13 Oct 09
I predict that the Senate will pass some sort of universal package minus the single payer option and Obama will declare success. Then as the costs sky rocket, even more than theyt are now, the nay sayers regarding the single payer option will be villified and they will make another attempt at incorporating it.
13 Oct 09
Originally posted by whodeyI agree that something will pass and that Obama and the dems will declare success. I can make no predictions about what will happen in terms of costs relative to current projections, but I can pretty much guarentee that the evaluations made by both the advocates and the opponents of the bill can be well-predicted now regardless of how things actually turn out. Unfortunately, this extends beyond politicians to a significant fraction of the US population as well.
I predict that the Senate will pass some sort of universal package minus the single payer option and Obama will declare success. Then as the costs sky rocket, even more than theyt are now, the nay sayers regarding the single payer option will be villified and they will make another attempt at incorporating it.
13 Oct 09
Originally posted by whodey"single payer option" is an oxymoron. I think you mean public option. A single payer system is not on the table.
I predict that the Senate will pass some sort of universal package minus the single payer option and Obama will declare success. Then as the costs sky rocket, even more than theyt are now, the nay sayers regarding the single payer option will be villified and they will make another attempt at incorporating it.
I'm on record supporting some version of a public option (an expansion of Medicare or Medicaid), so it would be hypocritical of me to simply hope the plan fails just to get a better shot in the 2010 midterms.
Right now, we spend more on healthcare than any other country and our returns do not justify that expenditure. I don't know exactly what would be the best way to improve that, but I'd rather something be done than nothing.
13 Oct 09
Originally posted by whodeyExcept for public option instead of single payer, you're probably close to the mark.
I predict that the Senate will pass some sort of universal package minus the single payer option and Obama will declare success. Then as the costs sky rocket, even more than theyt are now, the nay sayers regarding the single payer option will be villified and they will make another attempt at incorporating it.
I'm worried that without a public option this will end of being a highly profitable venture for the inmsurance companies. In that event costs may rise with the increased profits. Ain't no way that these health insurance gougers would in any way ty to be more efficient at the risk of not INCREASING profits. There is little public interest for these public raping fat cats.
13 Oct 09
Originally posted by badmoonit all comes down to how much competition there exists in each insurance market.
Except for public option instead of single payer, you're probably close to the mark.
I'm worried that without a public option this will end of being a highly profitable venture for the inmsurance companies. In that event costs may rise with the increased profits. Ain't no way that these health insurance gougers would in any way ty to be more efficient a ...[text shortened]... of not INCREASING profits. There is little public interest for these public raping fat cats.
If there are enough different companies offering competing plans, if someone decided to charge overly high premiums, someone else would be quick to rush in with lower premiums and grab all the business. The problems arise when only one or two companies dominate a given market.
If we're not going to have a public option, we need to make sure that each market has a sufficient level of competition -- maybe the public option could be offered in those markets where this competition fails to emerge.
14 Oct 09
Originally posted by eljefejesusThe Senate didn't pass anything yet. The committee passed it, which means the senate gets to vote on it. Whether anything will pass is still uncertain, but what is certain is that whatever passes will change between now and when it is passed.
Senate passed a bill with interesting results. I predict that the burden it places on the middle class will mean back to the drawing boards at some point soon.