In a world of “have’s” and “have not”s, there is always a certain jealously and rivalry among those who don’t have against those who do have. There is also a certain fear on the part of the “have’s” that the “have not”s want to take it away from them. These scenarios are symptomatic of human behavior, and thus at least understandable.
But how does one justify a group of “have’s” who enjoy a government-provided, government subsidized, common sense, multiple choice, quality health care program, but refuse to support making it available to the “have not”s?
As blatantly selfish as that seems, it is exactly what every republican senator and representative in congress is doing. They will unanimously vote against the democrats’ revised health care reform bills, despite the fact that every GOP member of congress and their families enjoy essentially the same health benefits they will vote against for everyone else. These health benefits are embodied in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program (FEHB). In fact, this plan is available to every single active and retired US Government federal employee and his/her dependents.
FEHB is a conglomeration of private health insurance plans which are negotiated yearly between the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the many participating insurance companies. The program is administered and regulated by the federal government. OPM sets minimum standards for the insurance companies to comply with. This is no different from the minimum regulation proposed in the revised health care reform bills which are universally opposed by the Congressional republicans.
In addition to national health plans, certain regional and/or statewide-only plans are also available to the feds under FEHB. This is similar to the health insurance exchanges proposed in president Obama’s revised health care reform bill which is universally opposed by the GOP.
The US government pays approximately two-thirds of each premium under FEHB, and the employee or retiree pays the other third. This is akin to premium subsidization proposed in the revised bill, which, to remind everyone, is universally opposed by the GOP.
FEHB does not permit insurance companies to refuse coverage for pre-existing conditions, nor does it allow cancellation of policies if someone gets sick. Sick people do not pay more than well people. These features are also included in president Obama’s revised health care reform bill, which, again, is universally opposed by the GOP.
Prescription coverage in FEHB is not subject to the “doughnut hole” of coverage suspension that seniors on other plans are required to pay out-of-pocket after reaching a certain amount per year. This feature is also included in the proposed health care reform bill, which, as you know totally understand, is universally opposed by the GOP.
While FEHB is not perfect, it does allow folks to change plans yearly during a month-long “open season”. That means that if you like your plan, do nothing and you are automatically continued in your present plan into the following year. But if you want to change to a different insurance company, you may do so anytime during open season, and every year if desired. Your new health insurance company then takes over your coverage effective the beginning of the new year. Certainly, you know that this feature is also proposed in president Obama’s revised health care reform bill, which is universally opposed by the GOP.
The GOP congressfolk oppose providing these benefits, which they and their families enjoy and take for granted, to all Americans. Yet, not one of them is declining FEHB coverage for themselves or their families; not while they’re active legislators, and not after they retire.
Thus, the democrats have no choice but to attempt to bypass the GOP and get as much of their health care reform plan passed through reconciliation. The GOP is ranting over this prospect, but history shows them to be the majority users of the reconciliation process since its inception in 1974. It becomes more and more apparent that the GOP’s practice of “do as I say, not as I do” is still going strong.
Yet, there now seems to be a new rule involved in the GOP playbook. That rule is that it’s okay for them to have a health benefit, but the rest of us are on our own. Despite the FEHB benefits they enjoy, the GOP still insists that the democrats must scrap their already-passed plan and start over with the GOP.
Well…if the GOP is really serious about that, they can convince everyone (even We, the PEOPLE!!) of it by proposing the following:
Either all Americans will henceforth be covered by FEHB, the same health benefit program that every past, present and future GOP member of both houses of congress (and their families) take for granted, or FEHB coverage for all past,present, and future members of congress will end immediately.
Tag, you’re it, GOP….put your money where your mouth is.
First, don’t confuse the coverage that our ELECTED officials and other federal employees have! On another note though, Congress didn’t stop their COLA this year either, but Social security recipients and military retirees got nothing. So much for leadership by example. Seems as though congress is part of the problem and and those on fixed incomes are part of the solution. Yeh, the haves and the have nots is evident.
Recently Pelosi commented about the fact that legislators were NOT there just to make sure they were re-elected but to actually do a job for their constituents…Maybe she is wrong – if I had a health care plan as flexible and sensible as the federal plan – then self (and family) interest MIGHT be a factor in my voting record (keeping it favorable so I can get the money to ensure my re-election). Just a thought.
Term limits anyone?
The ReThuglicans are against Health Care Reform because the Insurance Industry is against Health Care Reform. Why reform the Golden Goose? So what if the Golden Goose is sick and dying and ready to implode because 10 Million healthy people who make it possible to keep rates low have lost their jobs and therefore lost their health insurance?
The ReThuglicans are AGAINST the proposal in the Health Care Reform Bill that would advance medical liability reform through grants to states. BAD OBAMACARE!! This was originally a Republican idea in 2005 (Sen. Mike Enzi, R-WY).
The ReThuglicans are AGAINST the proposal in the Health Care Reform Bill that would extend dependent coverage to age 26. OBAMACARE IS SOCIALISM!! The Republicans version extends dependent coverage to age 25. It’s on the GOP.gov site.
The ReThuglicans are AGAINST the proposal in the Health Care Reform Bill that would allow automatic enrollment in health insurance. EVIL OBAMACARE!! The House GOP Health Care Reform Bill says “no state shall establish a law that prevents an employer from instituting auto-enrollment for coverage of a participant or beneficiary.”
The ReThuglicans are AGAINST the proposal in the Health Care Reform Bill that would include “mechanisms to improve quality.” I repeat, the ReThuglicans are AGAINST the proposal in the Health Care Reform Bill that would include “mechanisms to improve quality.” GET YER GUBBAMINT HANDS OFF MY MEDICARE!!
The ReThuglicans are AGAINST the proposal in the Health Care Reform Bill that would include a S.H.O.P. exchange for small businesses to pool and purchase affordable insurance. BAD OBAMACARE!! The Small Business Health Options Program Act (also known as the “SHOP Act”) was a bipartisan bill originally sponsored by 8 Dems, 3 Reps & 1 Ind. It was re-introduced last year…by a Republican (Sen. Snowe, R-ME).
The ReThuglicans are AGAINST the proposal in the Health Care Reform Bill that would allow the purchase of health coverage across state lines. OBAMACARE SOCIALISM!! Sen. Enzi (R-WY) proposed the “Ten Steps to Transform Health Care in America Act,” which provides for “cross-state pooling.” Sen. Enzi also participated in months of negotiations over the health care legislation with a small group of Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee; now he’s criticizing the bill as partisan. The House GOP Health Care Reform Bill also supports cross-state pooling.
The ReThuglicans are AGAINST the proposal in the Health Care Reform Bill that would allow offering a “high-risk pool”. EVIL OBAMACARE!! According to Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), speaking at the Health Care Summit last week, “Republicans support high-risk pools and reinsurance with $25 billion in funding.”
The ReThuglicans are AGAINST the proposal in the Health Care Reform Bill that would support proven employer wellness programs. OBAMACARE WILL KILL GRANDMA!! According to Erin Shields, the press secretary for the Senate Finance Committee, this is an issue strongly advocated by Sen. John Ensign (R-NV). It is also included in the House GOP Health Care Reform Bill.
The ReThuglicans are AGAINST the Obamacare proposals that ReTuglicans thought up. The Democrats are DESTROYING the system of Checks & Balances by trying to pass a Health Care Bill, according to the ReThuglicans. Shitty coverage, unaffordably high premiums, and loss of coverage at the insurance company’s convenience are an AMERICAN RIGHT!! Of the Corporation, By the Corporation, For the Corporation! It’s all right there in the Constitution (or at least it will be by the end of this current Supreme Court session, it seems).
Now shut up and get to work, you lazy good-fer-nothin’ Do-Nothin’ retiree. Just because there’s 6 people for every current full-time job opening right now doesn’t mean you can’t work 75+ hours a week (3 shifts, all different positions, so all are “part-time”, many hours worked “off-clock”, so no benefits, so your community is forced to shoulder the cost of your public health aid) at Wal-Mart. Like a REAL American would.
Correction to my previous post:
I wrote: “So what if the Golden Goose is sick and dying and ready to implode because 10 Million healthy people who make it possible to keep rates low have lost their jobs and therefore lost their health insurance?”
According to Goldman Sachs, the Golden Goose gets more gilded by the day (each day there is NO Health Care Reform, that is).
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The White House Blog
More Evidence of an Urgent Problem
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/03/07/more-evidence-urgent-problem
Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on March 07, 2010 at 11:35 AM EST
The last few days have brought even more evidence that the health care status quo is working out great for the insurance companies – at the same time as it continues to fail American families and businesses. No wonder the insurance companies are spending millions and millions of dollars to block reform.
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