Have any one heard the news today? I would like to hear some of your opinions on the new health reform legislation that is gong to be signed today (I think) by the Govenor of Massachusetts.

Here is what I heard this morning:

ALL will be required to carry health insurance.

IF you do not you will be fined.

Those making above $50K wil have to pay full price BUT at DRASTICALLY reduced rates.

Those making between 10-15K per year will only pay $2.00 per week! Inbetween will be ajusted accordingly.

Taxes will NOT be raised !

It is NOT Universal health care (Like Canadas) but is done through insurance companies (and they love it) !

This sounds like a real winner and looks to have full support.



Thoughts ??

It is a form of universal health care because much of the cost of the program comes from the federal and state government. Income taxes at the federal level are not being "raised" only because the federal government borrows from China and Saudi Arabia to finance the deficit. At the state level a tax is being imposed on businesses. They are calling it a "fee". It's a tax.

Individuals will be taxed, not fined, for not buying insurance. Again, taxes are in fact being raised.

It is very likely that insurance companies won't be able to offer the insurance at the rates being quoted now. The cost of mandated coverage, for infertility treatment for example, puts a huge upward pressure on insurance rates in Massachusetts. There are about 16 or 17 mandated coverages, not required in other states, that double the cost of health insurance for Massachusetts residents. I could get health insurance for 1/2 as much if I lived across the state line.

It's a bold plan, but one that may still fail due to many loose ends and uncertainties. There's a lot of "pie in the sky" being bandied about.

The plan depends heavily on federal and state money.

Despite the hype, taxes in fact are being raised on individuals and businesses.

Yes,


Supposably, Massachusetts has about 1 billion dollars a year that they are spending, and have been spending on healthcare right now. The idea (the way I heard it) was to take the 1 billion and use it to help, and make sure ALL have coverage.
But I do have some questions..
In time cost may EXCEED the 1 billion...so what then? A tax increase? How much? Or will extra cost fall on the individual?


But as to Universal healthcare it does differ a great deal. For one it is migrating through private insurance companies as opposed to Federal or State beuracracies. AND it can be used at privately ran hospitals as opposed to some sort State run Hospitals. Also, CHOICE (hopefully) would remain. Choice of doctors, whereas in a Universal system you would be ASSIGNED a doctor which you would HAVE to use.
The plan looks to be market based, though subsidized for lower income individuals.

I fully support the idea.
Romney has vetoed provisions that will charge/fine/tax companies that do NOT provide proper coverage for their employees but those line vetos will surely be reinstalled by legislative override.

Now if they could ONLY figure out a way to get the insurance companies' fingers out of the pie. They eat 28% up of the costs (compared to Medicare which takes less than 4%,) MA could wind up with not only complete coverage for everyone, but CHEAPER coverage to boot.

I hope GWB, Cheney, HAstert and Frist all feels secure with their socialized medicine provided by U.S. taxpayers.:D

I pray NJ takes the same step, even though for me it will be moot...I'll have Medicare in a couple years!

I'm from MA, and I support the idea, although it's a compromise. First of all, if we want insurance to come from the workplace, then employers should offer it. The vetoed Mass. penalty for not offering insurance (in companies with greater than 11 employees) is $295 a year per employee. If we want government to offer insurance, then we should go to a single payer system. Health insurance companies make huge profits, so they work in their own interests. The Massachsetts plan tries to fit all these pieces together. I do like the requirement that people can't opt out of buying insurance simply because they don't want it. These same people will want expensive care if they get sick or have an accident. I'm proud of my adopted state for taking on this very difficult issue.