Letters
Smidgen of care
Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, Reps. Michael Michaud and Chellie Pingree, need to be reminded that, as federal employees, they enjoy a federal health-care option similar to the one which is being proposed for the rest of us in the health care reform package.
With approximately 8.5 million employees, from members of Congress to the lowest on the federal totem pole, the plan is in a position to negotiate policies and premiums with many insurers. Rates are reasonable because of the large pool of members. Plans are available to meet every enrollee's health insurance needs and budget, and include spouses and children. Enrollment cannot be denied because of pre-existing conditions, nor can benefits be cut off in the event of catastrophic illness and astronomical costs. Participants chose their own health care providers. The program is reported to be responsive to claimants, administratively effective and financially sound.
What's good for the goose should be good for the gander.
In the meantime, while enjoying their neat health care package, they should at least show a smidgen of concern for the rest of us.
John B. Muir, Auburn
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Look, we're already paying
Look, we're already paying for healthcare for deadbeats and illegal immigrants. Why not bring paying consumers into the system so everyone gets care? It's interesting that the loudest opponents are people who already get Medicare.
. ...You are right , Mr.
. ...You are right , Mr. Muir ? Your elected officials provide you with a great dis-service in your State on many important levels . The current public options as we understand them are Medicare , Medicaid , Social Security and the VA hospital system . Who wants to discard them , Gil ? Not even you . You may need them some day . After the mess of the last eight years , no body is advocating privatizing social security , Republican Bush backers . What a debacle t h a t would have turned out to be :)
verified Great letter, Mr. Muir. If
Great letter, Mr. Muir.
If they won't cover us under the same plan they have, then, they should be required to drop what they have and suffer along with what the rest of us get thrown at us. Never happen....
verified "....offering policies
"....offering policies across state lines which allows for more competition and better pricing." How is that? Health Insurance Companies are not covered by anti-monopoly laws. If they were allowed, and they are now, to sell insurance in all the states, they would not do it. They have sat together and divided up the insurance market so that each of them maximizes their profits which have grown by 428% in 6 years. They are not going to mess that up.
Jon Albrecht Dixfield
Again, you need to cite your
Again, you need to cite your sources, although I notice that once asked to prove your allegations you seem to disappear.
"Reasoning with a liberal is like trying to pick up a turd by the clean end. " Pirate
Well put John. Funny how
Well put John. Funny how Snowe and Collins are against the public option while being covered by a comprehensive program modeled on the public option.
Any problem that can't be solved with taxcuts, republicans pretend doesn't exist.
Except that it is not
Except that it is not modeled on the public option. For starters, they are offered several plans to choose from instead of forcing them to choose one under threat of fines and jail time. The companies they use are offering policies across state lines which allows for more competition and better pricing. You should really get a definition of "Public Option". It is not some mysterious, magical thing that takes away all of the pain of health insurance. It is the Federal Government taking over health care and running it with the efficiency of the Post Office, or the DMV. It will begin as an option, but with unlimited funds (taxpayers money), they can undercut any Insurance companies premiums, effectively running them out of business (creating thousands of newly unemployed, and thus, uninsured). It also places the government in a unique situation of power over the Insurance companies. It becomes like playing a game against the referees. If the government doesn't like how the game is going, they can just change the rules. The public option takes taxpayer dollars and provides "health care" to those, like you, who don't pay taxes in an apparent power grab and voter grab. Stop expecting others to take care of you, grow up, and take some responsibility.
"Reasoning with a liberal is like trying to pick up a turd by the clean end. " Pirate
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