Kennedy Bill Would Make Employers Provide Health care

WASHINGTON — Employers would be required to offer health care to employees or pay a penalty, and all Americans would be guaranteed health insurance, under a draft bill being circulated Friday by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's health committee.

The bill would provide subsidies to help poor people afford care, and give patients the right to select any doctor they want.

Insurers would be required to provide a basic level of care and cover all comers, without turning people away because of pre-existing conditions or other reasons.

It's already been known that Kennedy's health committee was planning to pursue most of the concepts outlined in the draft of the bill, called the "American Health Choices Act." But it's the first actual bill language to circulate since Congress began working on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

"It's a draft of a draft. HELP democrats are still actively talking amongst themselves and their Republican colleagues," said Anthony Coley, spokeswoman for Kennedy's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Comments

[Kungfublood]

"Kennedy Bill Would Make Employers Provide Health care." This on the face of it is a bad idea. My experience is that most of the doctors I have seen are quacks and most of my employers have been skunks, who wants to be treated by a skunk?
And what kind of a sound does a skunk make anyway?

[roseyjeeks]

What an absolute betrayal! Not only will we not get any real health care reform but, it will force many small and middle size businesses on Main Street to close their doors, forever.

March on Washington June 25th for the same health care we provide for our members of Congress! We need millions to stand up and fight for this! If there is only a few hundred the insurance and pharmaceutical industries will prevail!

[takeyourballandgohome]

Mitt Romney had a plan for Ma also. It sounds good when he brags about it. However, my doctor of over 20 years doesn't take MA Health patients. Also, a doctor knows your income by the title of the plan you select....what biz is it of his/theirs that they know what income bracket I fall into!

[NineLives]

Why doesn't Congress and the President recognize that all business interest in the U.S. need a more level playing field in order to compete in the international arena.

Take the health insurance monkey off the back of ALL companies, but particularly the SMALL business person. Allow him or her to compete against businesses in countries that don't have a health care cost component for their employees.

The Kennedy bill is stupid, stupid, stupid...

Is Obama going to buy into this stupidity?

[VPN]

I have to think Senator Kennedy knows full well that we need something different than the old system. This is a starting point for discussion for change and is in no way the final product. Its going to be very difficult to back the for profit insurance industry out of health care and I am sure Kennedy and the President realize that.

[NineLives]

It's not difficult at all unless you as a congressman beholding to insurance company money and other kickbacks.

Now is the time for Congress and Obama to recognize that protecting health insurance companies is the OLD WAY.

Horse shoeing has dissappeard as a mainstream industry and now it's time for "for profit" health insurance companies to follow.

[greyhound2]

Employer based health care is one of the major problems of health care in the US. No other country saddles individual employers with its costs which makes US products uncompetitive with those produced in other countries. For example, Japanese cars do not have to add the cost of employee health care to the price tag of their product. Health care in Japan, like all the rest of nations, is covered through the government.

A government based system has the power to put a lid of the excessive charges from doctor and hospital groups whose fees are based on how much "can they get" rather than how much "does it cost". Just try to get an estimate in advance from a doctor or hospital for anything. They won't tell you up front and you can bet you'll be bushwacked at the mailbox when the final bill arrives.

[NineLives]

Republicans, with the backing of big business, argue and screech about providing another socialized "entitlement" program for American citizens.

I have yet to know a doctor that doesn't believe that he is "entitled" to big bucks because he went to medical school. (I was a medical sales representative for 25 years and had to listen to their hatred of anything that smelled like socialized medicine .)

Yes; seven, ten, or even more years of higher education and delayed income while in training is expensive. Because of the shortage of highly specialized and well trained doctors, engineers, teachers, and representatives in many fields; government needs to find a way to repay these individuals for loans made and money spent on education. After that, they are "entitled" to NOTHING other than the going rate for their services. They should not be allow to exists like vampires on the necks of people needing medical service.

[jmpurser]

Single payer health insurance doesn't result in poor doctors. It results in poor health insurance company CEOs. A price I for one am willing to pay!

[Savanna]

This is not a good solution to healhcare problems. I am a small business owner and I do have health
care for my employee, but it is very very costly. I could be doing alot more to boost the economy
if I had some help with this coverage. Senator Kennedy's plan does not reduce healthcare cost at all unless I have missed something.
The talking points for Obama's healthcare guide are 1) make healthcare affordable for everyone in this nation 2) the right to choose your own doctor 3) reduce healthcare cost across the board.
Having a plan that pushes healthcare costs onto business owners is not feasible at all.
We need to develop a plan that covers everyone..rich, poor, sick or well under the same umbrella.
The healthcare bill is not written yet. Everyone needs to write their Congressman and the President.
Tell you healthcare nightmare on the White/gov. website or on mybarackobama.com. This is our fight, meaning everyone of us, republican and democrat or independent..

[LeftCoastLarry]

I visited relatives in Norway and was struck by how happy everyone is there. They all have no concerns about health care expenses ruining them financially or being unavailable to them. Democratic Socialism works and doesn't deserve the slanderous smears from the Republicans.
This issue is a defining issue for me and I will work hard to defeat any politician, Republican or Democrat who sells out the American people in favor of corporate interests.
Single payer must be an option.

[matt126]

The country that we live in is government by the US Constitution and is not a true democracy. We are a Democratic Rupublic. Petition your state legislature to "give" everyone free healthcare and leave those of us that live in conservative states alone and stop asking everyone to chip in for your new entitlement. My relatives left Europe a long time ago because they didn't like it and now some people want me live like they do in Europe. No thanks. I will stick to the principles of American exceptionalism and make my own way just as my fore fathers did when they blazed the trail of this great nation. It sounds like Norway is a good place for those who like their system. When I change my mind perhaps I could move there?

[LouisvilleLiberal]

Generally, the conservative states have the highest rate of uninsured in the country....and the lowest per capita income. I sincerely doubt that the conservative states will be carrying anyone outside of their state. In fact, it's the blue states that will be supporting the red states on health care after reform.

My fore fathers left Europe a long time ago too. But, I can assure you not a single one left because they hated the health care system.

[LeftCoastLarry]

Tell you what. You pay for your illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, and I'll pay for my social programs.
Red states receive much more back per capita than blue states.
You have nothing to complain about.

[olmossy]

Your confused Matt, we fought ourselves free of Freemarket/slave people Capitalism when we kicked King George,, the Bank of England, East India Trading Company out of the USA.
This Country was formed for the betterment and good of the PEOPLE.
Not Kings, Not Big Business, Not International Traders, and according to Thomas Jefferson NOT a WEALTHY Nobility.
We fought our selves free of what now would be Rebublicans/Big Business.

Big Business has bought OUR Government. They have paid the Congress to divide us against each other.
WE are going to LOSE this country to the International Money Lenders.
And YOU and I can blame each the other as WE circle the Bowl.

[epiphany1234]

Thank you Larry. I am on board with you. I will do and am doing everything possible to bring sanity to our health care policy in particular and to drive a stake through the heart of the notion that unfettered capitalism is the answer to every lifestyle issue. I am in total agreement with your statement about Democratic Socialism.

[totaldisbelief]

Hey Ted, It won't work..employers are already laying off and under huge pressures. Business is failing ,small businesses are in the tank and you want to burden them more?
Your plan is a step to the side to avoid government having to deal with a major issue, and it still leaves health insurance in the hands of the insurance companies that have been a major part of the problem.
Not a good idea Ted.

[LorettaSingbiel]

You're correct in that we need to ELIMINATE for-profit healthcare insurance companies!

Those who have EMPLOYER-paid healthcare are AGAINST healthcare coverage for ALL. I've heard them REPEATEDLY say that THEY are ENTITLED to it because THEY have a COLLEGE education. Well...the world needs ditch-diggers too ... and WHY shouldn't THEY ALSO be entitled to EMPLOYER-paid healthcare coverage? ... or at the very least ... entitled to be paid a LIVING WAGE!

It's SHAMEFUL and SANCTIMONIOUS for the working class with EMPLOYER-paid healthcare coverage to feel that THEY are the ONLY citizens ENTITLED to the RIGHT-TO-LIFE!

NOW is the time for ALL good men to come to the AID of their countrymen!!! WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!!!

I've NEVER needed the fire department to extinguish a fire and save my house ... but I certainly don't mind paying the taxes that have made it possible for others to have SAVED their houses from burning to the ground.

WHY do we place saving our HOUSES as MORE of a priority ... than SAVING our LIVES?!

Houses can be replaced ... LIVES CANNOT!!!

I don't care how it's done ... but PROVIDING EQUAL HEALTHCARE in THIS country to EVERYONE MUST be the PRIORITY in OUR "civilized" country!!!

Since we've had TRILLIONS to pay for the Bush/Cheney war of choice ... DON'T TELL ME WE CAN'T AFFORD TO CARE FOR OUR CITIZENS!!!

[LouisvilleLiberal]

Not so fast. If all employers are required to provide health care to their employees, they will come up with the solution themselves. WalMart can muscle any insurance company into getting more competitive and all of the nations largest most powerful employers suddenly interested in negotiating lower rates - the problem will be solved.

In fact, the nations employers could form an insurance group and cut out the insurance companies alltogether if they had the motivation.

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

I'll second this post.

this entire problem has 1 root: insurance providers make their profits by NOT providing health care. and yet these lawmakers are trying to find a way to make this system work. it can't, as long as the profit is involved, the system will never deliver for the majority of people.

they're trying to make a failed system work, and really they're just spinning wheels.

[bradley7777]

5. Our businesses cannot compete financially with businesses in other countries because they have to pay extravagant insurance costs. This has already caused many businesses to move elsewhere (Canada, Mexico, etc.) to improve their profits. We are losing our jobs people!

6. To those who scream "the government will ration health care"; what do you think that insurance executive bean counters are doing? They routinely deny health care, and purposely scam their customers out of receiving reimbursement, and they do it to a much, much larger degree than occurs in other countries. The application process for insurance has been created to allow insurance companies to deny reimbursement when you most need it.

7. Realize that the mega multi million salaries (in one case a billion dollar severance package) are paid from dollars that are supposedly going to your health care. In addition, all profits that are made by insurance companies and health care companies are dollars that are NOT being spent on health care. How are they going to continue to grow their bottom lines from where they are now? They have to increase revenue (creating laws that demand every American have insurance certainly works) and lower costs (Hint : It won't come from salaries which will continue to increase astronomically. It will come from continuing to deny health care treatment. The media will NOT significantly highlight the facts around either reality in any meaningful way).

Business OWNS us.

[LouisvilleLiberal]

So buy American -- then you own the American businesses.

[LorettaSingbiel]

GREAT POST, Bradley! That is EXACTLY what's happening in OUR country!!!

[orbro]

I'm a single-payer advocate. If you look at the economic costs of healthcare on the GDP, America is just producing a lot of crap in the form of middlemen. We need to produce things besides paper-pushing.

[bradley7777]

1. America is the ONLY civilized country in the world to tie employment to health insurance.

2. Notice I said "insurance". Health insurance does NOT equal health care. Business is allowed to rip off the American people when we try to receive actual health care (prescription costs and medical costs that are in addition to health insurance costs). It is a disgrace what we have to pay compared to other countries.

3. #1 reason that Americans file for bankruptcy is due to health care costs (and the overwhelming majority of those that file HAVE health insurance). Don't get really sick or disabled in this country. You'll face financial ruin and the loss of all your assets at the worst possible time (a time when you're potentially fighting for your life).

4. Tying health "insurance" (again not health care) to employment does NOT allow Americans to be free. How many Americans would LOVE to quit their job and work elsewhere, but the need for insurance for their family prevents them from doing so. This is NOT freedom people. This would not apply in any other civilized country in the world. Businesses own you, and that's the way they want it.

[wild1a]

Sen. Kennedy's' plan is worse than a step backward. Forcing employers to provide health insurance only contributes to increased cost of doing business with no return. Employers should be relieved of that responsibility so they can hire more workers. Get rid of the money hungry private health insurers. They contribute nothing except big profits and bonuses for themselves. A single payer system administered by the government would make life easier and more just and fair for everybody. Concentrate upon using the model of Medicare and expanding it to cover all is the only way to go. The only problem is that Medicare is a not for profit system and cannot make the contributions to our congressmen that the wealthy worthless health insurance companies do. I am sure that their influential lobbyists with their bulging money bags are the only barrier to a far less costly and far more effective single payer health insurance system that covers all who wish to participate.

[LeftCoastLarry]

I'm not ready to throw Senator Kennedy under the bus over this alleged proposal.
The fact is, true health care reform won't happen without massive public support. Overcoming the tremendous pressure of the corporate interests can't be done without it.
This leak might be nothing more than a straw man thrown out there to generate that support.

[LouisvilleLiberal]

Yep. Nothing like every corporation in the country getting riled up over health care to throw some financial support behind a single payer system or at least a government plan as an option to provide competition to the insurance companies and give Americans a choice.

Most medical workers don't have employer provided health care. Nor do retail workers, restaurant workers or any of the workers in the only business sectors that have seen any growth in the last two decades. They need to get up in arms at the idea and start throwing money at other options.

[maggiebeer]

Hey folks, has anyone out there ever negotiated? Sometimes you put out a proposal for people to shoot down, so that your next one looks really good and they eat it up.

[mgd2854]

This is 20th century type thinking! Hello, U.S. business no longer dominates the world like it did in the 50s and 60s. Businesses are having trouble competing because of health care costs. Health insurers are in it for the profit, what is needed at the least is publicly sponsored health care. Kennedy doesn't seem to get it or the health insurers have him in their pocket, but the reason health care is failing is because it is in the hands of private industry! If this is the model, this is bad news for the average American.