Thursday, March 23, 2017

If TrumpCare Doesn't Pass

TrumpCare, American Health Care Act, RyanCare, Whatever.

If it doesn't pass, what precludes another try at a more conservative bill?

Is there some rule that forbids the introduction of another, better bill?

Why do I keep hearing it's this or nothing?

And once again, screw the three phase approach. (I work with three phase every day. It'll kill ya.)
Do it in one lump and nuke it through.

39 comments:

  1. The promise to the people was for a full repeal, root and branch. That has to be phase 1 or it's a non-starter.

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  2. How about a promise to get the federal government out of the healthcare business?

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    Replies
    1. If only they had that power enumerated to them in the Constitution [regardless of what Roberts invented].

      Delete
  3. Addiction.
    Once you get the "entitles", you don't wanta quit.
    Now that healthcare is a right, it will bankrupt us.
    Pop the popcorn.

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    Replies
    1. I agree...this country can't afford this 'right'...but it can never be taken away....the party which did anything like that would NEVER recover! Sadly. Still, there are some ideas that might not break us.

      At my blog, Kid and others have been discussing paying OUR WAY...I realized that my private insurance premiums were FAR higher than I would ever pay a month at a doc's office...I think "out of pocket" needs to be discussed. Instead of paying $900 a month for Blue Shield...pay $150 for a doc's visit. And no premium? I"M THERE!

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    2. I fully agree. I've had employer care forever.
      Don't know how I'd afford Scheries meds otherwise. One of the reasons I'll work as long as I can.
      If all you ever needed was a monthly doctor visit, dropping the onsurance would be wise.

      You and AOW and others who pay for insurance (and must under obamacare) are getting fleeced.
      Of course the high costs are undercutting my wages. A hidden cost.

      Delete
    3. Ed,
      I've had employer care forever.

      You're lucky!

      We lost our employer based health insurance in February 2008, when there were layoffs at Mr. AOW's workplace. We were forced into COBRA: $1400/month.

      In April and July 2009, I enrolled in a private BlueCross policy, and Mr. AOW enrolled in a private BlueCross policy. My policy was quite affordable because I had no pre-existing conditions. But Mr. AOW's policy? $900/month! Neither of us had prescription coverage until ObamaCare came along.

      Many months after his stroke, Mr. AOW qualified for Medicare. Last month, I qualified for Medicare. Not free! I pay about $300/month for Medicare B, Medicare D, and high-end Medigap which covers all the deductibles.

      BTW, Mr. AOW and I never had ObamaCare. Providence! Our policies were grandfathered in -- by a mere two wees.

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    4. Z,
      Instead of paying $900 a month for Blue Shield...pay $150 for a doc's visit. And no premium? I"M THERE!

      As long as "the bad thing" doesn't happen.

      Every day, I'm thankful that we didn't go without coverage. Just look at "the bad things" that happened to Mr. AOW and me!

      Delete
    5. by a mere two wees

      Make that by a mere two weeks.

      Delete
    6. Greybeard,
      Once you get the "entitles", you don't wanta quit.

      Human nature.

      Once any major government program is in place, WE THE PEOPLE play hell putting an end to that program.

      Delete
    7. One of my flight nurses once cautioned me about longevity:
      "To live a LONG life, choose your parents carefully."
      This is true for heath care, isn't it?
      Life is a lottery.
      Choose your parents carefully.

      Delete
    8. Greybeard,
      Choose your parents carefully.

      If only!

      Delete
  4. Agree, and I don't want government involved at all, else it will eventually lead to single payer. Thinking EPA day 1 versus what it is now.

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    1. PS - Where is the tort reform? Lawyers must have a real grip on the politicians.

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    2. Exactly. But the answer is that it's in phase 3.
      With all the other elusive magical stuff.

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  5. I've not heard IT'S THIS OR NOTHING. Even Trump said something like "it's not over...we'll come up with a good one..." Ryan said they have to rethink, etc....
    I think they can really come up with something terrific if they have time to slow down and talk...which they now have!

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    1. I've heard repeatedly that if these legislators don't get behind this bill that they will be seen as the failure point of not removing Obamacare. That they will be Primaried in their districts. That speaks of not getting a second chance to do it right.

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    2. And some legislators are being told that if they'd taken this bill, their constituents would have been upset because it wasn't AS good as hoped for.
      I'm hoping Trump and Ryan are right...Rand Paul's eager to work with them, etc.
      I had to laugh when I heard Dr. Emmanuel (Rahm's brother, who designed Obamacare) say "Well, if Trump had only worked with the Democrats on this..." Sometimes it's actually fun to listen to their hypocrisy! "Like you worked with Republicans!?" NEVER

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    3. I was interviewing Rep Tim Walberg a couple weeks ago and we were talking about this. I mentioned that we got Obamacare through reconciliation and that we might kill it that way.
      Each side ramming it through with no vote from the other party. He was glad someone noticed.

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  6. This morning, I heard that Congress has only until May to pass bills via reconciliation. Can somebody explain this to me?

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  7. Employer-based health insurance is a beautiful thing.

    EXCEPT THAT

    we the taxpayers are paying the lion's share of the employer portion of that health insurance.

    And we have HORDES of government employees in their 50's, with 10 or more years to go before they qualify for Medicare.

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    Replies
    1. Not defensive, but how do taxpayers fund, except through pre-tax deduction?

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    2. Ed
      I can explain. But it's too much to type in with an iPhone's teeny keyboard. I plan to be back on my laptop tomorrow.

      Delete
    3. Well, I'm honored by your effort.

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    4. Premiums are set by health insurance companies. When one has employer-based health insurance, that employer picks up a portion of the employees' premiums.

      If the employer paying a portion of health insurance premiums is any government entity, the employer portion of the employees' premiums comes from taxpayer dollars.

      Delete
    5. Well then I understand. Taxes pay for the government employee health care, but once again that's a function of recompense or wages. They must compete with Private Industry for employees. You live in a company town where the company is the government.
      :(

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    6. Ed,
      that's a function of recompense or wages

      Sure.

      But the fact remains that government wages -- local, state, and federal -- are all funded by the taxpayers.

      Yet another reason to reduce the size of government.

      I must also point out that it used to be -- and not so long ago -- that government employees traded off a competitive salary for job security.

      It also used to be that a married couple could not both be employed by the government at the same level (federal). I know this because of my parents' situation. My mother had been employed by the federal government since 1934, and Dad had been employed by the bus system, privately owned and run in those days. When the government took over the bus system, my parents had worries that one of them would lose a job. But Mom's federal employment didn't count toward that restriction because she had retired on disability in 1960.

      Today, it is not at all unusual for both the husband and wife to work for the federal government -- sometimes at the very same agency and in the very same office.

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    7. Ed,
      You live in a company town where the company is the government.

      Both local and federal. No wonder all these megamansions are popping up all over the place! Sheesh. They are unseemly things, with two people rattling around lie bb's in a boxcar of more than 4000 square feet.

      Meanwhile, those of us who are not parasites either have to relocate or live in hovels. You've seen photos of my house: 1300 square feet, which is plenty for three people: CNA, Mr. AOW, and me -- and three cats. I would like to have about 500 square feet more, though, so as to add a second bathroom (roll-in for handicapped) and have a bit more room for Mr. AOW's medical equipment.

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  8. Wherever rulers foster Malthusian, Utilitarian, Green and (most overtly bloody) Islamistophilic nutcases, there the ruled are at grave risk.

    Once you recognize this, what's been done to American healthcare in the first place ought be recognized as no mere coincidence.

    For Ed. A utilitarian nutcase sees the majority of humanity useful only as a source of spare parts.

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    1. Oh. A Planned Parenthood director.

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    2. Planned Parenthood directors are the ones we know of. No thanks to SSM.

      It could well be that even now James O'Keefe is engaged in an undercover sting at Organ "Donator" LLC.

      But without one, which of our moral/legal watchdogs is investigating? Who else is asking questions? >>crickets<<

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  9. Too many freebies, again... sigh

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  10. Per Donald J. Trump‏ @realDonaldTrump
    "Democrats are smiling in D.C. that the Freedom Caucus, with the help of Club For Growth and Heritage, have saved Planned Parenthood & Ocare!"

    The GOPe was fine with 0care because it helps the Statist agenda. Anyone who still thinks that DJT is truly an outsider after that tweet needs their head examined.

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