The Freedom to Choose a Plan and the Right to Choose Your Own Doctor

FISMA

"The Freedom to Choose a Plan and the Right to Choose Your Own Doctor." Sound familiar? Actually, this comes from 1994 Clinton White House (WH) cited in the Clinton papers recently released.

In a memo between the WH and an aide:

"We have a line on p. 10 that says 'You'll pick the health plan and doctor of your choice.' This sounds great and I know that it's just what people want to hear. But can we get away with it? Isn't the whole thrust of our health plan to steer people toward cheaper, HMO-style providers? It's one thing to say we'll preserve your option to pick the doctor of your choice (recognizing that this will cost more), it's quite another to appear to promise the nation that everyone will get to pick the doctor of his or her choice. And that's exactly what this line does. I am very worried about getting skewered or over-promising here on something we know full well we won't deliver."

It appears that from the release of these documents that:

1. The Clinton's were concerned with over-promising.
2. Hillarycare would result in a "hefty tax."
3. the Clinton WH knew health care costs would go up even as Hillary courted House members with a promise that health care costs would not go up.

Glad to see that Obama didn't make the same mistakes.

Amerika

I believe Obama wanted a presidential legacy at any cost. And he got one. Doesn’t matter that the people mostly hate it, he changes the law at will, and pretty much nothing he promised to get it passed was true... he will forever tout it as his grand success -- equivalent to the fight for independence, the abolition of slavery, the civil rights movement, and the second coming. Unfortunately for Senate democrats, Obama’s signature legislation could very well be the deathblow to vulnerable Senate Democrats in the 2014 election that will likely turn it over to the GOP.

InTheTrees

It must totally mystify people outside the United States as to why the Republican party is against universal healthcare.

sin_city

InTheTrees wrote: »

It must totally mystify people outside the United States as to why the Republican party is against universal healthcare.

Because it increases costs for consumers and causes many employees to have to work under 30 hours (Obamacare)

FISMA

Last check, Obamacare wasn't lowering the "typical family's premium by up to $2,500 a year." Even Sebelius is expecting higher premiums after already having increased premiums.

Since the beginning, Obamacare's success has hinged on young people singing up. However, at the same time Obama allowed "young people" to stay on the parents health care until 26. I don't see the logic here. He gives an "out" to those upon which the financial stability of the program was critical?

Anyhow, young healthy people are not signing up as expected. However, there was the individual mandate. But, now there is an exemption that negates the mandate.

So how is this to be paid?

I am sure there are many on this forum that support Obamacare. However, I bet you do not have Obamacare or will ever have to. Does anyone here have Obamacare? Has anyone tried?

Black Swan

InTheTrees wrote: »

It must totally mystify people outside the United States as to why the Republican party is against universal healthcare.

Essentially the only major difference between RomneyCare and ObamaCare is that the 1st applies to the State of MA, and the 2nd to the US. Both force their citizens to enroll in a private-for-profit medical insurance corporation plan or be penalized. Both ended up being more costly than originally promised by both Romney and Obama.

The biggest difference between the two plan proponents was that former Gov Romney is a Republican, and Pres Obama is a Democrat, and both their opposing Republican and Democratic supporters seem to forget that the essential contents of their respective health care plans were more similar than different.

comongethappy

InTheTrees wrote: »

It must totally mystify people outside the United States as to why the Republican party is against universal healthcare.

Irish people dont seem keen on obligatory health insurance as planned by Fine Gael.

Brian?

comongethappy wrote: »

Irish people dont seem keen on obligatory health insurance as planned by Fine Gael.

Entirely different situation. Ireland already had a public health system which theoretically provides affordable healthcare to the entire population. It's terribly managed so a 2 tier system has evolved whereby people with private medical insurance essentially skip the queue.

comongethappy

Brian? wrote: »

Entirely different situation. Ireland already had a public health system which theoretically provides affordable healthcare to the entire population. It's terribly managed so a 2 tier system has evolved whereby people with private medical insurance essentially skip the queue.

Do you think Irish people will welcome 'Oreillycare'??

The HSE costs approx €13 billion annually.
That's €2,800 per man, woman & child, young & old.

Big bills!

Is it fair to scoff US republicans for opposing UHI, when Ireland faces a very similar situation in 2019 (if it happens on schedule).

Brian?

comongethappy wrote: »

Do you think Irish people will welcome 'Oreillycare'??

The HSE costs approx €13 billion annually.
That's €2,800 per man, woman & child, young & old.

Big bills!

Is it fair to scoff US republicans for opposing UHI, when Ireland faces a very similar situation in 2019 (if it happens on schedule).

You missed my point. We have universal healthcare, it's just terribly run. There is no such alternative in the US.

The proposed system is modelled on the Dutch system.

comongethappy

What is universal about the Irish healthcare system?
€50 for 10 mins of a GPs time doesn't feel very 'universal'.

I hear your point, I just wonder will Irish people still be critical of Republican opposition to obamacare when we are all paying 2k each for insurance whether we want to or not?

ChicagoJoe

InTheTrees wrote: »

It must totally mystify people outside the United States as to why the Republican party is against universal healthcare.

As far as I can see, Americans, wouldn't even know what's in their plans and what they're required to pay for directly or indirectly. Big Brother rules I'm afraid.