Senators and Congresspeople Covered by Federal Health Care Program

[dynasaw]

"The Federal health care program that covers all senators, congresspersons and all their respective staff IS socialized medicine taxpayers pay for and is currently part of a health insurance exchange - in fact a federal employee gets to pick from 14 insurance options."

So how do the republicans and blue dogs who are covered by the above reconcile this with their anti-health care rhetoric???

[joecool65]

1. The Screaming Minority

Appropriate name for health care disrupters.

[atreides1]

2. They Don't

What they are doing is making sure that their real employers, the insurance industry, isn't put in any danger of losing money. After all if the insurance companies aren't able to gouge the people, then how can the politicians expect "donations" for re-election.

The Repukes and the blue dogs are doing this for their own personal gain and f**k the American people.

[SoCalDem]

3. "We want the same plan THEY have".. is a fallacy. here's why

The taxpayers (aka the federal govt) pays the "employer share" for each federal employee. IF the general public is "given" the "same" care, BUT is MINUS Uncle Sam as an employer....well guess what? It's just a souped up version of COBRA, with the non-govt employee paying both "shares"= UNAFFORDABLE to most , if not all individuals.

This is the ridiculous part of the argument. Insurance has ALWAYS been ACCESSIBLE to EVERYONE.. Any one who can pick up a phone, roll a wheelchair, drive a car or walk, has "access" to any insurance company around..

AFFORDABLE?? not so much, or at all for many/most people.

and then there is the fact that insurers have the upper hand. they control whom the reject or over-charge/under-serve.

Without a MASSIVE public option, this will not change.

They may be mandated to not "deny" coverage, but if their rate-setting is "voluntary", you can bet that pre-existing conditions will be priced out of most people who need it the most.

and portability only matters if the "next" employer is willing to pick up the employer share of your "plan",unless YOU want to pay both parts (Again..pricey COBRA for you)

If you work for company A and they pay $300 & you pay $100...You change jobs and go to company B

Company B has a different plan, but you like YOURS. They would pay $300 of the cost IF you went on their plan, but you "like" yours.. To KEEP yours, you must pay the whole $400.. It's "portable", and you LIKE it, but...... see the problem?

[area51]

4. Great points.

Though it's my understanding that actually there are some people with pre-existing conditions who can't get insurance at any price; they're not even given a quote, merely laughed at by insurance company salesperps.

[SoCalDem]

8. I know.. we have TWO in our immediate family like that

:(

That's why INSURANCE is NO solution. They are in it to make money..not to provide health care.

[bemildred]

5. If it's good enough for Congress, it's good enough for me too. nt

[ThomWV]

6. The Federal Employees Health Benefits program isn't special

About the only way it is any different than most employer provided (and partially paid for) insurnce plans is that there are several (you say, 14, I haven't counted) different plans to chose from - although by far most federal employees chose Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

The Governmet pays roughly 65% of the cost of the plan chosen, the employee pays the rest. The insurance companies under the plan are just as bad as any others when it comes to denying service, demanding redundant and unnecessary paperwork, and underpaying for services rendered. In short its nothing special. Oh, and its not cheap either. The employees pay out the nose for it.

[City Lights]

7. They're hypocrites.

It's do as I say not as I do health care.

They can kiss my ass. :mad: