BellaOnline Forums News and Politics Republican Party The Republican Alternative Health Care Plan

Here's my most recent article, that gives an overview of the Republican alternative to that 2000-page monstrosity that narrowly passed the House last week. It may seem like a moot point now, but it is not a done deal that the Dems will be able to sneak through a bill that will socialize our American medicine. And it is important to know exactly what the alternative might look like. This bill gives such a glimpse. To see the 200-page bill itself, please visit:
Amendment in Nature of a Substitute

Here is my article:The Repbulcian Alternative Health Care Plan

The Republican alternative to the Obama administration�s health care reform is predicated on the assumption that, while the American health care delivery system is not �broken,� it does need some readjustments to help drive down costs.

Here is an interesting tidbit of the proposal:

"Sec. 102. Elimination of certain requirements for guaranteed availability in individual market."

This means that members of Congress and people who get their health insurance through group (socialized, consumer funded) coverage, will suffer no reduction or elimination of their benefits.

Responsible people, who currently pay 100% of the costs for individual coverage will have their benefits reduced and will no longer be protected by the Health Services Act.

I'm for a level playing field.

Change the terminology to "Group, Individual and Medicare Market."

It's true that government mandates burden insurance companies and contribute to higher premiums across the board. The truth is that those insured under a group plan often cost insurance companies more than individuals.

Individuals end up paying more to make up the difference because those insured under groups have special protections while individuals are fair game.

BlueSkies, thank you for responding. Actually, the section you reference means this:

Section 102: Elimination of certain requirements for guaranteed availability in individual market.

The bill extends existing HIPAA guaranteed availability protections, which will improve insurance portability and protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions. Under current law, individuals purchasing health insurance in the individual market are protected from pre-existing condition exclusions if there is not a substantial break in coverage, their previous coverage was through an employer, and they fully exhaust COBRA coverage. This provision would allow individuals to receive those same protections regardless of the source of their prior coverage and without requiring them to exhaust COBRA coverage, which is often very expensive for both employees and employers.

Here's a six-page, easy-to-read synopsis of the Republican bill:
Making Health Insurance More Affordable for Families