PolitiFact.com: The public option is open to everybody

[SpartanDem]

There's been some debate as to just how to public the public option really is some groups such PNHP and individuals going so far as call it fraud. Well, Anthony Weiner was on Fox News recetnly defending plan mistated some details and Politifact fact checked the statements.

Prohibited under the plan," said Weiner, a Democrat from Brooklyn, N.Y. "Under the plan, for the first five years your employer not only has to keep the coverage, but you can't migrate to the public plan. The concern was we didn't want a giant movement."

Weiner's point that employers can't immediately shift workers to the public option is right. But almost all the other details are wrong.

We've read the 1,000-page House bill and there is no rule that employers have to keep coverage for five years, for example. We asked Weiner's office for an explanation and didn't hear back.

During year 1, small businesses with 10 or fewer employees can use the exchange. During the year 2, it's 20 or fewer employees. During year 3, a health choices commissioner has the authority to phase in businesses with more employees. The legislation doesn't say if or when every employer would be allowed on the exchange.

The health bill would also set new standards for coverage, requiring insurers to cover basic procedures and adhere to new consumer protection rules

Employer-sponsored insurance will have to meet those same consumer protection rules, but they have a five-year grace period before they have to comply. (See Section 102 on page 17 of the House bill.) So employers can keep their current plans for up to five years before the plans have to conform to the new rules. But there's nothing in the bill that forces them to keep their current coverage. They can change insurance providers just as they do now. Only if they choose to drop coverage would they have to pay an additional tax.

Weiner also says, "you can't migrate to the public plan." That's true only if you're talking about large employers having access to the exchange. Individuals are allowed to shop on the exchange right away, if they're willing to drop their employer-sponsored coverage. "You" might not want to, though: In most cases, employers pay part of their workers' insurance premiums. A worker with a large employer who drops coverage from their job to go to the exchange would lose that contribution.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/aug/28/anthony-weiner/employers-dont-have-keep-coverage-under-health-ref/

[NecklyTyler]

1. We have got to get some kind of Health Care legislation on the books right now

We need a bill to be passed. After it is signed into law, we can come back and amend it until we get it right. Otherwise, the Republicans will nickel and dime us to death and we will never see any Health Care bill.

[joeycola]

2. Puff!! The pass anything mantra is stupid. It will be us for decades.

[Sebastian Doyle]

5. Bullshit.

One word: NAFTA

They promised us they would fix that piece of shit. It would have been better for all of us if they never passed it in the first place (not coincidentally, millions would still have jobs that had reasonably decent insurance)

"Pass a shitty bill, and we'll fix it later" is NOT an acceptable answer.

[NecklyTyler]

16. So we are starting out with two strikes against us

1. No bill - The Republicans win

2. Imperfect bill - The Republicans win

[slipslidingaway]

3. Need a link for "PNHP and individuals going so far as call it fraud."

thanks.

[SpartanDem]

8. An artricle they published: Bait and switch: How the “public option” was sold

http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/07/20/bait-and-switch-how-the-%E2%80%9Cpublic-option%E2%80%9D-was-sold/

[slipslidingaway]

10. That is a great article which compares the original idea of a

public/private system with what is being offered today...thanks for posting the link.

:)

http://www.ourfuture.org/files/documents/evolution-of-the-healthcare-debate.pdf

Statements on the Hacker plan...now many of the same people back a plan that has been significantly watered down from the original idea.


"When private insurers were unwilling or unable to provide affordable health care coverage to millions of older Americans, Congress enacted Medicare, which has provided a cost-effective guarantee of affordable coverage for more than 40 years. Because private insurers are unwilling or unable to provide affordable health coverage to millions of working families today, Jacob Hacker proposes Health Care for America, a public program to answer their need as well as the need of millions of others who are anxiously insured. Health Care for America provides a simple cost-effective solution to guarantee all Americans access to affordable care: The choice of lifetime coverage through a public program with a large risk pool."

-- Diane Archer, founder, Medicare Rights Center

"Health Care for America is a bold, thoughtful and achievable proposal for bringing the guarantee of affordable health care to every American. This plan is especially important because it provides solutions to the high cost of health care. I want to thank the Economic Policy Institute, Campaign for America's Future, and, in particular, Jacob Hacker for this initiative and for their leadership. Our nation's health care crisis is hurting businesses and families, the uninsured and the insured, patients and those who care for them. From California to Maine, states are beginning to respond to the challenge. It is time for Congress to act, and Health Care for America helps point the way."

-- Rep. Jan Shakowsky, D-Ill.

"Jacob Hacker's proposal for a hybrid form of universal health insurance is a splendid way to press for a sensible debate over what reform of universal coverage can balance the need for health security and social affordability."

-- Ted Marmor, author of The Politics of Medicare

"Jacob Hacker's 'Health Care for America' plan is an innovative, common- sense approach to reform that deserves the careful consideration of policymakers. His proposal builds on the foundation of employer-sponsored health insurance-the system by which most Americans derive their coverage-to create a new system of affordable coverage for all. The Hacker plan presents us with an important opportunity to begin a serious dialogue about how to achieve meaningful health care reform in America. To date, our failure of initiative and imagination on this issue has created a shameless legacy of economic instability and needless suffering across this country. We cannot afford to wait another day to tackle the most serious problem of our generation."

-- Gerald W. McEntee, president of AFSCME

"The Health Care for America plan is a common-sense proposal that offers promising opportunities to guarantee health care for all Americans. With many new ideas emerging on comprehensive health care reform, this proposal presents another viable option that demonstrates the kind of bold thinking and leadership we need in order to find real solutions to the health care crisis. This proposal acknowledges that employment-based health care is economically inefficient for today's global economy. It builds upon existing programs that are effective, while guaranteeing affordable coverage for at-risk populations, flexible choices, and premiums that work to eliminate economic and social disparities."

-- Andy Stern, President of SEIU, the Service Employees International Union

[flpoljunkie]

4. Politifact works hard to distort. That is a fact!

[Better Believe It]

6. The article proves that the public plan IS NOT open to everybody!

Only around 10 million people will even have the public plan in 2019. The rest of us with be forced to buy private insurance!

There are all kinds of restrictions, some of which are noted in the article, on what employers and individuals will be allowed to
by public insurance.

[debbierlus]

7. I know, it is an explanation as to why single payer is the only way to go

Bizarre...

[SpartanDem]

9. The restrictions are on employers only

"That's true only if you're talking about large employers having access to the exchange. Individuals are allowed to shop on the exchange right away, if they're willing to drop their employer-sponsored coverage."

[Better Believe It]

14. For people who would prefer to pay the FULL premium cost.

Any takers?

[SpartanDem]

15. Which is why premiums are subsidized

[Better Believe It]

17. Only partially and the details will need to be worked out in conference in order to ....

decrease the subsidy.

[Becky72]

11. What part of the bill says we will be "forced" to have private insurance?

I'd like to know.

[Better Believe It]

12. Any bill that mandates coverage while preventing most employees and individuals from obtaining ....

public health insurance which is where things stand right now. Read the four bills that have been proposed so far. Do you think the public option will be strengthened in the House/Senate conference? The insurance industry and drug cartel like what they see. President Obama made a deal with them and they expect him to live up to it.


REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS

THE HOUSE
DEMOCRATIC BILL: Individuals must have insurance,
enforced through tax penalty with
hardship waivers. The penalty is
2.5 percent of income.

THE SENATE HEALTH,
EDUCATION, LABOR
AND PENSIONS
COMMITTEE’S BILL: Individuals will have to have
insurance, enforced through tax
penalty with hardship waivers.



REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYERS

THE HOUSE
DEMOCRATIC BILL: Employers must provide insurance
to their employees or pay a
penalty of 8 percent of payroll.
Companies with payroll under
$250,000 annually are exempt.
That level could rise to $500,000
under the deal between House
leaders and fiscal conservatives.
Employers could apply for a twoyear
exemption from the mandate
if they can prove the requirements
would result in job losses
that would negatively affect their
communities.

THE SENATE HEALTH,
EDUCATION, LABOR
AND PENSIONS
COMMITTEE’S BILL: Employers who don’t offer coverage
will pay a penalty of $750 a
year for each full-time worker.
Businesses with 25 or fewer
workers are exempt.


http://www.chillicothegazette.com/assets/pdf/B8141621830.PDF

[ProSense]

13. Anyone can opt out of their employer plan, as they are free to now, and shop the exchange. n/t

[YewNork]

19. Not at my former employer you couldn't.

All full time employees had to take at least the minimum health insruance coverage that was offered. It didn't matter if you already
had coverage through a spouse or privately.

Basically, my employer had to guarantee that all of his employees would buy insurance in order to get the insurance premium the want.

[Overseas]

18. Medicare for All. Pleeease. And stop it with the 5-year phasing in crap.

The private insurers have had decade after decade to get ready for the time when the desperate public demanded change. Enough with making things fair for private insurers. We've done that over and over and are completely desperate now.

They trampled on the public trust every other time our legislators have kindly protected their profits on our misery. They have proven that they do not deserve that preferential treatment.

Private insurers have taken off their kid gloves and hired right wing PR firms to dupe "genuine grass roots" groups to deliver their messages now, willingly stimulating dangerous fear and hatred to protect their profits. That's hardball. That's professional bullying.

Yes, their cash is powerful but their morals are obscene, so the public would understand if the Democrats took off their kid gloves and said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH-- Medicare for All who Choose It.