Baucus outlines health plan without GOP support

Thursday 17th September, 04:19 AM JST

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15 Comments

zurcronium at 10:29 AM JST - 17th September

Baucus wasted a year trying to work with the just say no republicans. Obama was elected on healthcare reform and it should be done right. Insurance companies add nothing to the process and take out 30% of the payments to them for administrative overhead. Remove them entirely and you have the money to pay for the needed reforms to the whole system. Japan insures all its people at nearly 1/3 the cost mostly due to a public payment system.
30061015 at 10:32 AM JST - 17th September

Baucus’ plan would require insurance companies to sell coverage to all seeking it, without exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions or prohibitively expensive premiums.

If you cant drive in America, you pretty much cant have a job. Without a job, you cant live. So while your at it Baucus, you can force ("require") auto insurers to sell insurance to DUI drivers and those with a history of "pre-existing" moving traffic violations without charging prohibitively expensive premiums.

Lets get govt involved in every aspect of our lives until we become so dependent on govt for solutions that we wont be able to function independently at all on our own !! Fines up to $3,800 for non compliance are fine with us! Do what ever it takes in govt and the media to brain wash us and shape our behavior until we no longer need to make wise choices for ourselves! Thank you for being so concerned about your constituents that we can simply trust you to do the right thing... like you did bailing out the banks, Wall Street and the auto industry!

I feel healthier already.
skipthesong at 11:42 AM JST - 17th September

Japan insures all its people at nearly 1/3 the cost mostly due to a public payment system." Which is starting to break and those so called lies dems were accusing even us independents are for the most part true in Japan. Nobody in their right mind would debate that the health insurance needs to change, but what is wanted and being touted is not the answer.

The other poster above leaves me with a good question: the whole debate springs off "this is for those that can't afford it". Well, many people can barely afford a car, house, and food. Should we start putting all that out there too? After this what's next?

As a person who is married to a doctor in Japan, I'll be damned if I am forced to into a health care system such as Japan's in my own country. If forced to comply with what is proposed, I prefer to lay off a few staff.

I suggest many of you read "Dying in a Japanese Hospital" if you want to compare.
adaydream at 12:02 PM JST - 17th September

Without the public option you might as well not print the damn thing. It won't be worth squat. I'd rather not pass anything and let the republicans take the fall for no health care plan. We need something like this to vote in more democrats and toss out more republicans.

I can't believe how intensely republicans are fighting to keep insurance companies robbing everyday people. How the republicans would rather protect insurance companies while they are stuffing their pockets with as much as the market can steal.

Pretty sick. < :-)
Kapuna at 01:40 PM JST - 17th September

The democrats control both houses of congress, they do not need Republican support. They can pass anything they want. The problem is they dont' know what they need to get it passed.
Molenir at 06:18 PM JST - 17th September

Without the public option you might as well not print the damn thing. It won't be worth squat. I'd rather not pass anything and let the republicans take the fall for no health care plan. We need something like this to vote in more democrats and toss out more republicans.

The public isn't stupid enough to buy this. If nothing passes, and with the legislation in its current form, I hope it doesn't, Republicans aren't going to be held accountable for its failure. The American people know they don't have control of anything at the moment. They cannot stop it. Which means Dems are going to pay for both bringing up the issue, and threatening the American people with it, as well as for failing to then pass it.
skipthesong at 06:47 PM JST - 17th September

putting a bill out without GOP support and let's not forget a number of dem support, may prove detrimental come elections. The far left has really gone too far. Since we see so much bickering, even kid like at that, between Dems and Repubs, how about putting the drawing up of the bill in the independents' hands?
Wolfpack at 07:03 PM JST - 17th September

A large number of Democrats will not support President Obama's socialist health care system. Socialized medicine in the US is dead. Time to shift over to more realistic solutions; start with lessening government control and allowing insurers to compete across state lines.
Sarge at 07:23 PM JST - 17th September

"start with lessening government control"

Can't do that for another four years. Sucks, huh?
seijichuudo9sha at 08:48 PM JST - 17th September

85 percent of Americans are satisfied with their health care.Trouble is, that's 85 percent of the country that doesn't know how racist they really are deep down.
RomeoRamenII at 01:33 AM JST - 18th September

Baucus' plan calls to fine people for not having insurance in violation of the 10th Amendment.
Molenir at 07:11 AM JST - 18th September

85 percent of Americans are satisfied with their health care.Trouble is, that's 85 percent of the country that doesn't know how racist they really are deep down.

I believe those numbers are right, but then with polls it comes down to what questions are asked, and how they're asked. 85% may be satisfied with their health care, but oddly enough 34 percent are in favor of the government health care plan. Of course 34 % is a hell of a long way from a majority, and considering the vast majority of people are opposed to it...
adaydream at 02:31 PM JST - 18th September

allowing insurers to compete across state lines

Insurance companies don't want this. That would put more competition against companies that have a lock on a state.

Trouble is, that's 85 percent of the country that doesn't know how racist they really are deep down.

seijichuudo9sha do you consider yourself in that 85%? < :-)
4thEstateDotCom at 03:14 PM JST - 18th September

45 percent of American doctors polled have said they will consider quitting their practice if the Democratic party rams through the health care proposals now before Congress, in part because the proposed legislation does not include TORT reform.

It never occurred to the Democrats to ask any of the professionals affected by their proposals - other than fat cat trial lawyers that is.
Molenir at 03:42 PM JST - 18th September

Insurance companies don't want this. That would put more competition against companies that have a lock on a state.

And your point is what? We're talking health care reform here, not what the insurance companies want. What is best for Americans. Do you honestly believe that because we oppose Obamas socialist agenda, that we aren't interested in change?