Republican Alternative To Obamacare

This whole argument for shutting down the government is stupid. Here's why..

For the sake of fairness I will introduce you to the Republican's Study Committee alternative plan they released on September 18, 2013. This will be followed with my remarks below.

Some cut/pastes from the Republican's 'American Health Care Reform Act' (H.R. 3121 Bill Text)
TITLE I — REPEAL OF OBAMACARE
TITLE V—REFORMING MEDICAL LIABILITY LAW
Sec. 502. Compensating patient injury.
     (a) UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF DAMAGES FOR ACTUAL ECONOMIC LOSSES IN HEALTH CARE LAWSUITS.
     (b) ADDITIONAL NONECONOMIC DAMAGES.—In any 2 health care lawsuit, the amount of noneconomic damages, if available, may be as much as $250,000, regardless of the number of parties against whom the action is brought or the number of separate claims or actions brought with respect to the same injury.

SEC. 503. MAXIMIZING PATIENT RECOVERY.
(a) COURT SUPERVISION OF SHARE OF DAMAGES ACTUALLY PAID TO CLAIMANTS.... In no event shall the total of all contingent fees for representing all claimants in a health care lawsuit exceed the following limits:
     40.0%- 1st $50,000
     33.3%- Next $50,000
     25.0%- Next $500,000
     15.0%- anything over $600,000

SEC. 504. PUNITIVE DAMAGES.
MAXIMUM AWARD.—The amount of punitive damages, if awarded, in a health care lawsuit may be as much as $250,000 or as much as two times the amount of economic damages awarded, whichever is greater.

LIABILITY OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.— A health care provider who prescribes, or who dispenses pursuant to a prescription, a medical product approved, licensed, or cleared by the Food and Drug Administration shall not be named as a party to a product liability lawsuit involving such product and shall not be liable to a claimant in a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer, distributor, or seller of such product.
A Few Comparisons Between Both
* According to the committee's two page summary a family with a $15,000 plan would receive an additional $5,000 tax deduction.
Somewhat similar to the 'subsidies' provided under the 'Affordable Health Care for America Act'

* Medical lawsuits and lawyer fees- One of the biggest failings under AHCAA is it doesn't address either of these issues.

* Both force health insurance companies to provide policies for those with preexisting conditions.

* The Republican plan doesn't address yearly or lifetime caps whereas the AHCAA does.

* Under the Republican plan, approved plans could be purchased across state lines. Whereas under the AHCAA, policies must be purchased under an 'exchange' in the area in which one resides.


REMARKSFirst off, nobody on the left side of the aisle is going to give once inch once they read the very first line at the top of Republican plan that calls for the repeal of 'Obamacare'. It's adversarial. It will only cause Democrats to dig in their heels. This kind of statement serves little purpose other then to provoke further division.

It's quite clear before both sides stuck their fingers in their ears and started screeching at one another, they were on the right tract. I like several of the ideas the Republican study committee came up with. I also like the parts of the AHCAA act that were not included in the Republican plan.

Differences.. What differences?
     Except for their political stubbornness, both sides are almost in agreement

Here's what I suggest. Call it my 'GYST' (get your shit together) plan.
(1) Pass the federal budget and debt ceiling immediately on the condition both sides sincerely commit themselves to (a) forming conference committee between the House and Senate. (b) That both sides agree to appoint moderate members acceptable to each whom are capable of checking their attitudes at the door

(2) Give up this asinine plan to repeal the current AHCAA. Let the plan roll for a few months next year so we actually field test the parts that aren't working. Build on the parts that work. Eliminate the parts that aren't. There's nothing congress can't amend.
Both sides need to release this political choke hold on each other that is putting our nation's well being into a death spiral. I am 100% convinced both they and the American people want mostly the same things that both plans offer. I truly believe the goals are much the same. The differences between the two are how we get there. It's time for congressional members to stop acting like screaming brats who can't have their way. It's disgusting. The time for this crap to end is now!

The main page for the committee's 'Healthcare Reform Act' can be found here at house.gov.


EXTRA STUFF
Reasons Why Government Run Healthcare Is Better
Why Getting Your Health Insurance at Work Could Be Dangerous
(November 22nd, 2007 by Jonathan Pletzke)
"This is how it plays out. You have a certificate of coverage that says you are part of the group insured by the policy issued to your employer. Your employer calls all the shots since they own the policy. They can cancel, modify the plan, switch carriers, or go out of business.

So while your employer may pay the entire cost of your health plan while you are working (let’s say $1200 per month for a family), when you can’t continue working, you’ll have to pay the entire amount yourself. And you’ll need to continue paying this amount for the full term of the COBRA before you are eligible for HIPAA guaranteed insurance. This could be 18 months if you are not disabled, and possibly longer if you are disabled. Once the COBRA benefits have been exhausted, you’ll need to apply for HIPAA guaranteed insurance (the group conversion to individual option). I’ve been told that this will run about $1500 per month for the sick person."

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO: C-Span2: Termination of Individual Health Insurance - House Oversight Committee - 07-17-2008: "A hearing was held on the insurance company practice of "post-claims underwriting" (also known as "rescission"), where an individual health insurance policy is canceled and the premiums returned after a policyholder submits expensive claims, leaving the policyholder with the bills as if they were never insured."


A reminder of what it was like before healthcare reform
Uploaded on Dec 11, 2009- Real People Demand Health Reform: Pre-existing conditions


Oh one more last thing.. a word to the wise: I've read on several other blogs some of the smokers think they are being clever by not disclosing they smoke on their insurance applications. This isn't being clever, it's being stupid. Whether it be on some future Obamacare plan or one's current life/healthcare insurance.. are you really that dumb to think this won't show up in test results? Not one of the plans, now or in the future, will pay for smoking related illnesses if you didn't declare your habit to them. What's more, these plans have every right to drop you entirely for lying. It's called insurance fraud. You may not be prosecuted for it, but your claims sure as hell won't get paid either. Oh they'll be happy to collect payments up until someone request a claim, but I wouldn't bet the farm they are unaware of it.

PS: Current medical tests can detect not only past marijuana and other illegal drug use up to 6 months prior (sometimes even earlier), but prescription drugs that might have taken for preexisting conditions as well. If someone thinks they can cheat the system, think again. These companies didn't just fall off the turnip truck yesterday!