Baucus Introduces $856 Billion Health-Care Bill
By William Branigin, Lori Montgomery and Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 2:19 PM
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus unveiled an $856 billion health-care reform plan Wednesday that would require nearly all Americans to carry health insurance while barring insurance companies from discriminating against people based on their health status or denying coverage because of preexisting conditions.
The plan does not call for a government-run insurance option, as advocated by President Obama and most Democrats, but would set up a system of nonprofit consumer-owned cooperatives to compete with private insurers -- a provision intended to appeal to Republicans who have railed against the "public option" in recent weeks.
Baucus (D-Mont.) released the plan aimed at overhauling America's $2.5 trillion health care system ahead of a vote scheduled in the Finance Committee for next week.
"The cost of America's broken health care system has stretched families, businesses and the economy too far for too long," he said in a statement. "For too many, quality, affordable health care is simply out of reach. This is a unique moment in history where we can finally reach an objective so many of us have sought for so long."
(More here.)
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 2:19 PM
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus unveiled an $856 billion health-care reform plan Wednesday that would require nearly all Americans to carry health insurance while barring insurance companies from discriminating against people based on their health status or denying coverage because of preexisting conditions.
The plan does not call for a government-run insurance option, as advocated by President Obama and most Democrats, but would set up a system of nonprofit consumer-owned cooperatives to compete with private insurers -- a provision intended to appeal to Republicans who have railed against the "public option" in recent weeks.
Baucus (D-Mont.) released the plan aimed at overhauling America's $2.5 trillion health care system ahead of a vote scheduled in the Finance Committee for next week.
"The cost of America's broken health care system has stretched families, businesses and the economy too far for too long," he said in a statement. "For too many, quality, affordable health care is simply out of reach. This is a unique moment in history where we can finally reach an objective so many of us have sought for so long."
(More here.)
Powered by Blogger
1 Comments:
I could have sworn the President the other day on TV said that health insurance reform wouldn't cost any money. He said - and I quote -
"Here's what you need to know. First, I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits - either now or in the future. Period. And to prove that I'm serious, there will be a provision in this plan that requires us to come forward with more spending cuts if the savings we promised don't materialize. Part of the reason I faced a trillion dollar deficit when I walked in the door of the White House is because too many initiatives over the last decade were not paid for - from the Iraq War to tax breaks for the wealthy. I will not make that same mistake with health care.
Second, we've estimated that most of this plan can be paid for by finding savings within the existing health care system - a system that is currently full of waste and abuse. Right now, too much of the hard-earned savings and tax dollars we spend on health care doesn't make us healthier. That's not my judgment - it's the judgment of medical professionals across this country. And this is also true when it comes to Medicare and Medicaid"
Now the Senate version is going to cost $856 billion?
I look forward to President Obama's veto of this bill based on his speech last week. If he does not, well, then, you lied!
Post a Comment
<< Home