Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Healthcare Bill Fate Uncertain

18 comments:

Sean said...

For the last 25 years, health care has been the signature issue that shows that today's Republican Party is fundamentally unserious about what it takes to govern. The chaos surrounding this bill is just another example.

John said...

Oh come now, the Dems had it much easier.

They had no qualms about mugging Peter, taking his money and giving it to Paul.

It is a bit more challenging when one tries to respect personal property rights.

Sean said...

Republicans didn't tell us it was challenging. They told us it was easy. For seven years, they've said they had a plan to cover everybody, do so with policies that will have lower out of pocket costs for consumers.

They lied.

They don't have a plan. And what they're going to try and pass as a bill doesn't do a single thing that they promised.

John said...

Of course they have a... " plan to cover everybody, do so with policies that will have lower out of pocket costs for consumers."

Unfortunately to do this people have to have money to pay their Healthcare insurance premiums. I don't remember them ever saying that tax payers would pay for everyone's healthcare. (ie the Dem solution... Make the Peter's pay)

As we have discussed... The healthcare costs of most of us are much higher than required because of governmental regulations and the people who do not pay their health insurance premiums...

The big question is how do we get so that every able bodied and minded citizen pulls their own weight and pays their premiums like responsible citizens?

Sean said...

Your position is so divorced from reality on this issue it's impossible to have a conversation with you on it.

John said...

I really do not have a position on the topic as we have discussed before.

It is just simple math... If you want healthcare to cost less for every individual. Every physically and mentally capable citizen needs to pay their bill, otherwise those costs are transferred to the other citizens... Which increases the cost of their healthcare.

The alternative is to take a great deal of wealth from some citizens to buy down the cost of healthcare for some citizens who have not been successful in life for whatever reason, and those citizens who want to free ride. (ie pre-existing condition fraud). This is not free it is just welfare with no work requirement.

Anonymous said...

A National sales tax on every single transaction could cover the cost of healthcare for everyone.

Don't want to pay for some 'freeloader's' health care? Don't buy anything. Of course, then you'll be the freeloader. Now THAT'S Freedom!

Anonymoose

Sean said...

If everyone is healthy and everyone has the income to be able to afford health insurance, we wouldn't have a problem, that is true.

But we have to deal with the world as it is. Until you're willing to come down off the mountaintop and actually address the tradeoffs, there's no point to this discussion.

John said...

Now if we really want to get serious about reducing medical costs...

G2A Healthcare Cost Factors

History shows that people are much cheaper and more responsible when to do otherwise costs them money... So how do we make sure they feel the discomfort and costs of their poor choices. And the fiscal rewards of their good choices.

John said...

Sean,
If the Dem solution continues to be to raise taxes and healthcare insurance costs on the payers ever higher so the non-payers get more and more value at less cost... You are probably correct that the chasm will persist.

The big question is how to get the non-payers earning more so they can pay their own bills? As we often discuss.

Sean said...

Hey, I've got my answer for what we should do (a modified ACA). You're the one who's lacking in specifics here.

John said...

Anonymoose,
Unfortunately a national sales tax would be too regressive for many Liberals.

And the challenge again is to tie lifestyle choices to the costs/benefits incurred.

If party B and/or the government pays for Party A's bills... Party A has little financial incentive to improve, live cleaner, exercise, get check ups, etc.

Anonymous said...

"If party B and/or the government pays for Party A's bills... Party A has little financial incentive to improve, live cleaner, exercise, get check ups, etc."

Sure, but those who are responsible wouldn't have their money taken from them forcibly. They'd have the complete freedom to not spend any money on anything.

Anonymoose

Sean said...

Back to my original comment on this thread: why is there the urgency to have the House vote on this bill today?

Only because it's the 7th Anniversary of the original passage of the ACA. They want the talking point. Doesn't matter if there's a CBO score of if people have had a chance to read the bill.

John said...

Sean,
It reminds me a lot of what the Conservatives were saying when ACA was passed.

John said...

Anonymoose,
Correct... Or they could choose to...
- give money to charity
- help their kids pay for college
- go on a family vacation
- save for retirement
- buy a new treadmill to help them stay healthy
- so many options

And they could even write extra checks to the government if they think it will spend their money more wisely...

Sean said...

"It reminds me a lot of what the Conservatives were saying when ACA was passed."

Saying it doesn't make it true. Between committee hearings and floor debate, the ACA was acted on by Congress in 80 days over a process that took months (and included over 200 Republican amendments). The AHCA is currently at 3 (4 if they actually vote tonight) and the bill was introduced 15 days ago.

Anonymous said...

"Correct... Or they could choose to...
- go on a family vacation
- buy a new treadmill to help them stay healthy
- so many options"

Not if they don't want their money going to the 'freeloaders'. Remember, they're completely free to do whatever they want with their money if they don't want it going to someone who doesn't deserve it.

Anonymoose