After many months of hard work and over a year of planning Max Baucus unveiled today a “passable” health care bill. In his news conference this afternoon Baucus said the bill “can pass the Senate,” which has been the main stalwart in a summer long battle over healthcare reform. So what makes the Baucus bill passable?
First the plan has no ‘Public Option.‘ Instead it relies on member owned cooperatives and a state-run exchange for individuals and small business owners so they can buy into group plans the same way a large company is able to. Many liberal Democrats are disappointed that both the White House and Senate plans don’t provide a ‘Public Option,’ however the bill still contains several important reforms that can help provide affordable coverage to millions of uninsured.
Second, the bill contains policy that has wide support from both Republicans and Democrats alike including: stopping insurance companies from denying coverage based on a pre-existing condition, capping overall costs to the individual at %13 of income, and subsidizing those who cannot afford to purchase a healthcare plan. Clearly one of the most controversial policies in the legislation is the mandate that everyone must have health insurance or face a fine (similar to how people now have to have car insurance if they drive). Insurance companies are generally in favor of mandates because it adds millions more young and healthy individuals to their plans with the effect of offsetting some of the costs associated with covering pre-existing conditions.
Finally, the cost at $856 billion is significantly lower than other bills that have been proposed. By lowering costs and cutting the public option, Baucus and the Senate leadership hope to gain the votes of conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans.
Ultimately the bill is a milestone in the 60 years since congress began debating healthcare reform. While it may be lacking for many liberals, it nonetheless represents a great deal of progress, and will undoubtedly benefit the majority of Americans who either don’t have insurance or face relentless insurance rates with the fear of being dropped once illness strikes.
Healthcare co-ops is a very bad choice! They will limit the number of doctors that you can go too just like HMO’s or managed care. Their doctors are only in plan doctors just like HMO’s so if you get sick or ill and you go to an out of plan doctor they will make you travel to a hospital that is part of their plan. So basically nothing will change you will end up with no choices at all. Senator Baucus is selling out the people of America for the four million that he got from the health insurance companies, he stood up there all by himself telling lies about how this was a good plan when clearly it is not!