2861

Did you miss the part about the community rate when you read the bill, JeffL? It’s in there.

Also: Exchanges are empowered to regulate rate hikes. e.g. the insurer could be kicked off the exchange if they just jack rates outrageously.

2862

I don’t think “not feeling the benefits” is really going to matter. Republicans have touted HRC as the end of the United States and the destruction of the constitution. Running on a “it’s done nothing” slogan when they’ve been running on a “Armageddon” slogan so far isn’t going to play well.

2863

So the Soviet Union could have won the Cold War if it they could have planted seeds of universal health care back in the 1950s and 60s?

Oddly enough, the “socialist” Western countries in Europe and Canada have survived with socialized health care.

2864

As a future bureaucrat, I would thank you not to conflate us with the filthy politicians!

2865

How do you guys keep from strangling your uninformed friends who are quoting republican pundits about healthcare care being the end of civilization as we know it?

I dont mind an educated debate. I had a good conversation about what Jefferson would think about universal health care. But I go nuts when I start hearing crazy claims from normally reasonable people.

2866

Re: Gaming the system. As I understand it, the insurers can still delay coverage up to 90 days after application, so it’s a loser’s game unless they can still go to the emergency room and get away without paying.

2867

Thanks, Jeff - that’s what I was concerned about.

Good point other Jeff, but do we have a definition of what a “community” is in this bill? I mean, depending upon that particular definition, you could make the argument that insurance has been run that way for the last few decades at least:
Gather loss data from groups of similar individuals (age, location, gender, etc.) and set rates accordingly. Submit rate adjustments to the department of insurance for whatever state you’re in. Rinse, wash, repeat.

2868

God, I’m reading about the repeal trap and it’s so bloody brilliant, and the GOP is being shoved straight into it by their base.

Here’s Steve Benen on it:

Democrats can hardly believe how lucky they are.

Lee Fang noted this morning that some fairly prominent GOP voices – former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Rudy Giuliani, for example – are suggesting that demanding a full repeal is excessive.

But it’s apparently too late. “Repeal” is practically the official response of the Republican Party whenever the new health care reform law comes up in any context.

Democrats – from the White House to the DNC to the DCCC – are practically taunting Republicans, begging to keep pursuing this. After all, as the president reminded us again this morning, “a host of desperately needed reforms will take effect right away,” including tax credits to about 4 million small businesses, protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions, restrictions on rescissions, eliminations on lifetime limits or restrictive annual limits, free preventive care, and a new benefit that allows young adults to able to stay on their parents’ policies until they’re 26 years old.

Republicans want to base much of their election-year strategy on eliminating all of these? Yeah, good luck with that.

As we’ve been talking about, the goal is to put Republican candidates in a box. Democrats are going to ask, “Are you really going to fight to repeal protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions? Are you really going to take coverage away from 30 million middle-class Americans? Are you really going to take away breaks for small businesses?” If Republicans say “no,” they alienate the GOP activists who will settle for nothing but a full repeal. If Republicans say “yes,” they alienate the mainstream electorate.

Dems have set a repeal trap, and Republicans are inexplicably rushing to get caught.

Conryn’s already trying to change the message that full repeal is excessive and the stuff about getting rid of pre-existing exclusions is a good thing, but try telling that to his base, who believe THIS IS THE END OF AMERICA, THE BEGINNING OF COMMUNISM, AND WE WILL FIGHT TO THE DEATH TO OPPOSE OBAMA. Yeah, good luck with that, Conryn.

2869

This is brilliant.

I really hope that this was planned and not co-incidental.

2870

I have a hard time. My facebook status has recieved a record number of responses.

2871

The “Republican Waterloo” may end up being more prophetic than they realized.

That’s the problem with every apocalypse cult; at some point the world doesn’t end, and when it doesn’t, you’re screwed.

2872

I’ll tell you how I am going to game the system. As I retiree (and occasional consultant) I have a great deal of control when I recognize income by timing when I take capital gains and when I bill clients. I currently have basic Kaiser insurance, I applied for but was turned down for a high deductible plan by a Blue Cross affiliate.

Starting in 2014, In even years I intend to reduce my income so that I can qualify for a subsidy, I will also upgrade to a silver or gold plan since it appear that once you hit the maximum of 10% or so for health insurance you can get a better plan at no additional cost, and try and do medical test etc during even years . In odds years, I’ll increase my income, and buy the minimum bronze plan, and probably use an HSA to pay for unexpected medical bills.

I estimate that getting the subsidy will save me a few thousand a year, which I hope offset the higher insurance premium I expect to pay. It seems that since consultants, early retirees, self-employed are both the people most likely to be need to insurance and have the most ability to manipulate their income that we will see a lot of income ping-ponging.

2873

One of my cousin who is hardcore religious is against health care, blabbering on about his tax going to people who doesn’t deserve it, he joined the group 1,000,000 against health care.

In silent protest I join the group 1,000,000 for health care…

2874

That’s the number one complaint I hear. I wonder what solution they possibly have in mind for people who live in areas with zero economic freedom.

It’s like a different world of thinking. My “richest” friend, who makes $60,000 a year right now, is completely liberal and has no problem coming to the conclusion that his tax money is necessary to provide aid to those who need it most in this country, and that some of it is “wasted” on the few people who want to skim the system as much as possible.

I just don’t understand any other way of thinking.

2875

R’s don’t have many good options on it. On one side you have the repeal coalition which are bunch of idiots. On the other side you have Frum who is telling the R’s that there job is to make sure that all the pain associated with health care is associated with the R’s. (Make sure the Medicare cuts happen, that the excise tax is implemented). Suicide.

If I was the R’s, I’d look at the bad stuff and focus on the fight on how this won’t slow health care costs and will increase the deficit. I’d also focus on individual state reform initiatives piggybacking on Utah and a few others.

2876

The Hivemind wouldn’t have it any other way.

2877

I suspect there is going to be a noticeable backlash among lower-income earners that may drive up huge Republican gains during the midterms.

And for the simple reason that this is the first real increase in expenses that the lower classes have had in a very, very long time. 4% of 40,000 is equivalent of a 2 weeks paycheck and wage earners living hand to mouth are going to feel that very distinctly.

2878

if you make 40,000 you are not living hand to mouth.

2879

It’s not like Jesus hung out with tax collectors coughMatthew*/cough*, or healed people with pre-existing conditions out of his own pocket coughlepers, blind, etc*/cough*.

Musta had the swine flu.

2880

Gosh, it’s almost like the strategy of riling up the craziest fringe element of their base to make them even crazier by feeding them a pack of apocalyptic lies was a dangerously shortsighted strategy that’s destined to backfire horribly!