Key Senator Rolls Out Sweeping Universal Health Care Plan

Washington Post:

Two of the Senate's most influential leaders are working separately behind the scenes on legislation that would dramatically alter the way Americans get health care, hoping their early efforts -- including the release today of a position paper -- will push President-elect Barack Obama to move rapidly on the issue and spare the incoming administration some of the missteps that killed Bill Clinton's health reform initiative in 1994.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) is unveiling a 104-page blueprint today that serves as the opening move in a fierce competition in the Senate to frame the debate. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), who is battling a life-threatening brain cancer, has directed aides over the past several months to convene negotiating sessions with a diverse group of stakeholders, including physicians, patient advocates, small-business owners and insurers. He intends to have legislation drafted by Inauguration Day.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Willow712]

I think this is great. And Krugman likes it, that helps a lot. Its time. Every other developed country has universal health care or universal health insurance. We have 45 million (and probably more now) without health care or underinsured. Its time.

[Ramirez]

Universal Health Care is a massive, government­-sponsored transfer of wealth from the young to the old.

[nellie]

Actually, it's a massive, government­-regulated transfer of wealth from us to us.

[northstar11]

young people dont get sick?

[Grunty1]

The youth will also be covered, despite a large number of them today not having any type of health insurance. The country will save TRILLIONS in the long run from preventative care.

[SouthernBlueBelle]

Spoken like a young healthy person. Hey it's all about me!!

[LiberalDemIda]

For-profit corporate sick-care we have now is a massive FAILURE, transferring egregiously high costs paid for by the middle-class to insure the massive 46+ million uninsured.

Simple math here: If you buy in bulk from, say Costco, a pack of potato chips isn't that less expensive than buying a single bag from your local 7-11? This is, in essence, how health insurance will be: lowering costs on everyone when we ALL buy into the pool.

Why does this scare you?

[TheRealMacDaddy]

This is how Government SHOULD WORK!

[BBackSoon]

Wouldn’t it be great to not be a third world country again?

[iPolitics]

Get 'er done

[barkingcat]

Could this really happen...a­nd this quickly!

(I've got my fingers crossed.)

[BLinCincinnati]

It could. Because unlike 1992/93... the insurance companies, medical community, etc are all behind it.

What gets me is why Republicans aren't for it... these rich greedy ba$tards SHOULD want universal health care... because right now THEY are paying for the 47 million that don't have insurance. Every time one of those uninsured go to the emergency room for care... that cost is padded into what those with insurance pay.

They need to set up health insurance like car insurance. You should be required to carry a minimum level of coverage by law. One that covers basic preventative care, and emergency/critical care. But allows you to purchase higher coverage if you want additional benefits, lower deductibles, elective care, etc.