is now running the story about domestic violence being an unreasonable preexisting condition for getting health care as I speak. While we are not getting the solution that we want, we have won the framing question of how we look at health care.)

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

8. wise guy...

:hi: