Hillary's $110 billion health plan revealed

[Herman Munster]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070917/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_health_care;_ylt=Ap79AAi7EvsMRwgrY71BSe.yFz4D

Clinton's plan builds on the existing employer-based system of coverage. People who receive insurance through the workplace could continue to do so; businesses, in turn, would be required to offer insurance to employees, or contribute to a government-run pool that would help pay for those not covered. Clinton would also offer a tax subsidy to small businesses to help them afford the cost of providing coverage to their workers.

For individuals and families who are not covered by employers or whose employer-based coverage is inadequate, Clinton would offer expanded versions of two existing government programs: Medicare, and the health insurance plan currently offered to federal employees. Consumers could choose between either government-run program, but aides stress that no new federal bureaucracy would be created under the Clinton plan.

Aides said Clinton will propose several specific measures to pay for her plan, including an end to some of the Bush-era tax cuts for people making more than $250,000 per year. Edwards has vowed to completely repeal the tax cuts for high earners to pay for the cost of his plan, estimated at $90 billion-$120 billion per year, while Obama would pay for his plan in part by letting the tax cuts expire in 2010.

Clinton is also expected to stress several cost-saving measures to help pay for universal coverage. She's already recommended several such proposals, such computerized medical record-keeping and a reduction in federal overpayments to hospitals and health maintenance organizations. She would also promote wellness and disease prevention as a way to reduce costs.

[William769]

1. Thank you Hillary.

[papau]

7. I agree - Edwards plan is now also Hillary's -sort of - and lacking single payer that is the

best we could hope for.

[King Coal]

2. No good. Health care should be completely socialized.

[JTFrog]

3. Just another

nod to the insurance companies. Didn't expect anything better from her.

[Toots]

4. Business is already required to carry Workman's Comp for all their employees

If they are required to carry complete health care for their employees would that eliminate the reason for Workman's Comp or would we be required to carry both. It cost me right now about four thousand dollars a year per employee for Workman's comp. If I have to add another four to six thousand a year for complete health care per employee it certainly won't help my business. I don't understand the redundancy..

[asthmaticeog]

5. Surprise surprise, it sucks asswater.

Thanks for the proposed giveaway to the very industry that's fucking us, Senator.:eyes:

[regnaD kciN]

6. Hillary channels Mitt Romney...

This plan is nothing more than a repackaged "individual mandate" scheme such as the one Mitt Romney instituted in Massachusetts. Do we really need more regurgitated Republican ideas as the "Democratic" solutions to our problems?

[cooolandrew]

8. If worse comes to worst it doesn't sound the worse plan. Kucinich has a stronger plan. At least....

... with Hillary you get a very organised vibe about her, which would tell me she would deliver everything on her list. Over time America could adapt this plan to the Kucinich one, it's a constant apply pressure for America from here on in.