Let's put it this way.
You are the frog. The water is warmer--and warmer---and warmer.
You know the end of the story.
Democrats have studied "Frog-Cooking 101" and are instituting HillaryCare with just a little more warm water.
The "stimulus" also hijacks Cobra, a program that lets the unemployed retain access to their former company health benefits -- usually for about 18 months. The new stimulus permits any former employee over the age of 55 to keep using Cobra right up until they qualify for Medicare at age 65. And here's the kicker: Whereas employees were previously responsible for paying their health premiums while on Cobra, now the feds will pay 65%. CBO estimates? Seven million Americans will have the feds mostly pay their insurance bills in 2009.
While I would not object to 'allowing COBRA until Medicare qualification' under the usual terms and conditions, the red-highlighted part is objectionable--principally because NO ONE is denied health-care in this country under Hill-Burton. So what is the need?
None.
It is estimated that this provision will have 7 million recipients inside of 2 years.
HT: PowerLine
principally because NO ONE is denied health-care in this country under Hill-Burton.
ReplyDeleteI don't even understand what this means. Help?
The Hill-Burton act mandates that anyone seeking healthcare MUST be given healthcare, whether or not they can pay for it.
ReplyDeleteBeen around for 40++(??) years.
So there's no NEED for taxpayer-paid COBRA premiums.
So you're saying that the care one is likely to receive as a result of this Hill-Burton measure is the same as the care one would be getting with actual health insurance?
ReplyDeleteYah. Same hospitals, same docs, same nurses, same diagnostics, same treatments.
ReplyDeleteHospitals have to give X% of their gross revenues to 'charity care;' that's the Hill-Burton act.
Sorry to beat a dead horse, but listen: I'm sure you're not saying that the care one might receive as a part of Hill-Burton is the same as the care one would receive having private insurance. Right?
ReplyDeleteI mean, if I lost my insurance tomorrow I couldn't go to my doctor and say "I don't have any money, but there's this Hill-Burton thing," could I? Let's get real.
Try it.
ReplyDeleteYou'd (obviously) be very surprised.
Are you trying to insinuate that hospitals, MD's (etc.) will willfully and knowingly break the law?
You obviously don't know many medical professionals.
Look, let's get down to it. You're talking about emergency care. I cannot go in to my doctor's office and say "I don't have money and I don't have insurance, but could you look at this rash I have?" You do realize that, don't you?
ReplyDeleteThe inability for emergency rooms to turn people away is NOT the same as "everyone has health care."
E-rooms look at rashes.
ReplyDeleteBut that's not the point.
The point is that there is no NEED for the taxpayer to pick up 65% of COBRA.