Public health plan...

[Down With PMP 0]

Kind of like the bills NYC sends the UN for all those unpaid parking tickets. It makes New Yorkers feel good but they know they'll never collect.

[AlHayatZween 2]

Kind of like the bills NYC sends the UN for all those unpaid parking tickets. It makes New Yorkers feel good but they know they'll never collect.

Or the untaxed salaries of UN employees who have lived/worked/used city services here for years at a time... but i digress...

[mawilson 2,133]

Ok, Cover everyone. I'l take my share. But......

How is this paid for?? Seriously? I have probally been sleeping and missed the news but what have they come up with to pay for this??

Maybe the economic minds of VJ can shed some light on this subject.

The government estimates the plan will cost between 1 and 2 trillion dollars over the next 10 years.

They are exploring several options:

1) Taxing existing healthcare benefits. Taxing them in full would raise 2 trillion dollars and would be

enough to pay for everything. Obama doesn't like this option because it's too disruptive. He may

end up going after "the rich" (as usual) and partially taxing their benefits (above certain levels.)

2) Eliminating some of the deduction for "the rich". Obama prefers this option, but it won't be enough -

more taxation is needed.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Ok, Cover everyone. I'l take my share. But......

How is this paid for?? Seriously? I have probally been sleeping and missed the news but what have they come up with to pay for this??

Maybe the economic minds of VJ can shed some light on this subject.

The government estimates the plan will cost between 1 and 2 trillion dollars over the next 10 years.

They are exploring several options:

1) Taxing existing healthcare benefits. Taxing them in full would raise 2 trillion dollars and would be

enough to pay for everything. Obama doesn't like this option because it's too disruptive. He may

end up going after "the rich" (as usual) and partially taxing their benefits (above certain levels.)

2) Eliminating some of the deduction for "the rich". Obama prefers this option, but it won't be enough -

more taxation is needed.

This won't pass if the price tag exceeds $1tn. So, it'll be at or around $1tn - at least on paper.

The taxation of health benefits, btw, is based on the value of the benefit rather than the income of the taxed. So, while this tax would be hitting people in higher tax brackets harder, it's not technically a tax on the rich. Of course, it is typically the better compensated that enjoy these "Cadillac plans" that would be subject to the tax.

I read somewhere that they're discussing an exemption of about 17.5K for family plans and 6.8K for individuals. That would leave me about 5K away from the threshold for the plan I currently have for my family - at the current cost, of course...

[My Name Is Nobody 3]

Ok, Cover everyone. I'l take my share. But......

How is this paid for?? Seriously? I have probally been sleeping and missed the news but what have they come up with to pay for this??

Maybe the economic minds of VJ can shed some light on this subject.

The government estimates the plan will cost between 1 and 2 trillion dollars over the next 10 years.

They are exploring several options:

1) Taxing existing healthcare benefits. Taxing them in full would raise 2 trillion dollars and would be

enough to pay for everything. Obama doesn't like this option because it's too disruptive. He may

end up going after "the rich" (as usual) and partially taxing their benefits (above certain levels.)

2) Eliminating some of the deduction for "the rich". Obama prefers this option, but it won't be enough -

more taxation is needed.

I have been trying to figure out what is going to happen if we get goverment care. Goverment programs never go as planned (never). Something unexpected shows up.

What is going to happen in the private sector ( something will) which will counteract what the goverment is wanting? The private sector will always do things better than the goverment.

How will businesses try to side step this? What will the so called rich do to keep from putting their money towards goverment health care for everyone?

This will be interesting.

[HAL 9000 96]

My search turned up tons and tons of articles about it. I give up. Carry on.

@HAL: I didn't know computers needed a dentist?

My human host does sister Amby. And that host smiles a lot.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The private sector will always do things better than the goverment.

Really? Is that why our health care system is so superior to that of other developed nations putting us far on top in tems of cost and at the bottom in terms of overall outcome? Interesting.

[mawilson 2,133]

The private sector will always do things better than the goverment.

Really? Is that why our health care system is so superior to that of other developed nations putting us far on top in tems of cost and at the bottom in terms of overall outcome? Interesting.

It could be worse, you know.

[AlHayatZween 2]

I have been trying to figure out what is going to happen if we get goverment care. Goverment programs never go as planned (never). Something unexpected shows up.

What is going to happen in the private sector ( something will) which will counteract what the goverment is wanting? The private sector will always do things better than the goverment.

How will businesses try to side step this? What will the so called rich do to keep from putting their money towards goverment health care for everyone?

This will be interesting.

While i agree that the government isn't the greatest deliverer of services, there have been times when i had to go to public health clinics, and they weren't as scary or disorganized as you'd think... Lots of times the doctors were nicer than the regular docs i'd see when i was either paying out of pocket or with private insurance.

If the private sector had its head on straight, they'd start providing more kinds of quality coverage at lower & competitive costs. People will purchase it if it is affordable, same as other insurance... this is what i'd like to think anyhow...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The private sector will always do things better than the goverment.

Really? Is that why our health care system is so superior to that of other developed nations putting us far on top in tems of cost and at the bottom in terms of overall outcome? Interesting.

It could be worse, you know.

Yes, of course. But it also could be a heck of a lot better. The private sector hasn't exactly done well here on health care and is outperformed by any government system in any developed country in the world. Hence, the statement I initially quoted seems a bit off, to say the least.

[mawilson 2,133]

Yes, of course. But it also could be a heck of a lot better. The private sector hasn't exactly done well here on health care and is outperformed by any government system in any developed country in the world. Hence, the statement I initially quoted seems a bit off, to say the least.

Right - but we should be comparing *our* private sector with *our* government, not our private sector and other countries' governments.

Edited June 26, 2009 by mawilson

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Yes, of course. But it also could be a heck of a lot better. The private sector hasn't exactly done well here on health care and is outperformed by any government system in any developed country in the world. Hence, the statement I initially quoted seems a bit off, to say the least.

Right - but we should be comparing *our* private sector with *our* government, not our private sector and other countries' governments.

The bolded statement includes the US government. It makes do with far less red tape and provides for care much more cost efficient than the private sector. I'd venture out to say that if the government wouldn't be burdened with only the old and poor - those that naturally cost more than they contribute - we'd be in much better shape today.

[My Name Is Nobody 3]

Ok, Goverment is going to make healthcare avalible for all Americans.

Will businesses cease to make healthcare avalible for their employees since the goverment is going to cover them?

Why should they pay for it if Uncle Sam will?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Ok, Goverment is going to make healthcare avalible for all Americans.

Will businesses cease to make healthcare avalible for their employees since the goverment is going to cover them?

Why should they pay for it if Uncle Sam will?

The pulic option that is being discussed is not where Uncle Sam is paying for it but a plan that you can purchase if you either don't have any other plan available to you or if you feel that the public plan is better for you than what you have. In other words, it's an option primarily for those that don't have an option at all today. It's not free to those that want to enroll.

[My Name Is Nobody 3]

Ok, Goverment is going to make healthcare avalible for all Americans.

Will businesses cease to make healthcare avalible for their employees since the goverment is going to cover them?

Why should they pay for it if Uncle Sam will?

The pulic option that is being discussed is not where Uncle Sam is paying for it but a plan that you can purchase if you either don't have any other plan available to you or if you feel that the public plan is better for you than what you have. In other words, it's an option primarily for those that don't have an option at all today. It's not free to those that want to enroll.

What do you think businesses will do? They will dump their plans. Its a big expense for them anyway. They will think good riddance. Then we will have 300 million on the public plan.