Baucus Submits Compromise Health Plan

[stevedeshazer]

Source: Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON -- After months of deliberations, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus has distributed a plan to overhaul the health system that would cost less than $900 billion over a decade and expand insurance coverage to tens of millions of Americans.

Mr. Baucus's plan requires most Americans to carry health insurance and gives tax credits to low- and middle-income people to help them buy it. But as expected, the proposal wouldn't create the type of government-run health-insurance plan that President Barack Obama has pushed for. Instead, it would create new nonprofit health-insurance cooperatives to compete with private insurers, a compromise aimed at helping draw support from some Republicans and moderate Democrats.

Mr. Baucus's plan is paid for through a series of new revenue increases and spending cuts and is designed not to increase the deficit. It includes a tax on insurance companies when they offer particularly generous health-insurance plans, as well as a new across-the-board fee on insurers. It also makes the government's Medicaid program available to people with slightly higher incomes.

To make it easier to buy insurance, the plan calls for new health-insurance exchanges that would provide standardized information on insurance plans and pricing to make it easier for individuals and small businesses to shop for coverage.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125233977333690447.html?mod=rss_Today%27s_Most_Popular

---

Nothing has changed. Not one thing.

[flyarm]

1. HERE IS FIREDOGLAKE'S TAKE ON IT..

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/09/07/shocking-baucus-bill-transcribes-rahmsnowe-deal-on-triggers/


Baucus Bill: Forcing Americans To Buy Junk Insurance They Can’t Afford to Use
By: Jane Hamsher/B]
Monday September 7, 2009 6:39 am

November 2008: Max Baucus circulates a white paper -- the "generic Democratic health care plan" -- which includes a public plan, and an emphasis on affordability and availability.

September 2009: Max Baucus circulates a health care bill forcing low- to middle-income to buy "junk" insurance they can't afford to use to earn Republican support, which amounts to a giant transfer of wealth to the insurance industry.

We'll be watching closely to see if any members of the veal pen are dragged out to validate this middle class travesty.

[pattmarty]

29. I can't add anything to that. I think that pretty much says it without a.....................

.....................lot of lawyerly/Congressional BS.

[abelenkpe2]

45. Very accurate assessment. nt

[flyarm]

2. DUPE..

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. The repukes have already said they don't want co-ops.

The House has insisted we need a single payer option. He's trying to compromise with the wrong people.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

8. To elaborate.

The only advantage I see to the Baucus bill is it will show the Repukes are not interested in reform.

From the NY Times: People familiar with Mr. Baucus’s plan said it was calculated to appeal to Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Republican of Maine. But, at first glance, they said, it appears unlikely that the proposal, in its current form, could win support from the other Republicans in the “group of six,” Senators Charles E. Grassley of Iowa and Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming.

The group is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, when Congress reconvenes after its August recess. Mr. Baucus is looking for a quick response from the Republicans.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/07/health/policy/07health.html

[Aragorn]

19. thanks

I never figured that out until now.

[AlbertCat]

28. Get rid of the "gang of six"!

If his plan is so good, let the WHOLE COMMITTEE vote on it!

Coward!

[DJ13]

4. Baucus Submits Compromised Health Plan

Title changed to reflect reality.

[SusanaMontana41]

20. Baucus makes me sick

no pun.

[Hawkeye-X]

5. This bill has been rejected by this American

Go back and try again, Bau-cock-us.

[Justitia]

6. Good, now that we got THAT steaming pile of shit out of the way, onto REAL reform.

I am so glad that he released this PRIOR to the president's speech on Wednesday.

We all knew that the Baucus "proposal" was going to be crap, it is, and now we are done w/him and his feckless committee.

Onto the real work.

[nightrain]

23. I am also glad we finally have this proposal out of the way, but what makes you think

there will be real reform? I am extremely skeptical.

[Justitia]

24. It's ok to be skeptical, as long as you don't stop pushing - hard.

This is the closest we've come in over 40 yrs. We are right on that edge.

Healthcare access for all Americans has been NOWHERE on the radar for almost 18 yrs.

It is a genuine crisis for our citizens & the nation knows it.

The fact that we are even discussing this topic and not the imminent invasion of Iran is a seismic political shift in this country's initiatives.

You are right to be a skeptic, but that doesn't mean you give up any steam.

All the signs show momentum in our favor, just use that to keep pushing.


:pals:

[CreekDog]

7. It's true. Because I feel totally compromised

:eyes:

[GinaMaria]

9. At some point, they have to figure out

it doesn't matter what is or isn't in the bill. The pukes are never going to vote for it. We have to progress without them.

[Cleita]

10. Baucus is Republican Lite. This plan has been pushed by conservatives

since I took up the issue shortly after Hillarycare bombed. Gawd, we gotta get these DINOs in office replaced with true liberals. Twelve years of Reagan/Bush and another eight years of Bush, Jr.(that is twenty years of policy that have failed every single American in the USA except maybe Dick Cheney) have proved without a doubt that conservative policies don't work for the majority of Americans, only a minority of elitists who get all the cream and this is where this plan is going. Wall Street will suck up taxpayer's money and the taxpayer will get mediocre and sparse health care, if any at all.

[TriplD]

11. Who did he compromise with?

It certainly wasn't Republicans.

Forget it - I know the answer.

[bain_sidhe]

12. Wait... he wants to penalize Ins. Cos for offering "too good" policies?!?

On what planet does this help anyone?

[Justitia]

13. yeah, isn't that part great? LOL He's really good at political suicide. -eom

[AzDar]

14. No thanks.

:grr:

[BlueJazz]

15. Just another Republican Dog and Pony Show. Same ol' Crap.

[Zenlitened]

16. Run along now, Max.

[wroberts189]

17. CRAP nothing but CRAP. Baucus you suck. nt

[wroberts189]

18. Compromise? Compromise?? Thats what he calls it? I need a drink. nt

[tnlefty]

21. I'll join you and this one is on me.

:beer: There was an uproar rather early this morning in my household when we read about this in the local paper.

[nightrain]

22. so this is what the insurance corporations bought with their massive "donations"

to Baucus...

Besides the costs of the premiums (to max at 13% of income), and whatever little subsidies we'd get to pay for them, the limits on out of pocket costs (co-pays, deductibles, etc) for a family of four are $11,900 per year, and $5,950 for an individual!

Do your own math, and see if this is affordable (without the subsidies) for you.

Max darling, something you've neglected to factor in--If people could afford even the premiums, they'd have bought insurance already. Now you've just added higher premium costs and transfered more wealth to the insurance corporations. Massive corporate welfare. Again!

I am ashamed to say that one of my Senators was on that Committee. He'll be hearing from me again.

[BlueIdaho]

25. Baucus delivers America's poor to the insurance industry.

What a piece of shit. No surprises from this waste of human skin. You know its hard to believe anyone from Montana would sell out the the weak and the poor as fast as this traitor has.

[wroberts189]

47. +1

[bemildred]

26. How about just "Baucus submits"?

Or even "Baucus surrenders on public health for all."

[TacticalPeek]

27. There it is.

Revoltingly familiar.

[MasonJar]

30. Baucus needs to go. Let him go on over to the insurance industry

which hopefully will be closing its doors in the near future.

[Robber M]

31. Baucus=Sellout!

:grr:

[mzmolly]

32. Reconciliation...

vs. so called compromise.

[truedelphi]

33. K & R. I remember all the previous Repugs and their plans for

Health insurance tax credits.

You got like a %$ 1,500 a year credit. Even though you might be paying $ 900 a month. And this was if you had a marginal income.

[bvar22]

34. cough cough...gag.....

Oh MAN!
What is that awful smell? cough.. gag....

....Max Baucus

[dccrossman]

35. K&R

Kicking to keep this up in the lists.

[never cry wolf]

36. I just sent Max a nasty email

Vowing to work against his reelection...When is he up?

[midnight armadillo]

37. This is DESIGNED to create SHIT PLANS

It includes a tax on insurance companies when they offer particularly generous health-insurance plans, as well as a new across-the-board fee on insurers.

Look,it's a federal incentive to provide shittier plans to everyone to protect profits! Way to go Baucus, you ASSHOLE.

[harun]

42. It is also designed to give for-profit insurers MORE power

If the for-profits are paying the fees (which are looted from their customers) to insure the poor. It will be one more thing they can use on the bargaining table for any future legislation. In the future they may want to expand the public plan, guess what the for-profits response will be: "Oh, due to reduced revenue we will have to cut services for the poor people we give insurance to".

[steven johnson]

38. I think there's now momentum for a vote on a moderate proposal

<<Nothing has changed. Not one thing.>>

I disagree. The Baucus plan is now the benchmark people accept or reject. Someone has finally gotten off the dime and taken the lead. Now it's "lead, follow or get out of the way." It's a s**t or get off the pot moment.

The proposal from the lawmaker, Senator Max Baucus, who heads the Finance Committee, would impose new fees on some sectors of the health care industry, but none on individuals, to help offset initial costs estimated at $880 billion over 10 years, according to officials familiar with the outline.

The plan, circulating among some committee members of both parties, would also offer the option of lower-cost insurance, with protection only against the costs of catastrophic illnesses, to those 25 and younger. In addition, it would provide basic Medicaid coverage to millions of low-income people who are currently ineligible for the program, but the benefits would be less comprehensive than standard Medicaid.

Administration officials declined to discuss either Mr. Baucus's plan or the president's speech, which Mr. Obama will deliver Wednesday night to a joint session of Congress. But the officials welcomed the chairman's draft as important progress just as lawmakers are returning this week from their summer recess.

The presidential address was scheduled by the White House last week in part to pressure Mr. Baucus to act. Many Democrats say Mr. Obama has for too long deferred to him, sapping momentum from the president's chief domestic priority.

As Obama Speech Nears, Details on a Compromise

[gtar100]

39. Rephrase: "Compromised" health plan

Absolutely nothing from Baucus can be trusted. He sold his integrity already.

[New Dawn]

40. Forcing people to buy a product from a private company is fascist economics.

[and-justice-for-all]

41. No fucking compromise!! PUBLIC OPTION...NOW! nt

[samsingh]

43. baucus is an asshole

[rd_kent]

44. Next years election is an opportunity to put TRUE progressives in office

Its time to dismantle the corporate and lobby owned Democratic Party and elect people who will represent their constituents, not their corporate donors.

[Faryn Balyncd]

46. The Baucus Plan is NO compromise....It pure, unadulterated EVIL.